Dodging bombs, snakes, leeches

of Science, majoring in geology, and a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in French, Spanish and German.

He then went on to complete a master’s degree.

Turner works on a variety of projects within Australia and Laos and is based in Christchurch but travels frequently.

In 2017, while in Laos, he was the Geological Team Leader for a greenfield and near mine exploration programme.

The work involved the determination of targets, drill hole targeting, logistics, organisation, supervision and sampling of rock chips, stream sediment, soil samples, geological trenches, mapping and interpretation of geophysics survey.

When Turner’s not in the bush or the jungle, he’s in either Christchurch or Australia.

‘‘At the end of 2011 I picked up a graduate geologist/environmental scientist position at CRL Energy, which is based in Christchurch, and worked between 20 hours a week to fulltime until the end of my master’s degree.’’

He spent six months working at CRL Energy before taking on his current role in May 2016 at Terra Search Ltd based in Townsville, Australia.

‘‘My fiance (now wife) at that time had a good job in Christchurch and has remained there whilst I gallivant around Australia and Southeast Asia for work.’’

Turner said if there was any advice he could offer students, especially those nearing the end of their high school years, it’s to be aggressive and not to sit back and wait for things to happen, but to ‘‘make them happen’’.

‘‘Take responsibility of your actions or inactions.

‘‘Don’t blame others for where you are or what you are doing.

‘‘Take ownership of your situation and keep moving forward.’’