Quick Chat with recently Chartered engineer Friday, 15 September 2017

Isabel Duffy MIEAust CPEng NER graduated from UNSW in 2012 with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering with an understanding in Architecture (hons). She has almost five years’ experience with Northrop Consulting Engineers as a structural design engineer, leading projects from $1-150m in construction value.  She’s currently working on a high-rise commercial tower in North Sydney, a residential development at Central Park Broadway and a social housing project for Urban Growth in Bonnyrigg. She is very active in the engineering community and has recently finished her term as Chair of Young Engineers Australia Sydney.

1.    What is your current job title and function?

Structural Engineer.

2.    Why did you pursue a career in engineering?

I love problem solving and the challenges presented by making excellent spaces for people to live, work and play. I’m a big architecture fan and enjoy being part of creating buildings that will make a difference to our communities.

3.    What is the most challenging or interesting project you’ve ever worked on?

Working on the last ‘piece of the puzzle’ – Wonderland, at Central Park Broadway has been a fantastic experience. It’s situated on the site of the Carlton Brewery, which has introduced some interesting constraints around heritage structures and in-ground discoveries. I’ve followed this project from start to finish and have learnt a lot from the design team. I really look forward to seeing it completed with the structure topping out this year.

4.    Why did you decide to become Chartered with Engineers Australia? / What does Chartered mean to you?

Being chartered has always been important to me in my career progression towards becoming a professional engineer. As part of this community we have an accountability to the work we do and a responsibility to uphold our code of ethics. I’m proud to be part of this community and look forward to my next steps as a chartered engineer.

5.    Why are you an Engineers Australia member?

Engineers Australia promotes the engineering profession and gives engineers a voice in the wider community. Through my involvement with Young Engineers Australia I’ve had some great experiences teaching students about what engineers do and encouraging them into the profession. Giving back to the profession in this way is important to me – engineers need more representation in schools, but also in the media and in parliament. Engineers Australia is really ramping up their efforts in these areas and they need our support to get the message out and have more influence across the board.

6.    If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you like to have with you?

A big pot, a knife and flint … is that too practical?

 7.    What do you see as one of the biggest issues facing the engineering profession?

Not having enough representation in government! How are we going to design for climate change when developers have no incentive to make a difference? This change needs to be driven by government and more strictly regulated.

8.    If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpower to be?

Flight.

9.  What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Catching up with friends and family, checking out new exhibitions/bars/restaurants and getting out of Sydney for the weekend whenever possible!

10.  What is the best piece of advice your parents gave you?

It’s more about what they didn’t tell me, funnily enough. I was given just as many jigsaw puzzles and lego sets as dolls to play with. They didn’t pass down any assumptions about what girls should or shouldn’t do, and encouraged me to do what I love. They both work in arts/media but have always supported my passion for maths and science and helped that grow as I went through school.  Above all they taught me to be curious and to question everything.

11.  What makes you laugh?

At the moment – the TV show Utopia!

Image: courtesy of Isabel Duffy MIEAust CPEng NER.