When I was 12, I watched the documentary Planet Earth. I remember the scene where I saw, for the first time, the impact of mining in scale, and the strong urge to do something and save the planet. Since then, I had always aspired to work as an environmentalist. Out of family expectation, I chose…
When I was in primary school, I had my heart set on becoming a fighter pilot with the Australian Air Force. This dream influenced the subjects I chose at high school and upon completion of year 12 I was still considering this path. When the time came to decide, I was hesitant to leave home…
I had no clue what I wanted to do when I finished school. I dropped out of my first degree (business) after 1 semester and started full time work as an admin assistant while I figured out what I wanted to do. The State Government Computing Centre (now CITEC) was recruiting for computer operators and…
My dad has been a Police Officer since I was 8 years old and I was always inspired by his service to the community. Throughout high school, I knew I wanted to do something that was exciting and challenging, so being a Police Officer just seemed right for me. When I left school, I didn’t…
After graduating high school with some uncertainty clouding my career path, I embarked on a journey to explore various interests and passions. I stumbled upon the intricacies of law, intrigued by its ability to shape and safeguard society with the possibility of being able to help people. With a newfound determination, I pursued a law…
My journey started with a simple mantra from my parents: ‘You’re either earning or learning.’ Uncertain about my future, I bypassed immediate university entry, opting for real-world experience. After graduation, I landed a full-time receptionist role at a small construction firm, but faced a setback when I lost the job at 19 due to taking…
I am a Construction Coordinator in Civil Construction. When I left school, I was like many others in my year and didn’t quite know what I wanted to do next. After many conversations with my parents, we thought I’d enjoy being a beauty therapist, so I went and completed a Diploma in Beauty Therapy. I…
During the final years of school I wanted to be a financial lawyer. But an honest conversation with my biology teacher about my strengths in math and science opened my eyes to engineering. I looked up engineering courses during the change in preference window and swapped to a double degree of Environmental Engineering and Science…
I am a First Nations mother, partner, sister, aunty, Police Officer and friend. I can rarely walk past an opportunity to make a difference and I would describe myself as someone who is passionate about creating positive change for our younger generations. An area I am particularly passionate about is creating subtle positive change within…
I grew up in Geelong, Victoria and attended an all-girls school. The career paths presented to me were healthcare, teaching or law. I moved to Melbourne to study Physio, graduated and worked for a year before deciding to head overseas. I worked at a summer camp in the uS, then spent a few months travelling.…
My life didn’t follow the exact plan I had envisioned. I dreamt of being a princess, a marine biologist, an actor, even a 3D animator for Pixar. But unexpectedly, I found myself in the realm of fire, where incredible opportunities awaited me. Growing up in a small community in South Africa, I had a hunger…
I grew up in Central Queensland and had no idea what I would do after school. Never in a million years did I think I would end up working in a Government Information Technology (IT) department! Our department offers some really innovative services for government, in areas of connectivity, security and computer processing just to…
I studied Electrical Engineering overseas and then I got married. Soon after graduation I came to Australia. My husband and I started our family and I decided to be a stay at home mum until kids were in school. Now I am a mother to 2 boys and now that they are in school I…
I am a Data Analytics Consultant in the Transport team at Aurecon and I love being able to use data to help people to make better decisions. I grew up in Guildford, England enjoying puzzles but trying to convince myself that I didn’t like maths because it wasn’t “cool”. I finally abandoned that view at…
Even though most of my senior school subjects were in the STEM field, engineering wasn’t on my radar until I saw a documentary about the extension of a subway line in America. I honestly don’t remember the details of the documentary but what stuck with me was how engineering could change the lives of a…
I am a Senior Project Engineer currently working on the construction of Bridges throughout Brisbane with BMD. Originally I am from Ireland and have enjoyed a career that has allowed me to travel to the other side of the globe, here in Australia. My career has enabled me to experience a variety of projects, from…
I am a young water professional working with Urban Utilities. I graduated with a degree in chemistry and worked first as an analytical chemist in the laboratory before moving to my current position as a Circular Economy Strategist. Never one to shy away from a challenge, I worked for 18 months on the Australian Flushability…