Deepesh Manilal Sinha
Librarian – Community Engagement, Auckland Council Libraries
Master of Disaster Risk Management and Development
He chose the Master of Disaster Risk Management and Development to build on his 25 years of humanitarian work and strengthen his knowledge through formal academic study, says Deepesh Manilal Sinha who came to AUT as an international student from India, supported by an AUT International Scholarship – South Asia.
“Throughout my career, I’ve worked with organisations like Action Against Hunger, ActionAid, ChildFund, INTERSOS and Johanniter International Assistance across India, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Georgia, Abkhazia and Southeast Asia. My professional experience spans emergency response and long-term recovery in cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, typhoons, other disasters, and post-conflict reconstruction for policy formation, global standards designing and revision, and training design and delivery.
“I wanted to further refine my expertise and connect my learning to the Pacific context. AUT’s programme stood out for its holistic structure, its focus on both theory and practice, and its diverse student body, which brought valuable perspectives into the classroom. The option to specialise in areas such as health in emergencies also added depth to my studies. My dissertation, Optimizing Early Warning Systems for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Urban Populations: A Scoping Review, allowed me to integrate my humanitarian practice with academic research.”
He says his time at AUT was both rewarding and inspiring, and one of the key highlights for him was working with highly experienced and supportive academic staff who encouraged him to translate his extensive field experience into critical academic writing.
"The mentorship from the academic staff was invaluable. My supervisors helped me translate my professional experience into critical academic research, supporting me every step of the way – from refining ideas to developing methodology and analysing findings.
“Associate Professor Ailsa Holloway played a key role in helping me shape the project in its early stages. Her support in refining my ideas into a focused research question, developing the proposal, guiding my initial literature search and strengthening my writing provided me with a strong foundation. When she went on sabbatical, Associate Professor Loïc Le Dé became my primary supervisor and guided me through the next stages. His expertise in disaster research, especially in methodology and analysis, was invaluable in helping me navigate findings and draw meaningful discussion points. Throughout the process, I was also supported by my secondary supervisor, Su Myat Kyaw, whose practical experience in emergency response and academic insights provided balance and encouragement.”
Supporting the Manurewa community
Now working at Manurewa Library | Te Pātaka Kōrero O Manurewa, Deepesh loves being able to support the local community.
“As a senior librarian, my role goes beyond regular library services. I’m actively involved in building networks with communities, local organisations and authorities, and regularly participate in community events to strengthen partnerships. What I enjoy most is the supportive environment created by my manager, who always encourages new ideas that benefit the community. I also enjoy participating in meetings and networking with different organisations, as it gives me opportunities to share knowledge, exchange ideas and build meaningful collaborations.
“A key part of my work is introducing innovative initiatives that make the library a more inclusive and engaging space. One example is organising the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction Week, which raises awareness about emergency management, particularly for culturally and linguistically diverse communities in our area. I’m working towards creating a dedicated multilingual space in the library, with resources in different languages to better meet the needs of our communities. This aligns with my commitment to making libraries not only centres of learning but also hubs for community resilience.”
He says he frequently draws on the skills from his AUT degree to enhance his work at the library.
“The research and skills I gained at AUT have allowed me to bring new perspectives to my work, integrating disaster risk management and community engagement into library services for culturally diverse populations. By combining my professional humanitarian experience with the academic skills gained at AUT, I’m helping to make the library not only a centre of knowledge, but also a space where resilience and community preparedness are actively supported.”
Advice for other students
Deepesh, who graduated from AUT in August 2025, has some great advice for other students who are only at the start of their own AUT journey.
“I strongly encourage students to consider AUT. The flexible course options, excellent academic support and opportunities for meaningful peer learning make it an ideal environment to grow professionally and personally. For me, studying at AUT was both rewarding and inspiring. The courses are designed to provide a holistic understanding of complex topics and learning alongside classmates from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds enriched my academic journey.
“A highlight of my experience was studying alongside classmates from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds – including health science, engineering and humanitarian fields. Sharing and synchronising our experiences enriched the learning environment and reflected how AUT programmes integrate a wide range of themes to suit different needs.”
He also appreciated the facilities and support services he had access to.
“AUT’s excellent facilities, including dedicated postgraduate spaces, the Student Hub and the Student Medical Centre, created an environment that was both supportive and conducive to learning and wellbeing. I credit much of my academic success to these resources, which made learning both accessible and rewarding.”
