Our team of professional career practitioners offers one-on-one career sessions, webinars, and workshops to assist students and graduates. We provide guidance to help you make informed decisions, successfully navigate career pathways, understand the job market, and develop strategies to reach your full potential.
Our Graduate Recruitment Team can assist employers with a variety of opportunities to engage with Otago talent.
Book an appointment
Login to CareerHub/UniHub to book an appointment with a Career Practitioner.
Our friendly Career Support Officers, Karen Stephenson, and Tuth Mullenger can also assist you with general enquiries and appointment bookings. Both provide administrative support for the Career Development Centre.
Contact
Tel +64 3 479 8244
Email careers@otago.ac.nz
Manager
Jackie Dean
Jackie has always been passionate about career guidance and education. Since 1987, her career has centred around working in schools, colleges and university careers services both in the UK and New Zealand. She has also worked within the disability sector.
Jackie has qualifications in teaching and career guidance and in recent years she has completed a Graduate Diploma in Conflict Resolution and has joined the team of volunteers at Dunedin Community Mediation.
Contact
Tel +64 3 479 8243
Email jackie.dean@otago.ac.nz
LinkedIn Jackie Dean
Career Practitioners
Our staff are qualified career practitioners with specialised degree backgrounds and hold professional membership with the Career Development Association of New Zealand (CDANZ).
Career Development Association of New Zealand
Yvonne Gaut
Postgraduate and International Career Practitioner
Yvonne is the specialist career practitioner for postgraduate and international students and has worked at the University of Otago's Career Development Centre since 2001. Yvonne has a Master of Career Development and a Bachelor of Education (Teaching).
As well as being the contact for postgraduate and international students, Yvonne makes regular visits to the Christchurch and Wellington campuses.
Contact
Tel +64 3 479 9149
Email yvonne.gaut@otago.ac.nz
LinkedIn Yvonne Gaut
Petra Hass
Career Practitioner
Petra has a background in the news media industry in Germany, including experience as a vocational trainer and sales manager. She has also worked in New Zealand’s social services sector. After moving to New Zealand, she retrained as a career practitioner and joined the University of Otago’s careers team in 2014. She’s passionate about diversity and helping individuals be confident at all stages of their career journey.
Petra is the Career Development Centre’s contact for the Division of Humanities.
Contact
Tel +64 3 479 5354
Email petra.hass@otago.ac.nz
LinkedIn Petra Hass
Penny Kershaw
Career Practitioner
Penny is a qualified Career Practitioner with experience across tertiary, government and secondary school career guidance.
Penny welcomes all students to come and have a chat- she is passionate about listening to and assisting people on their educational and career journey, helping them to discover meaningful directions.
She connects with students through 1-to-1 career sessions, employability workshops and drop-in sessions at the Pathways department and halls of residences.
Penny is the Career Development Centre’s contact for the Otago Business School and Pathways department.
Contact
Tel +64 3 479 8244
Email penny.kershaw@otago.ac.nz
LinkedIn Penny Kershaw
Mel Searle
Career Practitioner
Mel is dedicated to guiding students to explore diverse pathways toward a fulfilling career. With a background as a high school science teacher, Mel offers career support to prospective and current students, as well as graduates.
Mel is the Career Development Centre’s contact for the Division of Health Sciences, Dunedin campus.
Contact
Tel +64 3 479 8244
Email mel.searle@otago.ac.nz
LinkedIn Mel Searle
Lynley Soper
Career Practitioner
Lynley provides professional career coaching and counselling for prospective, current and recently graduated students, with a focus on supporting students to make meaningful choices for study and career direction.
Lynley has a background in private career practice working with secondary students making early career choices and with adults changing career direction. She also has extensive experience working in the agricultural and social service sectors.
She liaises with the Division of Sciences to deliver workshops and guest lectures and coordinate career events. She also works closely with several residential colleges and the Pacific Island Centre.
Contact
Tel +64 3 479 9149
Email lynley.soper@otago.ac.nz
LinkedIn Lynley Soper
Opportunities for employers
Our Graduate Recruitment Team can assist you with participation in our annual career expos, attracting applicants, and other ways to engage with Otago talent.
The Graduate Recruitment Services Guide provides more details on services available and links to event registrations.
2026 Graduate Recruitment Services Guide (PDF)
Gina Clouston-Cain
Adviser Industry and Employment Relations
Gina holds a BCom in Marketing Management (Otago) and has worked across a variety of sectors, ranging from corporate, civic and not-for-profit organisations to higher education. Passionate about connecting with people and making magic happen, she loves working with organisations interested in connecting with Otago students, and her role is responsible for all things graduate recruitment.
Gina facilitates and develops external links with industry to ensure that there are ample opportunities for University of Otago students and graduates. She also manages and organises on-campus employer graduate recruitment activities, including employer presentations and our career expos.
Contact
Tel +64 3 479 8372
Mob +64 21 279 8372
Email graduate.recruitment@otago.ac.nz
LinkedIn Gina Clouston-Cain
Karen Stephenson
Coordinator Industry and Employment Relations
Karen works with Gina and coordinates a range of employer engagement activities, including career expos, employer presentations, networking events, mentoring and leadership programmes. She enjoys the variety of her role and working with employers, students and colleagues across the University to create positive experiences and opportunities.