Lu Ponton

I enjoyed biology and chemistry at high school and hoped to continue studying these subjects at university. I first studied in China but was placed in a program that didn’t suit. After a year, I made the choice to start again in Australia, studying chemical and metallurgical engineering. After graduation, I went on to work as a process engineer for 10 years, mostly on mining and oil and gas projects. While I learnt a lot, I often felt uncomfortable about the environmental damage these industries caused. I explored greener areas like renewable hydrogen but realised engineering design can only go so far when the industry is just emerging. Eventually, I stepped away from engineering and moved into project management in the electricity industry. That decision turned out great. I enjoy my work, seeing projects come to life on site, while making a positive contribution to the community and the local environment.

I am a Project Manager at Powerlink Queensland, responsible for planning and delivering electricity infrastructure projects. I coordinate the work required to build, upgrade, and maintain power lines and substations that supply electricity to communities across Queensland. In my role, I organise teams of engineers, designers, contractors, and safety specialists, ensuring everyone understands what needs to be done and when. I manage project schedules and budgets, ensure strict safety and regulatory requirements are followed, and resolve issues that arise during delivery. My work helps ensure electricity is delivered safely, reliably, and efficiently to homes, schools, and businesses.