Adrian Spencer MIEAust CPEng NER has been announced as this year's Young Professional Engineer of the Year. In announcing the award, the judging panel acknowledged Adrian's excellence in both design and multi-disciplinary team leadership across many significant engineering projects. In particular his roles on the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre, South Road Superway and Anzac Centenary Memorial Garden Walk.
Current job title and function?
I am currently a Senior Civil/Structural Engineer with GHD in Adelaide. I have a number of roles including engineering design, managing multidisciplinary design teams, and business development. I work on projects across a variety of industries, including buildings, transport and other civil infrastructure.
What inspired you to become an engineer?
At the time, my decision to study engineering felt like a process of elimination, but on reflection I think my pathway was an obvious choice. Growing up I always had a strong interest in detail and working out how things were made, and at high school I enjoyed the problem solving aspects of maths and science.
What has been the most challenging or interesting project you’ve worked on?
The South Road Superway was an extremely challenging and exciting project. I was fortunate to be involved throughout the full design and construction phase for over four years, and had a number of technical and project management roles. Major projects such as these attract some of the best engineers in our industry, and I learnt so much from others during my time on the project.
Any advice for young engineers just starting their career?
Put your hand up to give new roles or responsibilities a go when opportunities arise; continually seek to learn, develop and improve both your technical and professional skills; know your boundaries and ask questions; be a team player; and find a mentor. Most of all, have fun!
What has helped you get ahead and what strategies have helped give you the edge?
Throughout my career I’ve always been open to new opportunities and challenges, proactive in guiding my development, and taking on roles which have pushed me outside of my comfort zone.
Its enabled me to have a diverse range of roles and experiences, including unique major projects such as the South Australian State Aquatic and Leisure Centre, and the South Road Superway elevated roadway. Some other interesting and complex projects have included an external gas storage platform facility in Antarctica, the Australian Chancery in Laos, and a meteorological weather watch radar tower on a remote mountain top in Fiji.
I’ve continually sought to develop my capability, and becoming a Chartered Professional Engineer has been a key step on my professional journey so far. I also strongly believe that engineering is a team game. Rather than seeking individual success, I’ve approached my career wanting to be an engineer of value to the teams and projects I’ve contributed to.
If you could have worked on any engineering project throughout history, what would you have chosen?
One of Australia’s iconic buildings or structures, such as the Sydney Opera House, or Sydney Harbour Bridge.
What’s the most recent present you bought yourself?
A return ticket to Sri Lanka with my wife in January.
Favourite Band?
Arctic Monkeys
Adrian is now eligible to represent South Australia at the national Individual Awards, part of the Australian Engineering Excellence Awards, which will be staged in Brisbane during the Australian Engineering Conference, November 23-25.
For more information on the Australian Engineering Excellence Awards South Australia 2016, please visit: excellenceawards.org.au/south-australia
Image caption: Adrian Spencer (centre) receiving his Individual Award from Niki Robinson, Engineers Australia South Australia President 2016 (right) and Van Tang, GHD (left).