Division Events

Summary: Need to know more about what the future in engineering careers will hold? Then join this interactive panel as they discuss the following topics to present engineering as a career that can deliver individual and social rewards, while presenting engineering as a valuable, challenging and important profession within the community.

• What traits make an excellent Engineer?
  • High technical competence?
  • Excellent communication / negotiation skills?
  • Effective management skills – in projects and business?
  • Strategic visionary outlook on society?
  • Adaptability to change and broader global society?
• Will an engineer in the future need to be an all-rounder who can?
  • Understand a client’s problem / need
  • Conceptualise a solution
  • Communicate and “sell” the solution to the client and stakeholders
  • Manage the process of executing the project
• Will a successful engineer need to be able to look outwards, recognise society needs and drive change through business, community and government to deal with the future?

You as the audience are encouraged to participate with the panel to discuss the above topics. The panel will comprise of different organisations and select employees from within Meinhardt. Glenn Morris – Managing Director Meinhardt Australia and Global Group Director will host the panel.

Summary: The Goulburn Murray Region is experiencing unprecedented growth. With the region containing Victoria’s foodbowl and major manufacturing industry, there are multiple numbers of employment and career opportunities to work on a diverse range of significant engineering projects currently underway within a thriving economy.

The presenters will focus on regional opportunities that include graduate programs, scholarship schemes and unique employment opportunities that have been created in part by the continuing skill shortages in our region and the increasing demand for graduate and professional engineers to work on large government-funded projects resulting from inter alia the current drought.

Being located within easy driving distance of Melbourne, Mount Bulla and several beautiful rivers including the Goulburn and the Murray Rivers the region is the perfect environment to suit all lifestyles.

The facilities of the Goulburn Murray Region offer the graduate and experienced engineer a pathway to jumpstart and the opportunity to quickly build a career while enjoying the fantastic lifestyle that the region has to offer.

Summary: Rebecca will speak about how her experiences as an engineer are helping to influence the shape of the state's infrastructure to sustain Victoria's and Melbourne's liveability into the future. With a strong focus on developing solutions that are based on an assessment of the engineering requirements, and that have demonstrable social, economic and environmental benefits.

Rebecca will also talk about some of her amazing opportunities and experiences and how these have shaped her career and view about how the world of engineering can lead the way in delivering benefits to the way people live their daily lives.

This will include:

• Working as an engineering consultant, where she worked as a structural engineer designing civil infrastructure, such as bridges, underground railway stations and port facilities, in Australia and overseas.
• As a Board member of Engineers Without Borders, working with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through education and the implementation of sustainable engineering projects.
• At the Department of Infrastructure, where she has had the opportunity to have a real impact and make a contribution to the Victorian community.
• The opportunities available within the Public Sector for continued professional development.

Summary: The biggest obstacle for skilled migrants entering Australia is to get their first job in their profession. Many struggle to make a good impression because their CV does not provide what Australian employers are looking for.

This presentation will cover some of the issues to help engineers, particularly migrants, overcome this hurdle. Some of the topics covered will be:

• Marketing – what are employers looking for?
• Sales – displaying your capabilities?
• Australian engineering language
• Relating offshore engineering knowledge and experience to Australia.
• Australian CV style –it’s all about you
• Customising your CV to individual companies and job advertisements
• Selection criteria – interpreting what is required
• A selection criteria matching statement - evidence

Ian Little FIEAust CPEng is a senior engineering manager with WorleyParsons, an Australian owned multi-national engineering company. In this role he has worked in Australia, China and Saudi Arabia managing engineers from a wide range of countries of origin. He has employed and mentored migrant engineers settling in Australia, and is familiar with the challenges facing migrants. He has written a book to provide a resource to help migrant engineers settle in Australia titled Project Australia – The complete guide for engineers which will be published shortly.