Engineers contributing to our every-day lives have been recognised in the announcement of the 2015 South Australia Individual Awards.
Joanne Chong MIEAust CPEng was announced as the SA 2015 Young Professional Engineer of the Year. In announcing the award, the judging panel acknowledged Joanne's significant contribution to industry and community. Joanne has worked on projects including transport infrastructures, mining infrastructures and geothermal power plants. Engineers Australia interviewed Joanne to gain more insight into her projects and her inspirations.
Current job title and function?
I’m currently working with WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff as a Senior Structural Engineer in the Transport Business Group. My responsibilities include concept and detailed designs/reviews, project/design management and proposal submission.
Most challenging or interesting project you’ve ever worked on?
There’s too many! The most recent interesting project that I’ve worked on is the inspection of the Westgate Bridge in Victoria. Being a prominent bridge in Melbourne, carrying out the inspection internally and externally was exciting in itself. But the opportunity to work on the Mobile Bridge Inspection Platform (MBIP), which was built specifically to carry out the inspection from under the bridge was a once in a lifetime experience! The platform at the underside of the bridge cantilevers out to approximately 20m and it was definitely a challenge to carry out the inspection during windy periods within safety limits. Learn more about how the MBIP operates.
Any advice for young engineers just starting their career?
Never stop pursuing new opportunities!
If you weren’t an engineer, what do you think you would be doing?
Being the foodie I am, I would say a chef. I love cake decoration and have recently “built” a 3D graduation figurine placed on top of a cake. I’m glad I’ve got my structural engineering skills to put them together! (Looks like I would have ended up being an engineer regardless….)
What inspires you?
In addition to the challenging and interesting projects that I worked on, the people/project teams that I work with is what inspires me most! We operate and succeed as a team in engineering, be it a team of two or more. I’ve been very lucky to work with the most inspiring and experienced engineers, contractors, design/construction managers, drafters etc. around the country and overseas. The delivery of a quality design/product at the end of the day when everyone has worked together in achieving the same goal is very satisfying.
Photo caption: Joanne Chong (middle) with 2015 SA Division President, Dr Cristian Birzer (left) and GHD representative, Van Tang, Manager – South Australia, sponsor of the Young Professional Engineer of the Year award (right).