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Piper Workman

from Gymnastics coach to Photovoltaic Engineer (Graduate)
I keep the turbine blades spinning and the solar panels producing
Industry
Energy, gas and oil
Company
Iberdrola Australia
Job Level
Entry

Ask me about

  • How I got started in my career
  • Why working in renewable energy is different from other engineering
  • How to stand out in scholarships and job applications

About me

In high school, I was always into maths and science, which led me to pursue engineering. I’ve always had a passion for the environment, and I knew I wanted a career that would make a real difference, so I decided to specialise in photovoltaic engineering, in other words solar panel engineering!

During university I landed an internship at Iberdrola Australia, and I loved it from the start. I ended up coming back part-time because I enjoyed it so much. After finishing university, I returned to Iberdrola Australia as a graduate engineer, ready to keep learning and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

About my role

  • Confident
  • Daring
  • Passionate
  • Practical
  • Thorough

Being an engineer is like being the person everyone asks for help but can't quite explain what you actually do - "You build things, right?" Well sort of ... but also, you can run wind farms and solar farms! Working as an engineer in an operations team at a renewable energy company, every day looks different.

The main job is to help manage the contracts and make sure everything is being done according to the rules. The engineer also helps make sure the company isn’t at risk of breaching any regulations and has procedures in place to keep the wind turbines running and producing electricity! It’s a mix of solving problems, working with contractors and making sure everything is running as planned, all while helping the company create clean energy for the future.

Education

  • High School Certificate (NSW)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Photovoltaics and Solar Energy) (Hons)

Subjects

  • Art
  • Chemistry
  • English
  • General Mathematics (Maths A)
  • Mathematical Methods (Maths B)
  • Physics
  • Science
  • Specialist Mathematics (Maths C)

Awards

  • UNSW Co-op Scholarship Recipient

Hobbies

  • Art
  • Beach adventures
  • Dancing
  • Gym
  • Gymnastics

15 year old me!!

“Work hard, but don't forget to have fun. Life isn't just about achievements, it's about enjoying the journey too!”

My career journey

Curious to know how I got here? Here’s a snapshot of my career pathway.
  1. Landed an internship
  2. Loved it and kept working
  3. Completed an Industry Thesis
  4. Finished university
  5. Started 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.