Kiya Basabas

Kiya is using her learning and work experience applying data science to real world problems in order to create a more equitable Aotearoa.

I studied Data Science because I had reservations about the world of increasingly intelligent technology. How can we use technological advancements to create good? Data science is powerful because its solutions to real-world problems are driven by people. I chose Data Science because I wanted to help people who were affected by powerful technology, while leveraging advancements to create good.

I enjoyed that the Data Science major gives you everything you need in your toolkit before going out and solving real problems. You'll know how to optimise algorithms while equally understanding the role Te Tiriti plays as a Data Scientist in Aotearoa. You'll meet passionate lecturers who challenge and support you and want to see you achieve.

I was fortunate enough to begin working at a local Data Science and Analytics firm, Nicholson Consulting, while studying my undergraduate degree. I then transitioned into full-time work. It was great to be able to work while studying as I was able to see what real-world implications my studies had, while also taking learnings from the job into assignments.

It is the little things that you may not see as immediately useful to your studies that stuck with me the most. Yes, familiarise yourself with what machine learning packages exist and which statistical test is best for a certain dataset. But it's also good to get into the habit of doing the little things; learn how to properly version control, practise documenting what you are coding so that it is explainable, learn the difference between what makes one way to visualise data better than another. This stuff is equally as important to your work as a Data Scientist.

I am currently working as a Data Scientist for local data science and analytics firm, Nicholson Consulting. Here I am actively working with data to create a more equitable Aotearoa. Part of this is applying Māori data sovereignty principles to projects and exploring what it means to uphold Te Tiriti from a data perspective in Aotearoa. In the age of big data, this is important now more than ever. I work with lots of Government and non-Government organisations alike, and it is reassuring to see that people genuinely want to be better Tiriti partners and use their data responsibly. The ongoing social, economic, and environmental impacts of COVID-19 have especially put data at the forefront for organisations who want to make more accurate, efficient and socially responsible decisions for the better of communities. For me, this means lots of hui; getting many heads together to listen to different perspectives and find solutions that are designed with the people that they are designed for. The coding and machine learning is nothing without being able to understand business context from those who are experts.

After the better part of four years at Nicholson Consulting, I will be moving on to be the Data Lead at Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand, where I will continue to take my data science toolkit gained from university to make a positive difference for people, both in Aotearoa and across the globe.

When transitioning from study to work, it is important to build genuine relationships with people; your studies, roles and jobs will come and go, but it is your connections with people that will remain strong into the future. Always make sure the work you are doing sits right in your puku, first. And never compromise your integrity.