Past Graduates Profiles

David To

Why Chemical Engineering?

There are a couple of reasons why I chose to do Chemical Engineering. I didn't really know what I wanted to do after year 12 but I knew that I enjoyed Maths, Chemistry, and a challenge. The Chemical Engineering degree provides all that and also opens up a lot of careers paths including pharmaceutical, energy, mining, etc.  

What did I learn?

In the first couple of years, I developed a good understanding of the fundamentals of Chemical Engineering. The final two years were more demanding and really improved my problem solving and team work skills. I am also in the process of completing my Ph.D which I did part-time for the last four years. This has been really challenging and rewarding. It has developed my ability to work independently and given me more confidence in my analytical and report writing skills.

Where am I now?

I am now working for Santos as an Oil Production Optimisation Engineer. This role builds on what I learnt in my Chemical Engineering degree, specifically process engineering, and it requires a lot of team work. I am mainly office based but visit the field on occasions which gives me practical experience. The graduate program at Santos allows me to rotate into different positions over the next 3 years to develop and understand various aspects of the company.

Charlene du Toit

Why Pharmaceutical Engineering?

Throughout my childhood I always wanted to become a doctor, but before I hit high school I realised that line of work was not for me and that chemical engineering would be better suited for me. During year 12, I participated in a CSIRO Student Research Scheme where I worked with staff at the University of Adelaide. It was during this time that I heard about Pharmaceutical Engineering starting the following year. This sounded like a very interesting and exciting degree to study, and being one of the first graduates I know would be a challenge but I was keen to take it up. 

What am I learning?

The first year was very similar to chemical engineering providing the foundations to support me throughout the next few years to follow. During second year, and now third, we learn more in detail about how drugs work within the body, unit operations to design a process to develop a drug required, and basic practical skills within a laboratory setting related to pharmaceuticals. The specific set of laws that has to be adhered to in a pharmaceutical area are thought early on as this forms the basis of most of the work we will take part in after graduating.

What have I gained?

At the end of my second year I did a vacation placement at Mayne Pharma International in Salisbury. I spent time with the Engineering and Validation department which allowed me to do a large range of tasks. I assisted in revalidations of equipment, following the hands-on process to manufacture a drug and compiling batch records data to help sort out a tablet picking problem.
My main task within the engineering department was to perform an Equipment Qualification on a new Capsulation machine the company recently purchased. To do this I had to gather all the information on hand about the equipment and set up an Equipment Qualification protocol. This included: risk assessments, electrical testing, OH&S checks, calibration tasks, and setting trial conditions. With the help of a senior development Chemist we performed all the trials and requirements to ensure the equipment performed as specified by the manufacturer. This encapsulator will be used for clinical trials, new drug testings and small scale productions.
A proposed system for a new cleaning procedure for one of the liquid manufacturing rooms was required to ensure a low risk of safety of the staff and contamination of the containers. My job was to write up the report for this system. I researched the cost of the new parts required and tasks to be performed by the maintenance crew. P & I drawing were scheduled to be done electronically from my drawings and specifications I received. This report was authorised by the required signatories and filed to be installed within the room in the new future.
Doing the work experience helped me to apply skills I have learned to real-life situations. I realised the variety of work I can possibly do which only assured me in my decision to become a Pharmaceutical Engineer.
 

Ben Wilkinson

Why Chemical Engineering?

I was introduced to Chemical Engineering as a study choice during Year 11 Work Education.  I had a keen interest in the practical side of physics and chemistry and really enjoyed mathematics throughout high school, and knew that Chemical Engineering would provide a rewarding challenge at university.

What did I learn?

Analytical and problem solving skills were keenly developed throughout the course, as well as providing a broad knowledge of chemistry, physics, mathematics and computing.  In the latter years of the course, the focus narrowed in on the core process engineering areas, fluid mechanics, chemical processes as well as practical work and design projects.

University taught me a wide variety of skills, not just in the lecture theatres or laboratories.  Communication skills are vital for engineers, as well as team work and project management, and the Chemical Engineering course provided many interesting areas to develop these skills.

Industrial experience was also a focus of the coruse, with a minimum twelve weeks of work experience required.  It is common to gain those three months of experience at the end of third year, however as I was underaking a double degree, I was able to gain a total of nine months experience in the mining, water and energy industries. 

Where am I now?

Having experienced a few different areas during my work expereince, I moved into the consulting industry, and am currently working at GPA Engineering in Adelaide as a Process Engineer.  My work for GPA Engineering allows me a broad range of areas to work in, with various clients in the Oil & Gas, Mining, Processing and Water Treatment industries, putting to use all of the skill I gained from study at Adelaide University. 

Simon Hanlin

Why Chemical Engineering?

I attended a seminar in year 12 on Engineering as a career option and the Chemical Engineer who spoke sparked my curiosity.  I had wanted to study pharmacy, but having a strong background in maths and science I realised after the seminar I wanted a more hands on, processing career. 

What did I find?

Throughout University I thought it was going to be hard to get a career in the Pharmaceutical industry, especially living in Adelaide.  Studying Chemical Engineering was not what I was expecting at first, but was both interesting and challenging, giving a strong foundation in problem solving and logical thinking.

Where am I now?

After applying to a two line advertisement in the paper I started work, much to my surprise, at Mayne Pharma as a Validation Engineer.  My role as a Validation Engineer has seen me learn about a wide range of process equipment, systems and materials. The key idea of a Validation Engineer is to provide a high level of documented evidence that equipment and services conform to a written standard. 

In my role at Mayne Pharma I have been involved with validation of equipment ranging from bottling and packing lines and equipment, computer software and systems, purified water systems, air handling units, spray dryers and various other process equipment for manufacture of tablets, capsules, creams and liquid pharmaceuticals. 

As I gain more experience in the validation side of Pharmaceutical Engineering I have taken on some smaller projects as a Project Engineer and now manage small projects as well as completing validation on larger projects.

Matthew Row

Why Chemical Engineering?

I had no idea what I wanted to do after I finished high school so I had a look through the SATAC guide and found the courses which had the highest TER for the previous year.  I was accepted into Mechatronic engineering but I then found that Chemical had a higher TER for that year so I swapped to it before the university year started.  Choosing a future career by this method turned out to be very fortunate as I quite enjoy my profession.

What did I learn?

The initial years of Chemical Engineering consisted primarily of foundation subjects for the rest of the degree.  The final years developed my management and team working skills while putting the knowledge I had learnt into real world situations.

The work placement component of the degree offered me a great opportunity to put the skills I had learnt to the test and further develop them into real world situtations. 

Where am I now?

When I finished my degree I was not really sure what industry I wanted to go into.  So I decided to take on a consultant process engineering role at GPA Engineering.  This role enables me to work on various projects in industries such as oil and gas, minerals, water and manufacturing without being pigeon-holed into any one industry.  It also allows me to have both hands on, technical and project management experience.

Anne Willanski

Why Chemical Engineering?

In high school I enjoyed chemistry and maths, so when it came to choosing a university course, chemical engineering stood out as fitting my interests. A family friend who worked at Adelaide Brighton Cement arranged for me to tour the plant and meet a chemical engineer. After this visit I was hooked on engineering.  I chose a double degree combined with science, majoring in chemistry, to keep up the practical side of science. 

What did I learn?

The engineering course gave me a good background in mass and energy balances, working with materials in different states (solid, liquid, gas) and working on batch and continuous processes.

Adding to the first principles I learned in university the wide variety of career opportunities offered to chemical engineers means I learned the specifics of the industry on the job. The main skill I learned through university is how to approach problems and break them down to manageable sections. 

Where am I now?

I have been with WorleyParsons since graduation.  WorleyParsons is a leading provider of professional services to the energy, resource and complex process industries around the world and I have experienced a variety of projects and roles, both office and site based.

Through my site work I have enjoyed visiting and living in remote areas of South Australia such as Roxby Downs and Beverley where I have developed friendships, interests and expertise. It is special to see an outback sunset and meet the shy creatures of this amazing land just outside your front door.

Thanks to the magic of today's communication, my office based work means that I have been involved in design and investigation for mining projects, both here in South Australia and in other countries around the world. Each project is different, complex and interesting. It is very satisfying to be involved in solving problems and bringing a project to a conclusion.

I enjoy the variety of working in consulting and through these experiences and the support of the WorleyParsons graduate program I gained Chartered Professional Engineer status (CPEng ).

Lucy Broughton

Why Chemical Engineering?

Throughout school I was drawn to maths and science subjects. My rationale for undertaking a combined degree in Chemical Engineering and Science was to integrate the highly practical problem solving / design aspects of engineering with the theoretical / research oriented aspects of science.

What did I learn?

The initial two years of the degree course in Chemical Engineering provided a solid grounding in maths, chemistry and foundation engineering subjects. The final two years of the degree drew down into the heart of chemical engineering. the faculty offered many opportunities which stretched and developed my technical and problem solving skills.I majored in Pharmacology and Biochemistry in my Science degree, which complemented biochemical engineering subjects.

Where am I now?

Through my technical development at university, in conjunction with vacation work, I decided that I wanted to work as an engineer in a role that offered capacity in planning and project management, teamed with operational experience. As a consequence, I successfully attained a placement as a Drilling Engineer on the graduate program at Woodside Energy Ltd.

My first year provided a combination of planning experience teamed with a set of rotations offshore, working on drill rigs in the Timor Sea and Great Australia Bight. In my second year I was transferred into an international division and became part of the Mauritania Drilling team. I recently completed a six month assignment on a Norwegian drill ship off the coast of Mauritania, which lies below Morocco and Western Sahara in northwest Africa. I have since returned to the office, planning both exploration and development wells for Mauritania operations.

James Coffey

Why Chemical Engineering?

When I left school I applied for a range of courses and finally accepted a place in Oenology (wine-making) at The University of Adelaide. On the back of good results in first year, I was offered a scholarship for lateral year entry into Engineering. I chose Chemical Engineering because it would be advantageous if I ever returned to working in the wine-making industry.

What did I learn?

The course at the University of Adelaide was in the early stages of diversifying from Process Engineering into Environmental and Biochemical Engineering. I understand that today the choices are even greater. At the time I found the course to be quite demanding, but I appreciate that so much more now. What I really enjoy is the opportunities that an internationally recognised degree can offer.

Where am I now?

I now work in London, for a company called Dalkia Utilities Services. My role as Area Engineer for the South East UK and Northern Ireland means I am responsible for Engineering Support to existing and new business in the area. My work involves a wide range of functions from small energy management initiatives to major plant construction projects up to £16m. The roots of my project management competency were founded in Chemical Engineering at the University of Adelaide, although little can prepare you for the first time you need to sign an order for a £600k piece of equipment!