Growing up in a small town in British Columbia, Canada, I loved maths and science but had never really considered engineering as a career. In Grade 12, my physics teacher connected me with his daughter, a mechanical engineering student who generously answered my many questions about university and engineering. That conversation led me to study…
After coming to senior school teaching later on in my working life, I found myself in a series of roles in the education space outside of the traditional classroom. These roles were supporting disengaged young people back to learning, training and employment and they have now evolved into my current role as a VET Coordinator.…
I manage the technical aspects associated with our geotechnical risks at our closure legacy sites across the globe, this includes water dams, tailings dams, slopes, and underground.
With more than ten years of experience in this regional leadership role, Peta-Anne has led and supported a broad range of collaborative projects and strategic partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for students, staff, schools, and local communities. She is passionate about bringing people together to build strong networks that enhance educational outcomes and strengthen community…
In high school, physiotherapy was often suggested as a career path because I was strong in STEM and enjoyed sport. But I wanted variety and problem solving, so I chose to study a degree in Construction Management instead. That decision shaped a career I’m incredibly proud of. Construction has given me the variety I wanted…
My journey into sustainability wasn’t a straight line. I even did an extension year in high school studying jazz guitar, but I always knew I was drawn to STEM and fascinated by buildings. I grew up and went to school in Brisbane, then moved to Melbourne to study Architecture at Deakin University. I chose architecture…
I grew up loving science and solving problems, which led me to study chemical engineering and eventually earn a PhD. I started my career working in power stations, learning how energy is made and how to keep things running safely. Over time, I became a leader in renewable energy, managing wind farms and helping communities…
When I was in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I had always found maths and science came most naturally to me and were the most interesting subjects. My grandfather, father, and uncle had all worked as blue-collar construction workers when I was growing up, so I had some…
While my corporate career hasn’t followed a traditional path, I consider myself a collaborative, commercially astute, and action-oriented leader, who has a proven track record of driving benefits-led organisational change, process improvement, and digital transformation programs within large, complex, and heavily regulated operating environments. During the past 5+ years with Origin Energy, I have developed…
My educator journey has been shaped by a commitment to lifelong learning, curiosity, and a desire to support others in discovering their potential. Working with diverse learners has taught me that education is not simply about delivering information, but about building confidence, encouraging critical thinking, and creating inclusive environments where individuals feel seen and valued.…
At school, I enjoyed lots of different subjects, and my favourites were Maths C (specialist), Chemistry and Drama. I thought I would be a doctor or a biomedical scientist but ended up applying for a double degree in Engineering and Science. After school, I took a gap year to work as a teacher aide, which…
When I was in high school I was interested in math and science and also the environment, so I studied environmental engineering. When I finished university, I applied for various graduate jobs and was successful with Rio Tinto. I was not targeting mining specifically, but I immediately enjoyed the job, especially when I moved to…
In Grade 11, we had a Scenes of Crime Officer attend our school for a presentation. I thought it was pretty cool, however, I found the Police uniform intimidating and was unsure of myself and how I would/could get from where and who I was to where and who I wanted to be. Between school,…
I really didn’t know what I wanted to do when I left school, though I felt pulled to go to university. I decided to hedge my bets, and study a double degree in Business (Advertising) and Creative Industries (Media & Communication). There were elements of my degrees that I really enjoyed (consumer behaviour, strategic communication,…
When I was little, I did not know what I wanted to become, my parents made me study sciences to make sure I had options. I loved animals and wanted to become a zoologist, however whilst studying chemical engineering I witnessed the explosion of a Chemical Factory in the South-West of France, and decided to…
I grew up in NSW riding horses and playing hockey. I moved to QLD when I was in grade 6 and started going to work with my dad during the school holidays. I studied woodwork & engineering at school as electives. In grade 12 I was offered a position at Gold Coast School of Construction…