How did you get into what you do?

When I was younger, I was always asking questions and tinkering with things. Throughout my school years, I found I enjoyed maths and physics, and went on to study electrical and electronic engineering at university. Following my curiosity from childhood and my strengths in maths and physics led me to a career in electrical engineering. One of my first roles out of university was with an electrical subcontractor, where I was involved in both the design and installation side of electrical building services. I loved the duality of being a part of the planning stages on paper, and then seeing the design through to construction and completion.

What skills do you need to be good at your job?

One of my traits that I have found to be most impactful is being inquisitive. Questioning how something works, why something works, and how it can work better has been the foundation for my work in engineering. I’ve worked with some great teams over the years, made up of a range of people from different backgrounds who all have different perspectives to offer. Learning to collect bits of their perspective has also shaped the way I look at and tackle problems. Continuing to learn has been another important skill for my role.

Why is Design so important in our business?

It is a long journey to take ideas and concepts through to a physical, functioning building. Design—particularly in-house design within a contracting company—has its benefits in bridging the gap between what complies on paper and what is practically going to work on site. An in-house design team working together with the site/installation team ensures outcomes and goals are aligned.

How do you challenge yourself to reach new heights?

There are many ways to improve a design—functionally, to achieve the client’s requirements in more efficient ways; financially, with more cost-effective materials or methods; practically, to optimise the installation process; environmentally, to reduce the impact of construction and general building use. I strive to continuously work towards well-rounded designs by staying curious about the variety of contributing factors and navigating the trade-offs between them to find the right balance.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into what you do?

Engineering and design are great fields to pursue if you’re interested in shaping the built environment to meet the needs of the diverse range of people it serves. Even if you don’t fit the typical profile of an engineer, your unique perspective can help ensure that others with similar qualities or experiences are considered in the design process. Get stuck in!