A day in the Life of a Project Engineer

Lavinia Lamipeti

Project Engineer

My name is Lavinia, I grew up in Sydney and I have been working as an engineer for around 5 years now. I have lived on the North Coast of NSW for most of this time and have just recently moved back to Sydney. I’m currently working in the construction industry focusing mainly on civil infrastructure, specifically road construction.

Where are you from and what does being a Pacific Islander mean to you?

I am of Tongan heritage and being a Pacific Islander to me means being part of a group of culturally diverse people who love all things to do with family, having a good time and the outdoors.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My day basically involves planning works in the office and ensuring our plans get executed on site to ensure the project gets built on time, on budget, safely and to a high quality. I’m currently on a road project so my current role involves working with a wide range of people from superintendents, fellow engineers, project support teams, subcontractors and laborers to name a few, to ensure our road project gets built as intended.

What excites you most about your work?

The fact that we are building something tangible that makes everyone's life easier and safer. 

I love the team work aspect of my job, as these road projects are huge and have so many moving parts that must be coordinated. I also love the technical aspect of the job. I've always been interested in mechanics and how things work so having to learn and understand how to build a road is something that I have really enjoyed. No two days are the same, every day there are new issues but also new successes. I’m a communicator so being able to talk and build relationships with people on site and in the office is something I really enjoy.

 What qualifications are required to get into your line of work?

To get into this line of work you’ll need a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or construction management. I did a double degree when I was at uni so finished up with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in music and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. 

What Pacific Island values and traits help most in your line of work?

The values of family and hard work. Family because we spend so much time at work, so the team becomes your family. When you can relate and treat your team as you would your family, it brings everyone much closer together and makes for a better working environment. Secondly the value of hard work because the projects are tough, hours are long but at the end of the day it's something that will really benefit the community. I believe in working hard but also having as much fun as possible whilst doing so. Pacific islanders love to have a good time, and I try to carry this into my work life.

What would you like someone who’s interested in your line of work to know?

It’s achievable, it can be  done, if you want a mix of the office and outside life it’s a great job for this. As a woman I have to admit it can sometimes be a tough place to be, but with time and guidance it really is an industry that I think women especially pasifika women can thrive.