Graduate Profiles

After graduating from Curtin, I worked as a part time teacher teaching Design & Technology and Science at a high school for 6 months. Afterwards, I worked in O.B.Singapore Operations Pte Ltd, the parent company who owns F&B brands such as Fish & Co., thesimplelife, Giraffe and Pret. I was involved in the construction of new restaurants as well as providing the contact point for new business franchises overseas. During my tenure, I have opened restaurants for Fish & Co. franchisees in Dubai, Philippines and China. I was in this line for 2 1/2 years before I resigned to start a family.

Currently, I am now back to part time teaching at another high school while looking after my 8 month old son.

For those pursuing that degree and have thoughts of wanting to give it up because the going can get rough, persevere as the pain is only temporary and the regard for an Australian uni graduate does prepare oneself for the bitterness of the real world.

Nurulaini Ariffin
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering)

Position: Projects & Business Development Executive
Company: O.B.Singapore Operations Pte Ltd

Joanne Henrickson
B. Sc. (App Chem),
B. Eng. (Chemical) Hons at Curtin

Can you comment on what it is like to be a woman in the field of engineering?

“My name is Joanne Henrickson.  I completed a B. Sc. (App Chem) and B. Eng. (Chemical) Hons at Curtin.  I am currently in a somewhat unusual position of employment.  My husband (who is also a Curtin Chemical Engineering Graduate) was approached for a position in Saudi Arabia a little over a year ago.  When we discussed the move we agreed that it would be conditional on me being able to work.  In Saudi Arabia, women are legally allowed to work in all fields, however it has only recently been legalized and is not currently in practice.  Typically the only employment available for women is teaching, nursing, administration or oddly head of company (CEO).  I am the first woman to be employed by my current employer and probably the first female to be employed as an engineer in the country.  I am employed as an independent consultant on a part time basis (3 days per week) rather than a direct company employee.  I am told on a regular basis - particularly by women who have been in the country for many years - how big a deal it is that I am employed as an engineer.  There is still ground to be broken for women in engineering.

Working as an engineer has been hugely rewarding for me.  In my less than 5 year career I have worked at 3 different refineries in day to day improvement roles.  The roles typically involved thinking around restrictions to maximize production, although I was also able to work on major improvement projects for the refineries.  I was also part of the commissioning team for a multi million dollar expansion of the Alcoa's Pinjarra Refinery.  This included being one of the first people to operate the control panel for a new section of the plant.  I am currently working on the design team for a new refinery in Saudi Arabia.  Engineering is diverse and there are opportunities for careers all over the world.  When my husband and I were looking for opportunities prior to moving to Saudi Arabia, we were approached by companies operating in other parts of Australia, Jamaica and more recently there has been potential for employment in Brazil, America and even Russia.

As a female in engineering the opportunities are immense as companies continue to diversify their workforce.  There is almost no difference in treatment of men and women in engineering.  Occasionally when working at site a female will have to prove that she is prepared to get her hands dirty and put in the hard yards, however once done the respect is greater as it has been earned.

Engineering is a great field to get into.  There is a huge variety of types of engineering available, so there is something for everyone.  The opportunities in this field are enormous in the current mineral boom.  Engineers are in demand all over the world and it is more unusual to find engineers that haven't travelled rather than those who have.  Be open to opportunities.  If you’d asked me 2 years ago where I would be now, I would probably have said I would still be at the same company that was employing me.  But the opportunity came up to move to Saudi and it was too good an opportunity to pass up.  Who knows where I’ll be 2 years from now!!” 

Get your hands dirty, open your eyes, realise that life is short (3000-5000 Wednesdays if lucky), and go make a difference in whatever you do, from picking up rubbish to creating new business opportunities.

Donald Yates
Degree of  Applied Science,
Degree of Communication Engineering,
Cresta (Curtin) qualification in Renewable Energy.

CEO / COLUMBUS Group
Head of 3 R&D companies, 2 charitable foundations and a pooled development investment fund

Ken Hill
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)

Project Manager / R2K Project Management Pty Ltd

• What does your job involve and how do you enjoy it? KH “I am working as a Project Manager on a large multi disciplinary project located in the South West of Western Australia.  I have a team of engineers, supervisors, administrative staff and contractors numbering up to 200 people working on this project.  I enjoy my work and the challenges that it bring.  I find being located on site and dealing with all the issues involved with design, scheduling, cost control, the environment and safety particularly rewarding.”

 

• Are there any interesting aspects to your job?  KH “I am fortunate that I have been exposed to a great variety of work, ranging from civil earthworks, concrete, structural steel, mechanical equipment, piping, electrical power, communications and many more.  There is always an opportunity to learn and also to pass on knowledge and experience to engineers who have recently graduated.”

 

• Are there any interesting happenings in your professional field (that you think may interest current or potential engineering students)?  KH “The current resources boom provides a fantastic opportunity for engineers to become involved in a variety of interesting and challenging projects.  Australian engineers are held in high regard throughout the world due to their exposure to large project work.”

 

• Do you have any advice for current students?  KH “Plan your career carefully to ensure that you get a good mix of design office and field construction works.  Don’t specialise too soon.  The best designers are those that have had experience in the field and have seen the mistakes that can be made.  The best constructors have had experience with design and appreciate the theory behind the design.”

 

• Can you mention some positive study experiences while at Curtin? KH “The staff in the Engineering Department were always very helpful.”

I graduated from Curtin University in 1993 and I am glad that I had the opportunity to acquire my engineering knowledge from this university.  The practical approach to engineering that has been emphasized by Curtin has allowed me to make good progress in developing my engineering career.

After graduating from Curtin, I came back to Malaysia and began my career with Agilent Technologies(formerly Hewlett-Packard Test & Measurement Organisation).  I started as Service engineer involving in instrument repair and calibration; from the job, I got the opportunity to expose myself to the wonderful world of electronic engineering especially in the test and measurement technologies.  I was ecstatic to link all the engineering theory that I learned from Curtin to the real world.  The types of instrument that I had the opportunity to work with ranges from low frequency (Voltmeter, LCR meter, Miliohmmeter) to RF frequency(Spectrum Analyser, Network Analyser, Signal Generator). 

I spent a couple of years in my first job before moving to become Field Application Engineer in another department within Agilent.  Over there I exposed myself with another type of Agilent test system(In Circuit Tester) where it is used in printed circuit board assembly(PCBA) manufacturing environment to verify manufacturing process through fundamental electronic measurement.  I spent 11 years in this area and had the opportunity to involve myself with various kind of circuit testing from different industries(computer, networking, medical).

Currently I am with a division within Agilent involving in design and developing new Test & Measurement instrument for Agilent.  Every now and then I always praise myself for making the right choice of being an engineer.  I always feel good that we as engineers are able to translate theories into practical for the benefit of the society.

Even though I have been involving in various job functions throughout my engineering career, one important knowledge that always require is a good solid fundamental engineering theory and strong analytical skills.  Very often, I always ask myself why didn't I study and understand a lot more fundamental theory in school so that I can solve my engineering problems faster.  Never the less, as long as you are in engineering field, you have to keep learning and acquire new knowledge to upgrade yourself to face the new challenges.

I strongly advise all my fellow Curtin engineering course mate, if you are seriously want to be a great engineer, please do not just focus and concentrate to do well in your examination.  I believe everyone in the engineering school will be able to pass the exam as long as you put an effort to get it done.  Usually you are able to score in the exam with flying colours but this does not mean anything if you do not understand the fundamental knowledge behind it.  Very often, I am very disappointed that many fresh engineering graduate with excellent results failed badly during the interview because they were too involve to score in the exam and forgot to acquire the actual basic engineering fundamental. 

You should make full use of your time to understand the fundamental of every subject and chapter regardless whether there are in the exam or not during your course.  You will never regret by learning extra above and beyond the exam.  This is especially true where if you are involving in real engineering work where every bit of engineering knowledge that you learned will be needed and still never be enough.  I do understand that there are many subjects in the engineering course that may not make much sense to you now but I am sure they are there for a reason.  As engineering is really an applied science where we turn theory into practical reality, I strongly encourage you to consult with your lecturers about how the current course/subject has the practical linkage to the real world.  I am sure all the lecturers are more than willing to share with you to make you understand better.

Finally, welcome to the exciting engineering world and lets help to create a better world.

Andrew Wong
Bachelor of Engineering (Information & Electronics)

Position: R&D Technology Manager
Company: Agilent Technologies (formerly Test & Measurement organisation of Hewlett-Packard)
Salary: 50k+

Katie Hall
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Construction Engineering)

Project Engineer for Macmahon Contractors
Annual Salary: $90k+

I currently work as a Project Engineer on Darwin City Waterfront Project constructing services (Water Sewer Stormwater and HV electrical) and Roads and carparks.

My budget is $12.2 Million Dollars and I have 30 people working on my crew. I love my job, it is challenging, I get to spend lots of money, make lots of money, make loads of decisions and learn something new almost every day. The best part about it is that when the weathers fine I spend all day outside and when its not I don't have to. It also being part of team that is accomplishing something every day and being able watch progress that you are responsible for.

To young girls looking at engineering I highly recommend this profession. It is the one profession where you really have the power to make a difference, whether it be providing essential services, building a place for people to live, building a road so that people can access a place they have never been before, you are guaranteed to feel satisfied and an important part of society.

Can you provide a short statement on your positive experiences as a woman in engineering or engineering in general? 

Is there something you would like to say to current or potential female engineering students?

I would recommend a career in Engineering to any women who enjoys a challenge and has a good background in Science and Maths.

Carolyn Brown
Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering),
Bachelor of Science (Chemistry)

Process Engineer. BP Refinery Kwinana

Walter Lukic
BE (Civil), Grad. Dip. Bus (Curtin), MIEAust, CPEng

Manager, WA Limestone Group

• Can you mention some positive study experiences while at Curtin? While studying at Curtin, I met people in industry through the Engineering School’s network of Industry partners.  A number of these contacts are now clients and service providers that I still work with today.

• Do you have any positive feedback regarding Curtin’s academic and facilities standards? I found the School’s materials labs to be as well or better equipped than most commercial testing labs.

• What does your job involve and how do you enjoy it? I am a Civil Engineer involved in the construction and building materials industry.  I have spent most of my career in Management and have enjoyed the variety in my roles and the people that I have worked with.

• Are there any interesting aspects to your job? The constant need to solve problems by working with others to get the best solution or outcome

• Are there any interesting happenings in your professional field (that you think may interest current or potential engineering students)? We are fortunate to live in a State that is regarded as a world leader in resource development. WA Engineers are highly regarded and much sought after.

• Do you have any advice for current students? Both now and post-graduation, always think about the further development of your professional career in the choices that you make.

• Any comments of your own? Keep your CV up to date and never let your knowledge, skills or career plateau or stagnate.  If this is happening then seek out more learning or mentoring from outside of your job or maybe look at changing jobs.  Avoid staying in the same job for more than 3-5 years.

Can you mention some positive study experiences while at Curtin?

1- I gained experience in the Electrical and Electronics lab, where there are variety of power system analyses tools open for 24 hour use.
2- The university has good collaboration between Electrical Utilities and Service providers, and I gained experience by sharing practice specially in my job in electrical operation and maintenance.
3- The School staff are multi-cultural and opened minded people, and I learned from some of them where their background power system were similar to my home country.

Do you have any positive feedback regarding Curtin’s academic and facilities standards?

The academic and facilities standard are high in quality and flexibility.

Are there any interesting aspects to your job?

For sure, yes. I have now started my own consultancy service in electrical system, searching for trouble shooting the power system problems and failures.

Juma Ali Al-Batrani
Master of Engineering Science (Electrical Utility Engineering)

Position: Electrical Consultant in a small limited consultancy establishment

Salary: ~$70,000/year

Louise Round
Hons (Eng Civil), Masters of Engineering Management (Curtin)

Senior Associate, Connell Wagner

Engineering has provided me with some fantastic opportunities and a real sense of achievement. I can point to many projects around Perth and say I was part of that, from small road safety improvements to the new railway. It has also allowed me to travel around Australia and overseas, including the world’s newest nation Timor Leste.

It has never been a better time to be an engineer, you can chose where your career takes you. Do not be put off by the perception that engineering is a man’s world, it is not that way anymore.

Do you have any advice or comments?

Study something that you enjoy.

Curtin has a good reputation in WA and Australia (especially for chemical engineers as they were the only ones doing it for so long).

Also, get as much work experience as you can… it pays more then normal work and it helps in the long run.

I worked at Boodarie Iron (HBI), The Swan Brewery, BP Refinery Kwinana and now I have been working for Worsley Alumina (as part of the BHPBilliton Graduate Program) for around 16 months. Will stay with Worsley for at least another 12 months then move on to some where else within BHPBilliton.

Chad Burrows
Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering)
Bachelor of Commerce (Management)

Position: Process Engineer
Company: Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd (Part of BHPBilliton)

Salary: Package of ~80k+