Christina Sakkas

Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Brisbane
Bachelor Of Engineering – Mechanical (Hons), QUT, 2020

What is your role and what do you do?

As a mechanical engineer working for a company whose bread and butter is designing mineral processing plants, I am one of the links in the chain of delivering well-engineered solutions for our clients. Broadly, the technical aspect of the design role involves performing calculations based on the plant’s process requirements to size and select suitable mechanical equipment. There are many other facets to the job: some which require mechanical engineering knowledge; and others which utilise more general skills such as organisation, effective communication, problem solving, and lateral thinking. Especially as a graduate, the role of a mechanical engineer does not fit perfectly into one box. The opportunity to specialise in a particular area becomes available once you have experienced and developed a broader range of skills.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

I love performing technical comparisons between different equipment on offer, to make the correct selection. It’s a fun challenge because it utilises numbers and calculations, facts and figures, but along the way you begin to understand more about how the equipment works and how it ties into the overall goal – to refine ore!

What has been your career highlight to date?

My career highlight to date (in addition to making long-lasting friendships and connections with my wonderful colleagues) was my time spent commissioning a multi-stage plant expansion at Ravenswood Gold in North Queensland. My time at Ausenco before this opportunity had been spent mostly in the office, so it was a delight to get out on site, see it in action, and discover what commissioning was all about. It was an invaluable learning experience, and the knowledge I gained on site I’ve since taken back with me to the office. To become a good design engineer, site experience is essential!

What advice would you give to a new graduate entering the program?

My key advice for a new graduate entering the program would be to take the initiative to learn! There is a strong chance that while you are starting out, you won’t be particularly busy with work specifically assigned to you. If you find yourself in a lull, it is always good to offer a hand where it may be needed, but also use these quiet times as an opportunity to sink your teeth into learning skills and acquiring knowledge relevant to your role. A lot of the skills and knowledge required to be an effective engineer at Ausenco is job-specific, so it is essential for you to respect that learning does not stop once you have got your degree. If you use these quiet times wisely, by doing both self-directed learning and drawing on the experience from those around you, you will be much better equipped to tackle work that comes your way later.

Zachary Tooley

Graduate Process Engineer, Newcastle
Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Hons), University of Newcastle, 2021

What is your role and what do you do?

I am a Graduate Process Engineer that works primarily on projects in the mining and minerals sectors. These involve optimising existing plants and doing study work on greenfield opportunities. Day-to-day I get to work on mass balances, P&ID creation, equipment selection and sizing (as a few examples).

What do you most enjoy about your role?

I enjoy working with the wide range of capable engineers within the company. Getting to see what other engineering disciplines do and gain their perspective on the project is very insightful and is helping me to become a better engineer.

What has been your career highlight to date?

Within the first few months of starting my graduate position, I was provided with the opportunity to be involved in commissioning at a mine site. I was able to solve some issues regarding process instrumentation which allowed a smoother commissioning process and built my confidence in my engineering ability.

What advice would you give to a new graduate entering the program?

Say Yes! Opportunities will be provided to you along the way and the best way to learn is to step out of your comfort zone and push yourself! You never know what you’ll learn by just staying “Yes!”

Markos Androulis

Graduate Structural Engineer, Newcastle
Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Hons), University of Newcastle, 2021

What is your role and what do you do?

Graduate Structural Engineer. Steel and concrete designs for any type of structure, as well as site visits to inspect construction and for maintenance items.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

The technical challenges from unique jobs, in respect to steel and concrete design.

What has been your career highlight to date?

Working on the HVO ROM project, where the skills and knowledge I have previously acquired was tested.

What advice would you give to a new graduate entering the program?

Listen to the leaders in your discipline, as well as the experienced drafts people who have a wealth of knowledge to guide you. Don’t stress and expand your contacts to open new opportunities.

Cameron Thornton

Specialist Software Developer, Brisbane
Bachelor of Science, University of Queensland, 2020

What is your role and what do you do?

I am a Specialist Software Developer part of a team responsible for the Ausenco's Orien Software. My role is to assist in designing, building, and maintaining the product, along with completing projects involving but not limited to, data migrations and software integrations.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

Working in a team of highly competent and driven professionals within an ever-evolving industry. I enjoy finding the best solutions and providing the most benefit to the product and our clients.

What has been your career highlight to date?

The current project I am working on is the first project where I am solely responsible and accountable for developing the scripts to automate as much of the migration process as possible, while proving metrics to assist in engaging the client further for additional work on a larger project.

What advice would you give to a new graduate entering the program?

Get involved as much as possible and take the opportunities given to you. Ausenco have an excellent graduate program and really care and invest in your professional development. You will get exposure to other areas of the business and gain unique insight and valuable wisdom from our leaders.

Shenesse Dempsey

Graduate Structural Engineer, Brisbane
Bachelor of Civil Engineering, James Cook University, 2021

What is your role and what do you do?

I am a graduate structural engineer. I design steel and concrete models that support and create access maintenance points for the different types of mechanical, piping and process equipment. This involves designing structural connections, platforms, material handling structures, load calculations, concrete volumes, slabs, pedestals, and footings, just to name a few.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

I enjoy that my job is challenging as it is continuously changing and very technical. I enjoy the collaboration between the many different disciplines, and most of all Ausenco’s supportive community, which is very important to me as a new professional.

What has been your career highlight to date?

Working on Eva Copper, which was my first project. It was a highlight as it was the first time working on structures that required input from different disciplines (designers, mechanical, electrical and process). I really learned a lot and the environment that exists here at Ausenco really embraces graduates. Everyone is extremely supportive and ready to answer questions no matter how mundane.

What advice would you give to a new graduate entering the program?

To relax and enjoy the process. Everyone was once a new graduate, and they understand how you’re feeling. Ask all the questions, attend all the events and training sessions on offer and you’ll learn a lot, not just about your own field, but how the rest of the company works.

Nelson Lee

Graduate Structural Engineer, Perth
Bachelor of Engineering - Civil/Construction (Hons), Curtin University, 2020

What is your role and what do you do?

I am a graduate structural engineer working on multiple global projects. I am responsible for getting the optimised steel and concrete quantities by analysing the design to make sure the structures operate perfectly. I get to design the steel structures, plateworks, and concrete footings using the different software. Also, I do the calculation reports for each structure which includes the loading information, connection & footing designs, analysed results, etc. As a structural engineer, I work closely with designers and engineers in other disciplines to get the correct information, such as equipment and material loads.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

I enjoy doing the design and calculation work on engineering tasks in collaboration with engineers in other disciplines, for projects in different countries.

What has been your career highlight to date?

Working on different projects in other countries, such as Brazil, Namibia, Indonesia, etc. and learning the standards and design criteria in those countries. Additionally, learning how to integrate the models between the analysis software and drafting software easily.

What advice would you give to a new graduate entering the program?

There will be a lot of community and social events, so get involved and attend as many events as you can to expand your connections, as this will be helpful for your personal development.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone will make mistakes, but the key to career development is to recognise the mistakes and learn from them going forward.

The rotation opportunities in the New Professional Program are really interesting. You will enjoy working with people in different teams while getting exposure to other areas of the business.

Rhys Pichanick

Business Analyst, Brisbane
Bachelor of IT and a Bachelor of Creative Industries, QUT, 2020

What is your role and what do you do?

I'm a Business Analyst in the software development team working on our own software called Orien. Orien is used internally and externally by clients to implement preventative maintenance and forecast maintenance budgets. In the role of Business Analyst I am responsible for the following:

Design the system to accommodate the needs of the client and Ausenco.
Manage software requests and provide solutions.
Ensure the software is designed for growth and is easy to use.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

Solving problems and identifying problems that are yet to occur. Nothing beats saying 'We've already solved that!'.

What has been your career highlight to date?

I'd say hitting those key milestones of number of users or a new clients. The feeling of knowing that there will always be new opportunities and challenges is always welcome. I enjoy growing alongside my work. Being able to say that I helped develop and design with this or that, are always great career milestones to have.

What advice would you give to a new graduate entering the program?

Ask questions. You aren't expected to know everything. Learning what you don't know is the best way to improve.

Kyle Dabon

Process Engineer, Brisbane
Bachelor of Process Engineering, QUT, 2017

What is your role and what do you do?

As a Process Engineer my role can be rather dynamic. One day I will be in the office adding value to process engineering deliverables and the next on site in rural Australia working with the plant operators to achieve metallurgical KPIs or commissioning large plant expansions. The common denominator with all these responsibilities is that I must ensure that our processes are optimised, and we are recovering as much mineral as possible and as safely as possible.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

In my role, nothing beats the rush and feeling of that Aha! moment. It is that human experience of suddenly understanding a previously incomprehensible engineering problem. When you think you have explored all possibilities and still unable to generate a solution and then unexpectedly, after a break in mental fixation, the answer is found.

What has been your career highlight to date?

I have several highlights that range from exciting overseas opportunities to something closer to home, such as chairing the APAC New Professionals Program. I would say that the experience I have found to be of most value was being granted the opportunity to work alongside the various skillsets on site.

As either a Commissioning Engineer or a Plant Metallurgist I was interfacing with operators, fitters and electricians everyday. No matter what challenges we faced, it required the ability to share knowledge and ideas, and work together to find a resolve. While on site, I found a lot of value in the collaboration with various trades and disciplines to open my eyes to the reality of my designs and the implications to oversights in plant and process design.

What advice would you give to a new graduate entering the program?

I consider myself an audacious person who isn’t very risk averse and depending on who you are this may not be your approach. However, the way I view a graduate program, is that you have 4-5 years of the ‘discovery’ phase and during this phase I urge for new graduates entering the Ausenco program to take every single challenging opportunity that presents itself. As a Process Engineer, it is not uncommon for us to put on many hats throughout the design process. A Process Engineer who has spent time in the various branches of Process Engineering, and in other faculties of an engineering office, makes to be a well-rounded engineer. Whether it be in the proposals team or on-site commissioning a large processing plant, these experiences are priceless in your overall development and will help shape you to be the best engineer you can be.