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Brienne Makovsky

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…

Dips Narayan

When I left school, I had no idea I’d end up in construction — I actually studied videography. After travelling Europe on my OE, I landed a job in London with an infrastructure company, and that’s where everything changed. I realised I loved being part of something real — where ideas turn into buildings you…

Mia Hoffmann

When I finished high school, I took a gap year before enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts (Writing). I chose this degree because while I knew I wanted to go to uni, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I’ve always been a “words person”. After I graduated, I…

Tara Pollock

In my final year of school, I was unsure about what career I wanted to pursue. I chose to study a dual degree in Biomedical Science and Commerce because I was interested in both areas and wanted to keep my options open. At university, I enjoyed learning and trying new things, and during my final…

Celeste Tan

I did not originally plan to become a surveyor after leaving school and considered careers such as accounting, medicine, and engineering. While waiting for my STPM results (equivalent to the SSCE), I completed LCCI Levels 1–3 and considered pursuing accounting before accepting an offer to study Geomatic Engineering at a local university. After graduating, I…

Elsie Killick

In Year 10, I was torn between engineering and architecture, so I did work experience in both fields. I chose engineering because of the diverse career pathways it offered. During university, I worked part-time as a cadet engineer for a structural consulting firm while completing my degree. After three years in structural consulting post-graduation, I…

Theri Yip

Throughout high school, I had endless ideas about what I wanted to do, but architecture was the first path I decided to explore. After graduating, I took a gap year and then began studying architecture at university. It didn’t take long for me to realise that, while I loved the construction world, the degree itself…

Josephine Quantrill

After leaving school I had no clue what I wanted to do as a career! I took two years off study and worked in my hometown in Far North Queensland, surrounded by the beautiful natural environment. During this time, I came to the decision that I wanted to put my energy into helping the planet.…

Emma Howson

I grew up in the UK and always had a passion for geography, which led me to study Environment and Business at university – a degree combining sustainability and business principles. During my studies, I completed a year in industry at Network Rail, the UK’s largest rail infrastructure company, as an Environmental and Sustainable Development…

Ameliya Gibbs

I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life when I was 17 and I followed my peers into a Psychology degree at university. I was 3 years in to the degree and still unsure of my future. I pivoted and graduated from a Bachelor of Public Relations & Communications thinking that…

Sherry Woodhouse

I lacked a clear career path after school. In year 10, a 3-day multimedia class at the University of Queensland sparked my interest in the field, and I planned to pursue it after high school. However, family influence steered me towards an undergraduate degree in Information Technology (Systems). After graduating during the Dot Com bubble,…

Mikaela Charlton

After high school, I enrolled in university with an interest in fashion and marketing, though I wasn’t certain about my career direction. Initially considering a gap year, I chose to start university to broaden my horizons and meet new people. During my studies, I spent a lot of time traveling. It was in my final…

Sharnte Butler

I had wanted to become a firefighter since I was a child! At the age of 17, I knocked on the door of the local fire station. This station was auxiliary firefighters (on call in small communities), and I was told that I was too young! With that in mind, I found a fulltime management…

Caitlin Damiani

From a young age, I’ve been very creative and thought outside the box. I have a love for math, but creativity always prevailed. The majority of my classes throughout school reflected that. When it came time to choose a university path, I selected architecture. It allowed me to be creative while also giving me the…

Rose Pedler

I was living in Queensland from 12 years old and completed my Cert 3 in Business Administration straight out of high school because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I also knew that university wasn’t for me as I struggled to study and complete assignments. I now know that I am ADHD. After…

Tammy Dance

I had no idea I would be the Assistant Operation Manager at the Port of Brisbane. I would come out to the Port as a teenager and hang out with friends riding dirt bikes and playing loud music. I started my career in childcare and did work experience in Year 12 that led into a…

Diana Geaboc

My journey was anything but typical! I did not know what I wanted to do when I finished school, but I knew I wasn’t done learning. I started one university degree (Law), but halfway through realised it wasn’t for me. After a lot of reflection, I decided to try Engineering. I liked finding creative solutions…

Cristina Olivie Molina

I enrolled in Industrial Engineering in Madrid after school mainly because it was a broad field, and, although I knew I had an interest in engineering, I wasn’t sure what career I wanted. Through various courses, I found Electrical Engineering interesting and decided to study it further. I spent a year abroad in the US,…

Piper Workman

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…

Kethmi Upeka

When I was younger, I wanted to be a doctor. But growing up in a Sri Lankan family, becoming an engineer was one of the top professions my mum encouraged me to consider. Looking back, I’m so glad I chose this path because it suits me perfectly, and the work-life balance at Department of Transport…