Skip to content

Carley So

from Working as a Pharmacy Assistant to Iberdrola Graduate
I support teams developing renewable energy projects in Australia
Industry
Renewable Energy
Company
Iberdrola Australia
Job Level
Entry

Ask me about

  • Fun things I've done in my career
  • How I knew I wanted to work in renewable energy
  • Networking and how to land job opportunities

About me

I studied chemical engineering in uni because I enjoyed math and chemistry in high school, even though I wasn’t completely sure what career it would lead to. I knew an engineering degree would open doors and give me options. In my third year, I started exploring what those options could look like through internships. I worked in both renewable energy consulting and pharmaceutical manufacturing. My first internship actually came from selling a concert ticket on Facebook Marketplace to someone who works in renewables! Through these experiences, I realised I was drawn to the renewable energy industry because it’s dynamic, meaningful and still evolving. In my final year, I did another internship in renewable fuels and clean technology, where I worked on community and stakeholder engagement. That experience laid the foundation and led me to my current role at Iberdrola Australia.

About my role

I am part of the graduate program at Iberdrola Australia. This is a two-year program involving four rotations across different teams. These rotations allow graduates to explore different areas of the project lifecycle and discover what they enjoy most. My first rotation is in Community and Stakeholder Engagement, supporting projects in the development phase. This involves visiting regional communities and speaking to neighbours and local organisations to understand what matters most to them.

My role includes organising community engagement sessions, developing communication materials, and building partnerships with schools, organisations and community groups. The goal is to ensure renewable energy projects not only deliver clean power, but also create positive, long-term benefits for the communities they are a part of.

Education

  • High School Certificate (NSW)
  • UNSW Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours)

Subjects

  • Business Studies
  • Chemistry
  • English
  • Physics
  • Science
  • Specialist Mathematics (Maths C)

Awards

  • Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours) - Honours Class 1

Hobbies

  • Paddle boarding
  • Pilates
  • Reading
  • Seeing family and friends
  • Yoga

15 year old me!!

“You don’t need to have it all figured out - you find what you enjoy by trying things, and every experience helps shape your path!!”

My career journey

Curious to know how I got here? Here’s a snapshot of my career pathway.
  1. First internship in renewable energy consulting
  2. Second internship in pharmaceutical manufacturing
  3. Third internship in renewable fuels
  4. Finished university
  5. Started a graduate program

My typical day

My employer

Iberdrola Australia has a 20-year history leading Australia's energy transition, blending local expertise with the global leadership of Iberdrola Group in renewables and network operations. We have a team of over 300 employees in Australia, and over 42,000 globally - the company operates in Europe, the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. Iberdrola is a leader in clean energy and is one of the world’s largest electricity utilities. Iberdrola is dedicated to fostering positive social impacts, ensuring that our projects provide genuine social value an set the standard for innovation social practices.