I’m a Principal in the Power team in Sydney – my role is focused on delivery, sustainability and management. My team are involved in major projects that link to the Renewable Energy Zones that have been declared in New South Wales. The Zones are locations that have been strategically selected for developers to do projects such as solar farms, wind farms and battery storage. 

For years, the affordability and reliability of fossil fuels have made them the go-to energy source, particularly in isolated locations where they often need a constant supply of electricity. We are now witnessing a shift in the energy landscape and this change presents us with a chance to explore new, cost-effective, sustainable energy alternatives.

I have two older brothers – one is a systems engineer, and one is an electrical engineer. My Dad is a mechanical engineer. I randomly decided to study chemical engineering – I think I wanted to be different! I worked in oil and gas and then water treatment. Then, opportunities happened – I moved to power stations, looking after the balance of plant design, and slowly moved into design management. When I was offered the chance to be a Design Manager for Power, I said, ‘I don’t think I’m the right person for this role, I know nothing about HV electrical engineering!’. They explained that it was more about people management. And here I am, 12 years later, working in power, and I really love it. 

I remember quite clearly telling my mother that I wanted to be a house cleaner! I must have been about 8 years old. But I really wanted to be a teacher or a paediatrician. However, growing up in Venezuela, I felt that teaching was a profession that was not really appreciated. And I couldn’t see myself studying medicine for such a long time. And so I started thinking about engineering.  

They would say, I’m someone who never answers the phone! It’s not intentional, but during the day I’m too busy, and when I’m not at work, I want to have my own time with my family. I only keep my phone beside me when my kids are not with me.

When I first met my husband, he was getting frustrated because he kept messaging me and I would never reply. He thought I wasn’t interested. When we actually spent some time together, he realised it’s not just him!

I like to spend time with my kids and husband outdoors. We love camping and going to the beach. 

I enjoy reading – I have a nice hammock at home. That’s my place to have coffee and stay for a while. 

It can be hard to disconnect when you leave the office. It’s easy to rethink things over and over. With time and experience, you learn to train yourself to stop, when enough is enough. The situation is gone – you can’t change it – all you can do is think about how you will do better next time. I like to use my commuting time to reflect, and then as soon as I get home, I set it aside as a task for tomorrow. 

For me, this is a very special moment in time. The industry is seeing a massive change and moving in a completely different direction from what has been done historically. I enjoy being part of that transition – this massive challenging time where everyone needs to come together. No matter what company you’re working for, we are here as a team to make this happen. I really enjoy that people are having to let go of their own interests and work together – because if we don’t do it together, it’s not going to happen.