Christelle is an ICT and Security engineer with six years of experience delivering technology-based solutions for public and private sector clients across a range of industries. She joined AECOM as a graduate based in Sydney, and, over the years, has had the opportunity to work on projects across Australia and internationally. By working with the wider AECOM team, she has had the opportunity to see how different approaches and types of technology are used around the world.
Q. What inspired you to join the industry?
A. I completed my undergraduate internship for a civil contractor supporting a national network rollout. This was the first time I conceptualised the physical side of communication across the country. When I joined AECOM and saw projects at all distinct phases of their life cycle, I knew this was the industry I wanted to stay in.
One of my favourite parts about working in this industry is that we get to see projects from the initial concept stage to a functional development that other people experience. In this role, we use both theoretical and technical knowledge to form a design, as well as practical experience and problem-solving skills to take the design through to physical construction.
Q. What is your favourite AECOM project that you’ve worked on and why?
A. One of my favourite projects that I’ve worked on is the Western Sydney University Chancellery Boardroom. This was a very technically challenging adaptive reuse of space project, providing audio-visual services to an 85-person boardroom with limited design flexibility for architectural or services layouts.
The client’s brief had us design a horse-shoe-shaped boardroom table with repeater displays recessed into the privacy screen of the table, as well as at an elevated level, to make sure that all meeting attendees could see at least one display, which created a highly effective meeting space.
For most projects, technology needs to be a silent player supporting the other elements in the area – this was one of the few projects where the design and execution of the technology was a feature that made the space more interactive and useable.
Q. Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.
A. One of my favourite parts of my work is using technology to support seamless movements through a space and using the data from building systems to support more efficient and sustainable operations and maintenance. One project where we were able to harness technology to support the development was during the masterplan process of the Googong Township.
The developers for the Township are committed to creating a safe and sustainable community and investing in technology to support this vision. By putting in a range of wireless environmental and utility monitoring devices, data is constantly collected to inform the operational and maintenance processes. One example of this was monitoring soil moisture levels, and considering the weather forecast to decide if the irrigation system needed to run. The follow-me lighting in public precincts reduces energy use and light pollution by dimming to 50% brightness when no one is around but increasing brightness to illuminate the path as people walk through.
It is always exciting to use modern technologies to support more liveable and sustainable communities.
Q. What career advice would you like to share?
A. Say “yes” to any opportunity or challenge thrown at you – and keep asking questions along the way. This is where you will learn the most from yourself and from people with more experience.