Finding My Way at UWA 

My UWA journey started in 2010 with a double degree in Civil Engineering and Psychology. And I got away with it, too – for a year, at least, before my classes started to clash horrendously and I concluded that psychology and engineering didn’t mix. Fast forward to today, and most of my challenges are human ones – oh, the irony! 

So, I opted for a combination that didn’t make much more sense, Chinese Language and Engineering, but at least I could make it to my classes without a Time-Turner. 

In 2012, I joined the UWA Motorsport Team and partook in Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) – a competition where university students design, build and race their own Formula-style open-wheeled racecar. During this time I built a racecar from scratch and raced it into the sunset.  

At least that’s what I thought it would be.  

Instead, I sanded. I sanded a LOT.  

I ate the equivalent of my bodyweight in instant noodles and drank iced coffee like it was water.  

But the most valuable lesson was what it meant to belong to a team of passionate individuals working toward a common goal. It also unveiled my disinterest in the static world of structures, or rather revealed my interest in machines.  

So, by the power vested in the ever-patient saints in the EMS office, I changed courses yet again. And in 2016 I finally got to call myself a Mechanical Engineering Graduate.   

Navigating the Industry 

From Manufacturing… 

My first graduate role was in manufacturing with CME (now Hitachi) in the mining industry. We designed crusher components, chutes, and wear liners which were brought to life by the onsite workshop. I learned what it means to take responsibility for a design – you don’t truly know fear until you hear the footsteps of the disgruntled workshop manager approaching the engineering office to query someone’s mistake, knowing in your heart that it’s yours. I also got to play with cool, new toys such as 3D scanners and plasma cutters. But by 2018, I had left to pursue my chief passion: engineering design.  

…to Design and Commissioning. 

My first engineering design role was with the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) company, Wood. Depicted below is my very first design – a two tonne bespoke lifting frame for the changeout of pressure filter plates (patiently awaiting a splash of paint). 

While at Wood, I participated in the design of the Kemerton Lithium Project. This design was for the first two processing trains which will produce 40,000 tonnes per annum of Lithium Hydroxide with the potential for a total of five processing trains and an output of 100,000 tonnes (that’s about the mass of 650 blue whales!) per annum of Lithium Hydroxide. The total project value exceeds $1 billion. This project was, and probably always will be, my favourite project. The flowsheets were a tangled, magnificent mess of exotic equipment and I got to work with some incredible people with whom I still grab the odd Friday drink. 

In December 2020 I moved to Fluor, another international design powerhouse, which had been ranked 3rd globally in the ENR 2021 Top 500 Design Firms. I have since worked in studies, detailed design, and commissioning, for top- and mid-tier clients across a range of commodities, locally and internationally. The picture below was taken while using a RealWear voice operated headset for virtual communication with offsite vendors during commissioning. I was told that commissioning was ‘where the rubber hits the road’, though I saw a lot more of ‘something else’ hitting the fan. Commissioning is a wild ride, but it’s definitely the most efficient and rewarding way to get a good grasp on how all the parts of a plant work, how they work together… and what happens when they don’t.

Moving Forward 

Goals and Aspirations 

Once I’ve built a sound technical basis, I’d like to be a lead engineer, supporting a team of engineers to complete a design. As a leader, I wish to reintroduce simple elements such as creativity, curiosity, purpose, and teamwork which, sadly, tend to fall by the wayside in many projects. 

Someone to Lean on 

While I’m a strong supporter of cultural and gender diversity, I’m particularly passionate about supporting my fellow female engineers. The engineering pathway can be incredibly challenging and lonely at times, from university through to industry, and there’s nothing more valuable than having a friend and/or mentor to lean on. I currently host a Fluor-sponsored, bi-monthly, ladies coffee catchup, and make sure to periodically check in with the brilliant ladies in my engineering network. 

Connections 

There are many opportunities to leverage the latest technologies and research to enhance both our project delivery and our clients’ operations. I believe one way to achieve this is the establishment of better connections between industry and academia. This will not only help students to build industry contacts but also give them better insight into the breadth of the engineering industry so they can establish a focused career plan. It will also expose them to industry-specific knowledge, such as jargon, ethics, and professionalism so they can hit the ground running.   

Engineering and Me 

I won’t lie - it’s been a really hard road and I’m sure it will get harder as I gain experience and take on greater challenges. But I have developed in ways I didn’t imagine possible, seen extraordinary things, and met brilliant and interesting people along the way. Where in the world will I be in 5 years? The possibilities are endless and are all on offer. And that is a scary yet exhilarating thought.