Crawford School of Public Policy

Crawford School introduces our fantastic staff, so you can get to meet the people of Asia and the Pacific’s leading graduate policy school.

Today, we talk to Senior Program Coordinator Shuqun Zhao about why it’s worth making dumpling wraps from scratch, and the perks of getting up early to take a walk.

1. What does your job involve and what do you most like about it?

I am a Senior Program Coordinator at the Environment, Resource and Development Department. I manage the masters programs in the department. Environment and climate change are hugely important issues in today’s world and my work affords me the opportunity to learn more about the subject. I am a self-confessed naturalist and it’s a great pleasure to work with academics as well as students who are passionate about the environment and the planet.

I also enjoy the fact that I learn new things all the time. It could be solving a problem for a student, or learning a new word or Aussie slang from colleagues.

2. Can you tell us about a feel-good dish that you or someone in your family makes in stressful times?

This is tough, because I love cooking and there are many dishes that I love. One of them is Chinese dumplings made from scratch including wraps. Homemade ones have that elasticity that store-bought wraps do not have and they taste so much better. In terms of Aussie dishes, I love a hearty cottage pie with cheesy mashed potato topping - yum.

3. If you could go back and choose a different career path, what would it be?

I would love to be a dancer. I started to learn ballroom dancing in my mid 20s. I loved it so much and was even considering pursuing it further. My instructors were so inspirational and they themselves were amateurs turned professionals and competing on the world stage. Having a great teacher makes all the difference.

4. Can you see a silver lining in this crisis?

Definitely, there are many things we can learn from this crisis and many new opportunities emerging as well. We can’t control what is happening out there, but we can change our perception and that’s what matters. When we change our perception, we change how we feel and respond.

5. Can you give us your top 3 tips about how to stay positive during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Focus what you can control. That is yourself: your perception, your feelings and your actions. Be physically active. Get into nature while maintaining social distancing. The easiest way to do it is to get up early when the rest of world is still asleep. Let the tranquillity and expansiveness of nature calm you and enlighten you.