Sam Brazier-Hollins GradIEAust is the Chair of Young Engineers Australia Canberra and is an elected member of the Canberra Division Committee.
What is your current job title and function?
I currently work as a consultant with oobe, an IT services provider, in Canberra. We work in small teams to deliver innovative secure solutions that focus on enabling users to work from anywhere, anytime, and on any device.
Why are you an engineer?
I like the challenge of taking on complex projects, being able to deliver novel solutions and pushing the boundaries of how different technologies can be integrated into something more than the sum of their parts. Engineering is very fulfilling, as you get to shape a solution and see it come together from ideas on a whiteboard into a finished product.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working across a number of projects for a variety of Federal Government departments. These projects focus on deploying cutting edge and emerging technologies to allow their staff to work more efficiently and securely, no matter where they are in the world.
What is the most challenging or interesting project you’ve ever worked on?
The most challenging project I’ve worked on involved designing and building deployable solutions that had to meet very specific performance and survivability requirements, no matter the environment they were used in, whether that be on the back of a truck in a dry sandy desert or lying on wet ground in the tropics. This required a true systems engineering approach, as a wide range of specialists had to work together to ensure a reliable solution was achieved.
Any advice for young engineers just starting their career?
Get involved with everything that comes along. All experiences, no matter how tough they seem at the time are worth it, and the greater your range of experiences, the more you can contribute to any team you are a part of.
If you weren’t an engineer, what do you think you would be doing?
Probably something completely different: maybe a ski instructor or a salvage diver.
If the whole world was listening, what would you say?
It’s not too late. Peace, the environment and exploration, it’s all achievable: we just have to prioritise it and work together.
What’s the most recent present you bought yourself?
A new Brumbies jersey.
If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, who would it be?
Elon Musk. Who knows what it would be like? But, he definitely has some stories to tell.
What is the most recent book you read?
Artic Drift by Clive Cussler. A great little adventure tale with a strong message about protecting ocean environments.
What inspires you?
Seeing what other people have achieved, especially other young people. The guys from Orange Sky Laundry are a great example.
Image: Sam Brazier-Hollins GradIEAust at IT service provider oobe’s office.