In the heart of our engineering work lies a deep respect for the connection between culture, community and Country. For AECOM civil engineer Miranda Mahoney, this connection is not only about heritage — but about listening, learning and shaping practical solutions that honour place and story.
A proud Bidjara woman and a civil engineer based in Brisbane, Miranda has been part of AECOM since 2016. She’s worked across a range of community and water infrastructure projects, including Regional Waste Management Plans for LGAQ and Dam Recreational Facility Upgrades for Sunwater. But it’s her approach, grounded in cultural awareness, collaboration and deep listening, that sets her apart.
“I started at AECOM as an undergrad in 2016. Now I get to work with communities and support the next generation, just like others did for me.”
Miranda’s commitment goes beyond the technical. She mentors students through the Indigenous Australian Engineering School (IAES), a program she attended herself in Year 12, and volunteers with Engineers Without Borders.
“IAES changed everything for me. It showed me I could be an engineer. Now I get to be that person for someone else, and the students definitely keep me young!”
That full-circle moment, going from participant to mentor, is at the heart of Miranda’s work: helping others feel seen and supported in industries where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are often underrepresented.
Miranda at the Indigenous Australian Engineering School camp
Late last year, Miranda travelled to Mparntwe (Alice Springs) to attend the Voices from the Bush Conference, hosted by the Australian Water Association (AWA) and the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA). The event brought together water professionals, utilities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders to explore the role of culture in water planning and resilience.
“The Arabana Rangers shared stories of mound springs that used to shoot metres into the air. Some of those springs are gone now because of groundwater extraction. And when the spring disappears, you lose the story too. That really stayed with me.”
For Miranda, the conference was a powerful reminder of how infrastructure decisions can impact community connection to Country, and why culturally informed engagement must happen from the start.
“We have to stop treating engagement as a checkbox. It’s a relationship. It takes time to build trust. You can’t just show up [to communities] and expect to be welcomed in. You have to make space to really listen.”
Miranda at the Australian Water Association Voices from the Bush conference
She sees a clear role for organisations like AECOM to drive earlier engagement through client partnerships and project planning.
“We need to create space in our programs for meaningful consultation, not just when it’s convenient [for us], but when it’s right for the community.”
Miranda’s vision is practical, grounded, and community-led.
“We should be designing ourselves out of the job, empowering communities to manage their own solutions. It’s not about giving them the flashiest technology. It’s about giving them something they can maintain, something that works.”
This mindset is reflected in projects across AECOM, from partnerships in flood-affected towns like Gympie to long-term planning in remote regions.
Whether it’s working with clients, mentoring students or contributing to reconciliation advisory groups, Miranda keeps coming back to one thing: empowerment.
“A lot of the students I mentor didn’t even know university was an option. By the end of the camp, they realised it was. That moment — when they see what’s possible — that’s the part I love.”
For Miranda, water is more than infrastructure. It’s story. It’s culture. It’s connection. And in every project she leads, she’s helping make sure those stories aren’t just protected, but passed on.
