Srijana's a rising star in local engineering industry

Srijana Ghimire has been kicking career goals since graduating from CDU with a Master’s degree in Civil and Structural Engineering. She landed a dream job with an engineering firm when the ink was practically still drying on her testamur, has worked on fantastic projects, and was even honoured with the Northern Association of Women in Construction’s 2019 Young Achiever’s Award. 

Originally from Kathmandu in Nepal, Srijana studied in India for four years before traveling to Darwin to complete her postgraduate degree in engineering. She has been enjoying her new life in Darwin for the past four years and has been forging her path in the local engineering consulting services industry for two and a half years.

"I was always passionate about maths and physics, which is what initially led me to a career in civil and structural engineering," Srijana said. "It’s a field that requires a lot of design work involving the principles and procedures of maths and physics. I enjoy the practicality of the work; seeing the structures we design in their physical form is very rewarding."

Srijana said there were a number of factors that influenced her decision to study in Darwin with CDU, including the university’s high rankings and the accreditation of her chosen course in both Australia and throughout Europe.

“I love how laid-back Darwin is,” Srijana said. “There is no rush, no traffic congestion, and I can travel to just about anywhere in need to within 20 minutes.”

Srijana said working in Darwin has been a pleasure, because she works as part of a small team, which means she has plenty of variety in her responsibilities.

“Although wearing many hats has been challenging at times, the variety in my workload has also exposed me to more opportunities and on-the-job learning in a short amount of time,” Srijana said.

Joining the Darwin office of engineering consultancy firm, Jacobs, as a graduate structural engineer, Srijana said she has had the chance to meet many industry colleagues through Engineers Australia events.

“I have also had a chance to mentor four school students as they completed their Year 10 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics project, and encouraged them to pursue a career in engineering,” Srijana said.

“I have decided to stay in Darwin because I found an amazing job here. I wouldn’t be exposed to this variety of roles and experience anywhere else in Australia.”

When asked what her best piece of advice would be for international students considering relocating to Darwin to study, Srijana said being proactive and seeking out internship opportunities can help you get your foot in the industry door.

“University life can also be tough at times due to the pressure of assignments and assessments, so my advice to future students would be to do their best and to keep their focus on their goals.”

Ready to take your passion for change to the next level? Explore engineering courses at CDU.