Pavel Bilek, from our Class of 2011, holds a Master of Philosophy in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge (MPhil’20) and a Bachelor of Science in International Relations and History from the London School of Economics (BSc’17). He is currently a Research and Data Officer at the Natural Resource Governance Institute, where he works on the global coordination and delivery of the 2021 Resource Governance Index, one of the organisation’s flagship projects.
We were fortunate to be reconnected with Pavel, who reflected upon his time at GIS.
What’s your best memory of GIS?
There are too many things to list! I think one of the greatest things about GIS is the calibre of students who attend the school, as well as the teaching staff, some of whom I’m still in touch with even after a decade. The school does an amazing job at providing a wide range of activities, initiatives and schemes for students to get involved in. My favourite memories are definitely from the Duke of Edinburgh International Award trip, but also from the work I did with the M.A.G.I.C programme, which for me really reinforced the importance of giving back to the community.
What inspires you in life?
I think most of my inspiration comes from talking and sharing ideas with as many different people as possible. Throughout life, what I’ve found is that I often learn the most from those whose voices are not heard or who are not given a platform to express themselves. I believe that real inspiration often comes at the most unexpected of times and from the most unexpected places, and it’s key to always keep an open mind and be receptive to learn more about the world.
Describe GIS in 3 words…
Diversity, ambition, brilliance
How did GIS shape who you are today?
GIS had an incredible influence on shaping me into the person I am today. The school and student body made me appreciate not only the necessity of academic rigour but also of the importance of becoming a well-rounded person through the emphasis placed on sports, community engagement and other extracurricular activities. GIS definitely made me more ambitious and taught me resilience, both key qualities that have allowed me to navigate life outside of school.
Who in GIS inspired or motivated you the most when you were here?
Definitely, Mr Kinvig (Damian) who taught me History. He was one of the best teachers I’ve ever had and his style of teaching and passion for the subject made me later pursue history at university. History is an incredibly important subject to study, and Mr Kinvig’s approach helped me understand the importance and value of critical thinking and the need to apply it in all aspects of life.
What’s in store for the future?
I currently spend a lot of my time working on personal growth, self-improvement and sharpening my skills. A lot of this is related to how to be a better leader and project manager, but also how to maximize and amplify the impact of my work. Transitioning from the private sector into the development world was quite a major change for me in terms of work styles and approaches, and I’m trying to find the optimal ways of doing things.
In my free time, I am working on a few personal projects investigating topics related to the energy transition and green growth, critical minerals and how countries can translate natural resource wealth into sustainable development. In the future, I would definitely like to further myself in this field and have my work make as much tangible impact that would lead to reform and change around the world.
So in general self-improvement and finding ways to best translate my passions into tangible impact!
What would be the one piece of advice you would give to current students at GIS?
The most important thing to keep in mind is that it’s absolutely fine to not know exactly what you want to do right after graduation or even a decade later! Some people realize what they want to do whilst at university, some once they start their first job and many figures it out much later. The important thing is to make the most out of your time at GIS, to take advantage of everything it has to offer, and to stay curious and open to new things throughout life, to enable you to figure out what path would make you the happiest and most fulfilled.
Thank you, Pavel, for taking the time to share your experiences and these inspiring words with us. If you would like to feature as part of our ‘Alumni Spotlights’, just get in touch with us: alumni@gardenscool.edu.my. Because every story matters. Connect with us on social media via Facebook or if you would like to read another article via the Global Alumni Website. If you haven’t become our registered member yet, please do so via this link.