We caught up with Kyle, one of our process engineers who recently graduated from the Ausenco new professionals program (NPP) to discuss some key highlights from his time on site, his plans for the future, and some advice for future graduates.
What do you do at Ausenco?
As a Process Engineer my role can be rather dynamic. One day I will be in the office adding value to process engineering deliverables and the next on site in rural Australia working with the plant operators to achieve metallurgical KPIs or commissioning large plant expansions. The common denominator with all these responsibilities is that I must ensure our processes are optimised, we are recovering as much mineral as possible and as safely as possible.
Tell us about your proudest moment in the new professionals program.
My most enjoyable experience was being the chairperson for the APAC/Africa NPP. As the chairperson, I was able to drive a lot of the change that I wanted to see in the Program after being in it for two years.
The proudest I felt in that role was watching the culture and energy shift in the program. I noticed a positive trend in the culture because the committee were delivering events that were exciting and new. These ranged from social events to networking with subject matter experts within the company.
What are some of your key highlights over the last two years?
I have several highlights that range from exciting overseas opportunities to something closer to home, such as the chairing session I spoke about in the NPP. I would say the most valuable experience was being granted the opportunity to work alongside the various skillsets on site.
As either a Commissioning Engineer or a Plant Metallurgist, I was interfacing with operators, fitters and electricians every day. No matter what challenges we faced, it required the ability to share knowledge and ideas, and work together to find a better way. While on site, I found a lot of value in the collaboration with various trades and disciplines to open my eyes to the reality of my designs and the implications to oversights in plant and process design.
What are your next steps for your career?
In the short term I want to work towards deepening my understanding of how an Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) engineering design firm, like Ausenco works in terms of a business. I want to have a greater understanding of how we win work and the strategy we have to approach our clients. This is interesting to me because Ausenco has a global presence and I would like to learn the requirements of our domestic and international clients and craft a strategy knowing their requirements and culture.
In the long term, I would say that I am leaning towards pivoting to a people management role. I believe I have the capacity to become a process engineer who specialises within a certain area, however, I don’t think that would give me as much career satisfaction compared to the humanistic aspects of being a process engineer. Teamwork, knowledge sharing and working towards a common goal as one team resonates with me.
What advice would you give to prospective students looking to apply for a graduate position?
I consider myself an audacious person who isn’t very risk averse and depending on who you are this may not be your approach. However, the way I view a graduate program, is that you have 4-5 years of the ‘discovery’ phase and during this phase I urge for new graduates entering the Ausenco NPP to take every single challenging opportunity that presents itself. As a Process Engineer, it is not uncommon for us to put on many hats throughout the design process. A Process Engineer who has spent time in the various branches of Process Engineering, and in other faculties of an engineering office, makes to be a well-rounded engineer. Whether it be in the proposals team or on-site commissioning a large processing plant, these experiences are priceless in your overall development and will help shape you to be the best engineer you can be.
Applications for the 2025 New Professionals Program are closing soon. Apply now!
Learn more about Ausenco’s graduate program