From Sri Lanka to the World: How a New Zealand Education Gave Dinusha Global Impact

Her work mapping undersea plant communities—like seagrass and kelp— has been cited in an authoritative report of the influential International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), titled: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. It’s a powerful example of how studying in New Zealand can take your ideas far beyond the classroom—and even shape the future of the planet. 

New Zealand is known for its world-class education, but it’s also a place where students are encouraged to think big, collaborate with global experts, and apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. Dinusha’s journey is proof of that. 

With a background in botany and geoinformatics, she joined a research team focused on marine ecosystems—an area with surprisingly little global data. Her work not only filled critical knowledge gaps but also helped forecast how climate change could shift marine plant life by the year 2100. 

While studying in New Zealand, Dinusha connected with leading scientists and international organisations like the United Nations Environment Programme. Her maps have now been downloaded hundreds of times and are being used to guide conservation efforts around the world. 

This kind of global reach is what makes a New Zealand education so powerful. It’s not just about earning a degree, it’s about gaining the skills, experience, and connections to make a real difference, wherever your future takes you. 

Other students considering coming to New Zealand should not hesitate, she says. “It is very collaborative and international student-friendly.” 

Dinusha’s journey didn’t end with graduation. Inspired by the opportunities and lifestyle New Zealand offered, she chose to stay and build her career here. She is thrilled to have secured a role as an Environmental Management lecturer at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in Napier. Building on her teaching experience in Sri Lanka, she is loving her time back in the classroom. “I enjoy teaching my students, especially those that return to study after working. I feel valuable to them, and they are valuable to me.” 

Alongside her teaching, Dinusha is establishing a research group studying the distribution of freshwater species in Hawke’s Bay waterways and monitoring changes so that targeted conservation work can be undertaken.  

Whether you're passionate about science, technology, the environment, or any other field, New Zealand offers a launchpad for global opportunities. Just like Dinusha, a New Zealand education will open global opportunities to take you anywhere.