Lydia is a Graduate Engineer working in our energy team in Perth. She is a creative problem solver with a passion for numbers and the planet. Learn more about Lydia’s graduate experience and how she is helping accelerate Australia’s transition to renewable energy.
What did you study and where? ?
I studied a Master of Professional Engineering, specialising in mechanical engineering at the University of Western Australia in Perth.
Why did you choose the Arup graduate programme??
While I was studying and learning about the climate crisis, I discovered I could use my knowledge to tackle future challenges and help Australia decarbonise. I chose renewable energy electives for my degree and completed my thesis on the numerical modelling of a wave energy converter. When I was looking for a graduate programme Arup was the natural choice for me and aligned with my values. I learned about the organisation’s commitment to sustainable development and global decarbonisation and how their energy team is dedicated to the clean energy transition. Many other consultants still work with carbon-based energy but not Arup.
“Whatever I am doing I want to have a positive impact on people and the planet and I’m getting a great head start working at Arup. ”
What do you get up to in your day-to-day role??
Every day is different and diverse. In the Perth office we are focused on offshore wind and hydrogen – two new industries in Australia. My work involves laying the foundations for a renewable energy industry, including site selection, energy yield market analysis, supply chain assessment, electrical and foundation concept design. The team is fun and supportive, and I look forward to coming to work every day. As someone who loves doing a variety of things, my role offers me a wide variety of projects to keep me engaged and always learning.
? What has been your most enjoyable moment/project so far? ?
It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing; however, a big highlight is working on offshore wind projects. It’s an emerging industry and there are many challenges and dynamics to overcome to accelerate the industry in Australia. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of an industry critical to Australia’s transition to net zero where things are always changing rapidly.
What are your future aspirations? ?
In the future I want to keep helping Australia accelerate decarbonise by working in offshore wind, hydrogen and other emerging technologies like wave energy. The world is changing rapidly so I can’t say exactly what I would like to be doing in the future. Whatever I am doing I want to have a positive impact on people and the planet and I’m getting a great head start working at Arup.