Young riser – Benita

Benita is an Electrical Associate from the Buildings Group. She is a Chartered Practicing Engineer, Registered Security Professional, Registered Building Practitioner and Registered Communications Distribution Designer.

My career with Aurecon began in the summer of 1999/2000 where I worked as a vacation student in the Buildings Group whilst I was still studying my Bachelor degree at the University of Tasmania. I found this experience invaluable as it opened my eyes to what career paths lay ahead of me when I finished my degree. Aurecon offered me a graduate position and I returned to work in the Buildings group in the following year. In 2001, Aurecon accepted my application for an education grant to study Electrical Lighting and that year I won the RMIT and IES best student prize for Lighting engineering.

As an electrical engineer in this group, my tasks included power, communications, vertical transportation and lighting design relating to buildings projects ranging from residential and commercial to laboratories and sporting venues!

One of my first projects with Aurecon was upgrading the lighting at the rowing precinct, along the Yarra River, in the heart of Melbourne's city. I was thrilled on the tram one night to hear some people commenting on the lighting. I'd say one of my favourite things about my job is that the outcomes of the projects are so tangible. More recent projects I've worked on include the Melbourne Cricket Ground Northern Stand redevelopment and I'm currently working on a hospital project in Bahrain (which has led to some long distance site visits!).

As Aurecon has a number of market groups, I also got to do work with the energy, telecommunications and transport groups and work with my colleagues in many of the interstate offices.

At the start of 2006 I was promoted to an Associate which means I now have more managerial responsibilities. I've enjoyed this new challenge and being able to contribute to the development of the business on a more strategic level. Over the years I've made many great client relationships, and enjoy working with architects, builders, end users, government departments and other stakeholders.

It's been great seeing through my projects from the concept stage (lines on paper) through to post occupancy evaluation – and demonstrating the impacts that our projects have on the community.