Star Xian

Bachelor of Environmental Science
Graduate Analyst

What led you to Aurora, and what did you do before?

Before joining Aurora, I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Management from UNSW and interned at the New South Wales Biodiversity Conservation Trust under the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water. My path to data science and Aurora was serendipitous. I immersed myself in various data science courses and then joined a plant and data science lab meeting, engaging in diverse research projects. Afterward, I led a big data research project conducting bibliometric analysis and was later invited to co-author a meta-research paper. Seeking a professional career in renewable energy and the application of data science to decision-making, I submitted my application to Aurora, unaware that it would mark the beginning of a fulfilling journey with toward becoming an energy market expert.

Can you describe a typical day in your role?

A typical day for me varies but generally involves meeting with clients alongside the project team, gathering client-specific asset inputs and running our in-house energy system models. I double-check model results for accuracy, identify the drivers behind variations, and prepare deliverables such as databooks and reports. Additionally, I perform calculations and prepare workbooks for client-specified services. Throughout the day, I attend various internal and external energy-related webinars, read energy-related news and reports, or listen to engaging podcasts.

If you were to pitch your job to someone, what would you say you enjoyed the most?

I find immense joy in the continuous learning opportunities offered by my work at Aurora. Every day brings new insights. Aurora provides a professional setting where you can immerse yourself in learning about power markets and the energy transition. Moreover, working with clients at the forefront of energy transformation and the decarbonisation of energy systems makes for a fulfilling career.

How would you describe the culture at Aurora?

Aurora fosters an inclusive, multicultural, and supportive environment. Our team consists of knowledgeable and humble professionals who generously share their expertise and support one another in learning, growing, and succeeding. We follow a Rule of Thumb culture: support your colleagues by providing three pieces of positive feedback for every suggestion. We are more like a big family, caring for each other.

Can you share a moment when you felt particularly empowered at Aurora?

After five months, I presented a market and grid analysis of a wind farm during a briefing session. This experience was empowering for two main reasons. Firstly, it marked a significant milestone in validating my knowledge, which became concrete thanks to my project lead’s excellent guidance during the advisory project. Secondly, my supportive colleagues played a crucial role by providing detailed and encouraging feedback. Their support gave me the confidence to improve and challenge myself in future briefings.

In what ways does Aurora support your sense of purpose in your career?

My colleagues are not only knowledgeable and humble professionals but also excellent instructors who can break down intricate terms into simple and easy-to-understand phrases. This has given me a strong sense of purpose to develop a deep understanding of energy markets and become a good instructor myself, sharing my knowledge with the next cohort of graduate analysts.

What have you gained from your time at Aurora, and what do you hope to achieve next?

Since joining Aurora, I have cultivated a strong passion for my role. I get excited by analysing graphs and understanding the drivers behind trends. I have also learned to create logical and solid storylines backed by hard evidence and unquestionable data. Currently, I am in the process of developing magic fingers for using Excel and mastering various programming languages.

Reflecting on your start at Aurora, what's one thing you wish you would have known, and what advice would you give a new starter?

One thing I wish I had known when I started working at Aurora is that curiosity and the ability to learn quickly are just as important in the workplace as they are in school. My advice to students exploring graduate programs is to be confident in yourself. I remember feeling intimidated when browsing the impressive resumes of Aurora employees, but I decided to give it a try. I encourage you to do the same. If you apply, something surprising might happen; if you don’t, nothing will. If you get an interview, ask questions and show your eagerness to learn.

John Lee

Bachelor of Commerce
Graduate Analyst

What led you to Aurora, and what did you do before?

I graduated from The University of Melbourne with a Bachelor's degree in Commerce, majoring in Finance and Economics. Through experiences in consulting clubs, case competitions, and consulting internships, I realised there was a gap in the market for renewable energy expertise. This sparked my interest in consulting, specifically within the renewable energy transition.

Can you describe a typical day in your role?

Each morning starts off with a catch up with the rest of the advisory team, giving us a space to discuss our priorities for the day. Afterwards, I jump into advisory work, which ranges from running market models and analysing results to populating deliverables to be sent to clients. Throughout the day, there might be trainings, coffee catchups, or one-on-one meetings with team members, which helps me feel a sense of community within Aurora.

If you were to pitch your job to someone, what would you say you enjoyed the most?

The amount of deep learning about the power market industry from working on projects and chatting with colleagues. The most enjoyable parts are engaging with subject matter experts in the office and understanding how Aurora’s models or a particular market works.

How would you describe the culture at Aurora?

Work hard, play harder. The people at Aurora are sharp and switched on with a lot of emphasis on teamwork and collaboration in projects. At the same time, on top of flexibility and the option to work from home, there’s plenty of opportunity for fun. We have regular social events with activities like pasta making classes, trivia nights, and “champainting” for the grad cohort!

Can you share a moment when you felt particularly empowered at Aurora?

I have felt the most empowered when working through difficult projects. On one project, I had a client who had requested for many deliverables in a very short timeframe. A senior associate in the team guided me through the thought process and workflow of how to deliver what the clients had asked for. This created a sense of camaraderie and built up my self-confidence in delivering complex project deliverables and managing my priorities.

In what ways does Aurora support your sense of purpose in your career?

I’m personally very interested to see how the global energy transition will pan out. As Aurora is rapidly expanding into new markets, I’m keen to grow alongside the company as we produce deep market insights to aid in the global transition to a cleaner, greener future.

What have you gained from your time at Aurora, and what do you hope to achieve next?

Aurora has given me a level of competency in analysing market models and an understanding of what and how the key drivers affect the Australian energy transition. At the same time, I’ve gained interpersonal, communication, and data presentation skills through client meetings and internal presentations. As I progress with Aurora, I hope to develop deep and specialised knowledge on markets in Australia, across APAC, and globally.

Reflecting on your start at Aurora, what's one thing you wish you would have known, and what advice would you give a new starter?

Don’t take it upon yourself to understand everything on day one. After progressing through 6 months in the graduate programme, I’m still constantly learning new things about the market and our internal model configurations every day. Pro tip: During trainings and meetings, jotting down notes and reviewing them periodically really helped consolidate my thoughts and fill in any knowledge gaps.

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