I developed a strong interest in how the built environment affects people's health at a young age in Winnipeg, Canada. After completing my studies in Biological and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University (USA, 2005) I worked as a Civil Engineering Consultant in Seattle, USA; supplementing this experience with additional project work in South Africa, Ghana and the UK. My growing interest in the process of infrastructure development, specifically related to water and sanitation, led me to the Erasmus Mundus - MUNDUS URBANO dual-degree masters course in Urban Development and Development Economics. My first year of studies was at Technische Universität Darmstadt and I look forward to completing the programme at Tor Vergata before utilising this incredible experience to better manage international infrastructure development projects in the future.