What does the new ecosystem of work look like?
Aurecon’s study – Workplace Ecology 2.0 – explores the shifting workforce expectations and habits that are redefining the ecosystem of places to work.
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Fiona Wyer is a mechanical engineer who joined Aurecon in March 2023. Throughout university, she gained experience in different types of mechanical engineering and wanted to explore diverse career paths.
Fiona decided to join Aurecon for its team culture, professional development opportunities and variety of work across a broad range of industries. As a graduate, she learned about building services design, developed her professional engineering skills and has been involved in initiatives such as Limelight.
I am a mechanical engineer in the Brisbane Buildings team where I work on mechanical services, hydraulic systems, fire protection and ecologically sustainable design for the built environment. My role involves designing and modelling building services such as heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC), plumbing and drainage. I do this by working with colleagues to develop schematic design mark-ups before finalising them in computer aided design (CAD) software such as Revit and AutoCAD.
One of the first major projects I worked on was developing a Building Condition Assessment report for the Swanbank Power Station administration and warehouse buildings. Our team was asked to provide an assessment of all the building services’ assets. We had a two-day site inspection at the power station which is set to be redeveloped into a clean energy hub.
More recently, I have been involved in designing drainage services for rural housing across Queensland. My team was tasked with modelling the sanitary drainage and potable water services of modular dwellings. This involved engaging with many stakeholders, including local government area councils and the civil land and water teams.
I am currently working closely with the electrical team to upgrade building services for the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). I am designing the mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning systems for the upgraded switchboard and dimmer rooms. This project has included site visits to QPAC and modelling coordination with Aurecon’s overseas offices. I have really enjoyed going behind the scenes of building services design and of QPAC’s backstage areas. It is exciting to see how much engineering goes into a performance!
The people. I work with highly knowledgeable and encouraging colleagues who are always happy to help with technical queries and support my professional development. Aurecon has a welcoming and supportive work environment and I enjoy coming into the office for the coffee catchups, kitchen conversations, lunchtime chats with other graduates and Limelight events. Getting to know other early career professionals and making friendships that go beyond the professional workplace has been a highlight of my Aurecon experience.
Besides playing the flute in a wind symphony and competing in gymnastics, I am also the Chair of Canteen Australia’s Youth Advisory Team. As a Youth Leader, Advisor and Ambassador, I advocate for improved cancer care and support services for young adults. This volunteer role complements my day-to-day work as it allows me to apply professional skills such as leading teams and facilitating meaningful discussions. In my spare time, I enjoy learning Australian Sign Language (Auslan) and being creative through writing poetry.
From attending my first Limelight event, to now being part of the Queensland committee; Limelight has been a key highlight of my graduate experience. I currently run public speaking workshops for early career professionals in Brisbane, which came into fruition because several of my colleagues were looking to improve their presentation skills.
I wanted to foster a safe and supportive environment for my peers to learn tips, tricks and techniques for building confidence when speaking. I have organised and facilitated two practical workshops so far and will be running more in the future. It has been a very rewarding experience seeing so many early career professionals partake in these events!
If I can give two pieces of advice, it is to find your courage and to take ownership of your career. Being able to lean into discomfort and advocate for yourself will lead to great opportunities.
Aurecon’s study – Workplace Ecology 2.0 – explores the shifting workforce expectations and habits that are redefining the ecosystem of places to work.
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