Hi, my name is Rebecca North and my hometown is Brisbane, Australia. In 2011, I graduated with a Bachelor of Design, majoring in architecture from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). During my undergraduate studies, I acquired a keen interest in concepts that encourage positive spatial and societal environments, particularly through environmental design and planning. Channelling these interests, I applied to participate in two additional courses, a cross-disciplinary planning project in remote regional Australiaand alsoaPassivhaus designworkshop in Germany. At the end of my degree, I worked in the public sector as an architectural studentassisting on a diversity of projects, including education (school and training facilities), heritage building restoration, regional hospitals and multi-purpose cyclone shelters. I have also worked as a qualified Lifeguard, Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety and volunteeredabroad with NGOs on housing and education initiatives.With an ambition to study the complex challenges in urban settings beyond design concepts, I applied and was thrilled to be accepted to join the double degree Mundus Urbano programme. The opportunity to study internationally, in a multi-disciplinary, intercultural environmenthas been invaluable and I look forward to continuing the dynamic experiencein the MESCI - Master in Development Economics at Tor Vergata.