Graduates 2013 - 360 degrees magazine

OUR GLOBAL VIEW OF A VIBRANT WORLD

GRADUATES 2013

YoUR SToRY STARTS hEREFinD oUT whERE YoU cAn woRk AT AUREcon

READ SoME oF oUR 7 500 SToRiES

LEARn AboUT LiMELiGhT AnD oUR EMERGinG PRoFESSionALS PRoGRAMME

DiScovER AUREcon AnD ThoUGhT LEADERShiP

7 500 Aurecon stories

Across 80 countries

10 000+ world-wide projects


Across 80 countries

10 000+ world-wide projectsYour story starts here Looking for a role that will inspire? Looking for industry leaders as mentors? Looking for complex, global projects to gain world class experience.

At Aurecon, you can live your ideas while taking ownership of your career in a supportive environment that offers advanced learning opportunities.

As one of the world’s top engineering, management and specialist consultancies, our breadth of technical expertise and experience is second to none. Our innovative, collaborative culture will see you fast track your professional development, learning from and working alongside global industry leaders and technical experts.

Start your story today. Find out how you can reach your full potential at Aurecon by visiting www.aurecongroup.com/Graduate

Connect with us at www.facebook.com/Aurecon

Follow us on www.twitter.com/Aurecon

Follow us on www.linkedin.com/company/Aurecon

Watch us on www.youtube.com/user/AureconGroup

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DATES FOR yOUR DIARy

WELCOME TO AURECON

WRITE yOUR OWN STORy

AURECON’S RECRUITMENT PROCESS

WHERE WILL yOUR STORy START?

SERVICE GROUP OVERVIEWS

yOUR CV

WHERE TO NOW?

SAFETy ESSENTIALS

THEIR STORy STARTED HERE

A THINKING ORGANISATIONTHE ExCITING NEW WORLD OF BIM

WHAT IS OUR HUB-ID THINKING?

THE VITAL COMMUNITy ELEMENT IN SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS

FACE TO FACE

THE LEARNING CURVE CONTINUES

LIMELIGHT

LINKING WITH THAT DREAM JOB

GRADUATES 2013

conTEnTS

Award winning Protea court Rooflight South Africa

Aurecon Graduate 2013 issue

Dates for your diary

2013

If you are looking for graduate opportunities in Africa, Asia or the Middle East, please contact our individual offices in those locations for more information. Contact details are at www.aurecongroup.com

Australia new Zealand

Graduates

Applications open 25 February 25 March

Applications close 26 May 23 June

interviews May - June June - July

Employment offer July August

vacation students

Applications open 27 May 24 June

Applications close 28 July 25 August

interviews July - August August - September

Employment offer September October


We live in a global society. At Aurecon, we believe that we all have a responsibility to contribute to this global society and, as Chairman, I am proud of the way our international teams pool their skills and expertise across geographies to create solutions that enhance our interconnected world.

By joining Aurecon, you too will have a chance to better communities around the world and have the satisfaction of knowing that what you do makes a marked, positive difference in people’s lives across the globe.

Our business is about people. It is the diverse backgrounds, experiences and knowledge of our teams that have afforded us such success in delivering world-class solutions in over 80 countries.

Congratulations on the near completion of your studies. Graduating is a major milestone and I hope you are excited about the opportunities ahead of you.

More than 30 years ago, I embarked on my engineering career with enthusiasm and a drive to make a difference in the world. Now, as a CEO of Aurecon, I lead a great team which is dedicated to making Aurecon Leading, Vibrant and Global, and am proud to be one of the 7 500 people who are our company. I know first-hand that a career at Aurecon can be an incredible journey.

We look to our graduates and young professionals as the future of Aurecon. We empower them to grow as both professionals and people, investing in development opportunities that meet the individual aspirations of each person.

Our global reach means you can experience different worlds and ways of life with Aurecon. Whether working in the growing metropolis of Mumbai, the deep jungle of Angola, the thriving heart of Johannesburg or the bright lights of Sydney, Aurecon gives you a global platform to follow your career aspirations.

I invite you to join us and build a career in which you can live your ideas.

As a high performing organisation, we recruit passionate, talented and driven people. At Aurecon, we know we are only as strong as our people, so we are dedicated to their professional development and to supporting their career aspirations.

The breadth and depth of our expertise is second to none and you will join an organisation with world-class professionals from more than 40 different disciplines, working collaboratively on exciting projects across our global business.

Please enjoy reading this special edition Graduate 360, which we share some of our many Aurecon stories.

welcome to AureconAn introduction from Teddy Daka and Paul Hardy

Teddy DakaChairman, Aurecon

Paul hardyChief Executive Officer, Aurecon

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“Welcome 3

Every person at Aurecon has a different story. Some started with the company as graduates, others joined as experienced professionals. Some always knew what career journey to follow, while others found new professional interests to pursue along the way.One familiar theme is that everyone at Aurecon is the author of their own story. We empower our people to follow their career aspirations and support them in living their ideas.

For graduates, this has seen Aurecon challenge the traditional graduate path of spending several years rotating around different areas of the company that you may not have an interest in. Instead, we offer graduates the opportunity to move straight into their preferred service group. This means you will be able to focus on the technical skills you are most interested in, fast tracking your experience and development while working alongside industry leading professionals, mentors and peers.

you can still experience numerous areas of Aurecon’s business if you would like to. Quite often, our graduates have the opportunity to work on projects outside their service group while still maintaining management and mentoring relationships with their home unit.

write your own story

At Aurecon, you will join one of our service groups, with each employing a variety of professionals from different disciplines each year. Our service groups are described in more detail in the following pages. • Buildings• Capital project delivery• Energy• Environment & advisory (E&A)• Land development• Resources & manufacturing (R&M)• Transport • Water

Decide on your direction

So, how does a future graduate, with limited experience, decide which service group they are interested in? The following may help you with your decision.

what subjects/choices did you gravitate towards during university? For example, within electrical engineering subjects, were you drawn towards the large scale design of transmission power systems (our energy service group) or to the more intricate design for intelligent power and lighting systems in a building (our buildings service group)?

next steps

Write your oWn story

Next you should do some more in-depth research. • Career expos, student nights and

other industry-led information sessions are a great opportunity to talk with our recruitment team to help you better understand your choices

• Our website (www.aurecongroup.com) and this magazine will also assist. The graduate pages on our website (www.aurecongroup.com/Graduate) include Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and lots of tips on the applications and recruitment processes

Research and ask around

• Each year we run an information session on GradConnection’s forums where we answer questions that students have - www.gradconnection.com.au

• Our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Aurecon) is also a great communication tool where you can read comments and questions from other graduates and post questions to which our recruiters will provide direct responses

what types of projects have you seen or read about and are interested in? Consider whether they involved:• Seeing structures being created

from the ground up• Interlinking transport projects, such

as major highways and rail networks • Sustainable infrastructure for

energy or water• Managing the logistical challenges

of transporting precious resources from a mine site to a port

• Designing smarter, more efficient buildings are effective and aesthetically pleasing

Ann James Tshwane, South Africa

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www.facebook.com/Aurecon


Aurecon’s recruitment process

Applications open• Cover letter and CV• Include details about: work

experience, education and extracurricular activities

Your story starts here

Applicant screening begins• Recruiters peruse application

forms, cover letters and CVs• Shortlisted CVs are also

reviewed by hiring managers

Telephone interviews• Motivation to join Aurecon• Discuss your preference

of service group

Face to face interviews• Work experience and

academic transcript• Future prospects

Positions offered• Successful applicants phoned• Receive documentation online

Applications close

Graduates start with Aurecon

Over the next few months, you’ll be making some big decisions about your future. We know this can be a busy time, so at Aurecon we try to make our graduate recruitment as simple as possible. We will keep in touch with all applicants at each stage of the process, so you will be up-to-date on your application’s progress and know if there are any delays to the recruitment process.

It’s a good idea for applicants to also follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Aurecon), LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/Aurecon) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/Aurecon), where we will post regular updates.

handy hints Visit www.aurecongroup.com/Graduate for some hot tips to help you with your application and the recruitment process.• Writing your CV• The power of LinkedIn• FAQs• Interview tips



www.linkedin.com/company/Aurecon


www.aurecongroup.com/Graduate


Where Will your story start?

where will your story start?

Due to the wide breadth of services Aurecon offers, we organise our work and our people across service groups, with each employing a variety of professionals from different disciplines each year. Each of our service groups provide exciting career possibilities and the opportunity to work with

internationally recognised experts - meaning you get to work with and learn from the best in the business. As a global organisation, you can work collaboratively with people from around the world, on complex and innovative projects.

Area of study

Aurecon service groups

buildingscapital project delivery

EnergyEnvironment & Advisory

(E&A)

Land Development

Resources &

Manufacturing (R&M)

Transport water

Mechanical n n n n n n

Electrical n n n n

civil n n n n n n

Structural n n n n n n

chemical/ process n n n

Project management n n

construction management n

Survey n

Geotechnical n

Material sciences n n

Environmental n

Planning n

Maths/ statistics n


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capital project delivery (cPD)Our CPD team provides the people, processes, systems and approach required to deliver major capital projects for various industries. Experienced professionals in project management, project controls, commercial, construction, safety and engineering management deliver the fundamentals for effective management of all of the functions of major project delivery. Solutions are tailored to suit the delivery models of each industry and situation in which our clients operate.

buildingsAurecon’s buildings team has developed innovative, award winning solutions for major, iconic projects globally. We work across the commercial, industrial, sports and leisure, residential and health sectors, with a major focus on energy efficient design and sustainable development.

As a graduate in our buildings team, you can be involved in all facets of a project, producing leading edge solutions that combine new technologies, particularly in BIM, and traditional materials in new and exciting ways. Learn how to deliver buildings that provide enhanced performance, greater predictability and faster project delivery times, without compromising on sustainability, aesthetics, safety or cost.

“It is good to step out of your comfort zone and try new things as you never know what you can achieve until you have reached a little further and jumped a little higher.” Theodora clark Civil Engineer Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa

Abbot Point coal Terminal Australia

Shanghai Tower China

“Use your time with Aurecon as an opportunity to learn. As you gain knowledge and experience, question what you see if you don’t agree, contribute with your suggestions to make improvements and you will be appreciated and rewarded.” Lars bergman Project Controls Brisbane, Australia

Service group overviews

service group overvieWs

collgar wind Farm Australia

christchurch Redevelopment New Zealand

EnergyOur energy team specialises in power generation, transmission and distribution, and renewable energy, working with many of the world’s leading energy financiers, public and private sector utilities and independent energy producers and distributors.

Energy graduates help identify solutions that ensure current infrastructure can deliver the resources required by an increasing population, while also developing new renewable and energy efficient alternatives for the future.

Environment and advisory (E&A)The E&A team comprises specialist planning, advisory and project management, telecommunications infrastructure and environmental services, working for major corporations, as well as public and smaller private sector clients.

Depending on your background, as a graduate you can become involved in a large variety of work, covering statutory and strategic planning, natural resource management, defence, health and specialist advisory services, as well as the deployment of predominantly wireless telecommunications infrastructure.

“There are endless opportunities here if you ask the right questions and are prepared to do the hard work. It all rests on how much you give and how much you want it.” khomotso Matikwe Civil Technologist Cape Town, South Africa

“Don’t be afraid to work hard on the little things, say yes more than you say no (not technically), ask a lot of questions and just grasp the opportunity to get to know people from outside your discipline and comfort zone. For me, this has made my work here much more enjoyable.” Alice Ge Planner Auckland, New Zealand


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Madinat Jumeirah Resort United Arab Emirates

khumani iron ore Mine Expansion South Africa

Land development Aurecon delivers innovative civil engineering and surveying solutions on key land infrastructure projects for rural, residential and industrial land developments, as well as developing integrated solutions for greenfield infrastructure and construction projects.

Graduates who join our team get experience across a range of land development capabilities, including planning and conceptual studies and the detailed design of roads, intersections, earthworks, drainage schemes and flood models. Our surveyors also focus on monitoring and topographic surveys, as well as the use of GIS systems.

“It can be pretty daunting when you are just starting out, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. It will make your life easier and be appreciated by people relying on you to just ask for guidance, but don’t forget to take notes!” Andy Lyon Civil Engineer Wellington, New Zealand

Resources & manufacturing (R&M) With its strength around the globe in engineering, procurement and construction management of bulk material handling projects including mine, rail, seaboard import and export terminals, and associated port and marine works facilities, Aurecon’s R&M expertise encompasses heavy industrial projects, manufacturing and processing. When you join our R&M team, you are exposed to a wide variety of the resource industry’s most important projects. “Take responsibility for your own professional development. Aurecon fully supports you in this , but how far you progress in your professional path rests entirely on your shoulders. Enjoy the ride !” katlego Magoro Civil Engineer Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa

service group overvieWs

TransportOur expertise is in demand across urban transport networks, road, rail, ground engineering, tunnels, ports and coastal, and aviation infrastructure. We also provide crucial links in industrial product supply chains and map traffic patterns and freight logistics.

As a transport graduate, you will have the opportunity to assist in the development of major infrastructure through the entire project life cycle, from prefeasibility and business case preparation to conceptual and detailed design, construction management and operation and maintenance.

“Get involved in as much as you can! Actively pursue new challenges and participate in programmes such as Mentoring for Success or Limelight. This exposes you to a variety of people and disciplines which helps to diversify your skills.” Daniel hillier Transport Planner Adelaide, Australia

water Offering innovative, integrated solutions that address every element of the water cycle, our technical professionals deliver projects across a wide variety of areas, including surface and groundwater management, infrastructure provision, and water and wastewater treatment, as well as water and sewage utility services, maintenance and construction management.

you will have the opportunity to work on feasibility studies, planning, design, project management, construction and asset management with a range of public and private sector clients.

R21/n1 incrementally Launched bridge South Africa

katse Dam Lesotho

“Get involved in Aurecon groups - whether social or professional - that interest you. This helped me maintain a healthy work-life balance and gave me the opportunity to showcase my ideas and run projects. It also allowed me to settle in quickly at Aurecon and make contacts that have now become friends. A successful career can be a lot about the people you know.” Thushtika wisumperuma Civil Engineer Sydney, Australia


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Your cv Your advertisement

Developing a Curriculum Vitae (CV) can be time consuming and confusing, so we’ve developed some tips to help you produce a CV that strongly positions you for success in the roles you apply for.

A good CV is accurate and up to date. It should give a succinct insight into you and your interests, qualifications, achievements and experience to date. you should include: •Personal details – full name,

address, email address, and phone number

•Education – institution name/s, start and completion dates, and grades and qualifications you have obtained or will obtain. Details of your education and career history should be in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first

•career history – company name, job title, start and finish dates, your achievements and key skills you used or developed in your previous and/or current position/s

•Extracurricular activities – associations and memberships, awards and certificates, voluntary work and other relevant accomplishments

your curriculum vitae


Some tips for your application:• It is a good idea to include a career

objective at the start of your CV, but keep it concise. Ensure that your objective is relevant to the company and includes some detail about your career aspirations, as well as the discipline and industry sector which you are looking to specialise in

• While a recruiter may read your CV first, a great cover letter, tailored to the company and position you’re applying for, is critical. A cover letter which stands out can demonstrate your writing ability, personality, the research you have done on the company and the role, and gives the recruiter another reason to move you further along in the recruitment process

• Don’t include a photo of yourself in your CV or cover letter

• Spell check everything before submitting

• Always attach a copy of your academic transcript. If you haven’t received the official documentation yet, an interim transcript is fine

• Be careful of what your social media pages say about you and, where relevant, check your privacy settings

• Join LinkedIn and complete your profile. This shouldn’t be just a copy of your CV, it should be tailored to the online audience. Read our tips on how to create a great LinkedIn profile on page 44

• Attend industry events and career fairs and get networking. Most universities and industry organisations host great networking events throughout the year where you can meet representatives from various companies

• Reach out to your peers. Getting a direct referral into a company can be a major advantage and will help you to get your foot in the door

you can find more great advice on CVs, interview tips and LinkedIn profiles, as well as general graduate FAQs, at www.aurecongroup.com/Graduate

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where to now?

Julia Hemmann met with Brendan Gibbs to find out how Aurecon’s strategy relates to emerging professionals.

brendan Gibbs Head of Strategy and Enterprise Risk

Brendan is responsible for the development and implementation of business strategy to meet the needs of Aurecon’s various stakeholder groups and building enhanced enterprise risk management capability across the business.

Julia: At Aurecon, we aim to be Leading. vibrant. Global. what are two or three of Aurecon’s strategic priorities over the next five to ten years to achieve this goal?

Brendan: I’ll give you an example of each. The first is around Leading. One of the things we are really focussed on is client service excellence and we think we can take a leading position in the way we look after our clients compared to our competitors.

From a Vibrant point of view, that’s really about the culture we are trying to embed in the business. Having a ‘can do’ attitude and being client centric will demonstrate vibrancy.

And the third one, around Global, is not just about geography but for us is heavily focussed on that. We are very concentrated on the emerging economies, which means places like South America, India and North Africa, where we are opening offices in both Libya and Ghana at the moment.

Julia: what are some key external factors influencing Aurecon and how have they impacted on the company’s strategy?

Brendan: There are many things happening in the outside market that we are responding to. Three major factors come to mind. The first concerns the resources sector and demand for minerals. We’ve really bolstered our investment in the mining infrastructure part of our business.

Where to noW?

Julia hemmannCivil Engineer, Transport

Julia joined Aurecon in 2011 after returning from an Engineers Without Borders volunteer programme in Vietnam. Our commitment to corporate social responsibility, sustainability and the nature of our projects was a perfect fit for Julia. She has gone on to work in our ground engineering team within the Transport service group, where she has the full support of her manager and team in setting and pursuing her career goals.

Visit www.aurecongroup.com/Graduate to watch the interview and hear more

Another one relates to urbanisation and population growth in big cities. For a company like ours, we are very focussed on transport planning, transport solutions and sustainable cities. And a third one is around ageing infrastructure. As a result we are investing in and developing our service offering around whole of life asset and infrastructure management to respond to opportunities as they come.

Julia: The face of the engineering and consultancy world has changed significantly and it continues to do so. Looking forward, what traits will Aurecon employees in 2020 possess that will set us apart?

Brendan: There are number of characteristics that will contribue to our success. Some that come to mind include client centricity. By that I mean really understanding and thinking about how we, as individuals, can deliver great client service on a day to day basis.

Another is around agility — being able to respond to change and accepting change. And mobility — being prepared to go to different places and get involved in projects that might be outside your home market.

Another which I think is important is around accountability — being committed to doing the things that you said you were going to do, getting them done on time and to the best of your ability.

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Safety Essentials

We take Health & Safety personally at Aurecon and believe safety is everybody’s business, every day.

safety essentials

working at heights

Restricted areas

Plant and pedestrianinteraction

Driving and travel

work safely

Reporting

Fit and competent for work

Personal protectiveequipment

Energised systems

Trenching and excavations

Suspended loads

confined spaces

what are Safety Essentials?Aurecon’s Safety Essentials is a practical guide to help people understand Health & Safety risks in their day to day operations - whether it be on a project site or in the office.

Put simply, they are:• Formulated to address significant risk of injury or fatality• A minimum standard of safety• A symbol of our commitment to a robust safety culture• Non-negotiable

When you join Aurecon, you will have a duty to protect yourself, your colleagues, our clients and all involved in projects, as well as the public, from harm. Safety is at the core of our culture, informing our behaviours and our day to day business practices.To achieve a safe workplace, everyone needs to understand their responsibilities and the Health & Safety risks around them.

Using simple icons, Safety Essentials reminds each of us of risks we should consider to ensure the safety of everyone and how to manage them. Safety Essentials includes four core commitments and eight high risk task commitments which should underpin our behaviours.

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Their story started here

We introduce you to some of our Aurecon team who are living their ideas. These are just a few of our 7 500 plus stories.

name Paul Muscat

Job Mechanical Engineer

Location Perth, Australia

As a student, I had heard good things about Aurecon through university contacts and was interested in the company’s multidisciplinary approach to projects, as well as their graduate mentoring programme and fast tracked graduate development. While studying, I had always been interested in machinery and industrial subjects, so Aurecon’s R&M service group was an obvious choice for me.

From the outset, I decided to pursue every opportunity that arose. I moved around a lot and, by working in smaller, regional offices, within two years of graduating I was running my own projects – an opportunity few are given so early in their career. I worked across various sectors, including power, ports, smelters and cement, and also spent time seconded to a client.

After a few years of project management, I decided to build my technical design abilities. Aurecon supported me in this, transferring me to the Brisbane office to work with some leading experts there. Since then, I have managed the design of some of Australia’s biggest major bulk materials

handling projects including Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Stage 7 Expansion and Hay Point Expansion 3, as well as a key role in the NCIG Stage 2 Terminal Project.

At the end of 2012, I made the move from Brisbane to Perth with Aurecon, where I am now running the region’s mechanical department. I will be working with mining giants, such as Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals, to spearhead Aurecon’s bulk materials handling capabilities in resources-rich Western Australia.

A lot has happened since I joined Aurecon as a graduate back in 2001. I have worked hard to get to where I am, but I also know I would not be here without the support and opportunities Aurecon has given me.

I think the key to life as a graduate is to take every opportunity that comes your way. They often lead to bigger and better things. My career is proof of this.

Paul was awarded the 2012 Aw Roberts Award by the Australian Society for bulk Solids handling – a prestigious award that recognises the contribution of a young engineer to bulk solids handling.

“I have worked hard to get to where I am, but I also know I would not be here without the support and opportunities Aurecon has given me.”

their story started here

Since I was a kid, I have always been concerned about the environment, especially about urban sustainability and resources management. I wanted to do something to control pollution and create a better environment for people to live in. So I studied sanitary engineering, a branch of environmental engineering. In Portugal, where I’m from, this was the closest profession I could find to my childhood dream.

In university, I took part in a voluntary project that brought me to Mozambique, where I worked for some consultancies, including Aurecon. I ended up happily joining the Aurecon team in a full time capacity.

Around this time, the market for environmental services was emerging in Angola, so I started to find out what was involved and saw that Environmental Impact Studies seemed to be in high demand. As a sanitary engineer, I felt I lacked the expertise and experience in this area, so I asked to be transferred to an office where I could acquire those skills. Aurecon

supported me in every step of this and I am now based in the Cape Town office where I can pursue professional development opportunities.

I feel very enthusiastic about the future. I have a knowledgeable mentor and I’m working with a very experienced team. Knowing how things work in Angola, I’m also able to transfer my knowledge to them, so we all learn from each other.

Being in Cape Town also allows me to learn about and work in other facets of Aurecon’s environmental services. With the experience I am getting, I am finally going to fulfil my dream of working with multidisciplinary teams, helping to find solutions to implement sustainable projects that make communities more resilient and, at the same time, guarantee the preservation of nature.

I love it here in Cape Town. I am fully integrated in a good team and I feel I’m in my environment.

name Dulce Lazana

Job Environmental Engineer

Location Cape Town, South Africa

“Who knows where my next adventure will be? With Aurecon, I can go anywhere!”

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name Laura Davies

Job Civil Engineer

Location Auckland, New Zealand

I have really enjoyed my work at Aurecon from the start. Each day has something totally different and I continually learn new skills.

I started in the land development team at the beginning of 2011. The people I worked with were outstanding and made a massive difference. I learnt a lot about dealing with clients, as well as getting experience on a wide variety of projects.

After almost a year, I switched to the buildings team, where I worked as a structural engineer following the Christchurch earthquake. It was quite a change, with lots of work and tight deadlines, but the best part was getting the opportunity to learn from some of the best structural engineers in the country. After a year, I moved back to land development and am working on putting together an initial design to support the business case for a multi-billion dollar railway.

The people I work with are a definite highlight. There is a wealth of experience and everyone is extremely

helpful and ready to pass on their knowledge, and the office environment is really positive. I really appreciate the effort Aurecon puts into looking after its employees, such as by subsidising a couple of social work hockey teams which I organise, as well as a netball team and a very active social club.

I have especially enjoyed getting involved with Limelight, Aurecon’s young professionals’ organisation, being on the committee last year and acting as Auckland Chair this year. The main thing that blew me away with this was the level of support I get for Limelight from senior staff, who are extremely willing to support the development of the young professionals within our company.

I feel confident about my future at Aurecon. It is a large international firm and has opportunities around the world. In New Zealand, it is big enough that you can work on large scale, interesting projects, while still being small enough that you get exposed to a wide variety of different jobs and responsibilities.

If I had any advice for future graduates, I’d say – get involved. The company has so much to offer and the more you put in the more you get out.

“Each day has something totally different and I continually learn new skills.”

Their story started here

their story started here

name Ben Moo

Job Senior ESD Engineer

Location Singapore

I started with Aurecon as a graduate in 2006, after completing an Engineering and Science double degree from the University of Adelaide. I joined Aurecon because I saw they had won Client Choice Awards and they also had a great reputation at my university. They had a personal approach to the graduate recruitment process that I found appealing.

After working in the Australian buildings team, I was seconded to our Singapore office, where I have remained since. I have been mentored by some outstanding experts, worked in great teams and have already worked in seven different countries. Such great experience has seen me rise through the ranks and I now lead the engineering sciences team in Singapore. I play a key role in our operations, with my responsibilities encompassing technical delivery, business development, financial, client relationship and people management.

In the last few years I have seen how we can transform cities and the way people live in them. It doesn’t matter how hot or cold the climate is, we can engineer solutions that use less energy, less water and leave a carbon footprint that is as small as possible. For example, here in Singapore, we designed a building that can stay cool with natural ventilation only. Considering how hot and humid this city is, this is a great achievement and I am proud to be a part of it.

Working at Aurecon is about building successful teams of people and

leveraging diversity, innovation and a fresh approach to problem solving. Our success relies on being forward thinkers.

I am proud to do what I do. I believe that my job is much more than engineering. I am contributing to improving our cities and creating better working and living environments for people.

ben’s achievements also saw him receive the 2012 Aurecon Emerging Professional of the Year Award.

“When you study at university, you don’t realise that your work as an engineer can actually matter this much and how you can potentially make a big difference in the world.”

I always liked building things when I was younger – taking things apart and putting them back together. Or at least trying to.

Fortunately, I followed my passion and enrolled in a diploma programme in civil engineering. During my studies, I realised I had a calling, passion or aptitude for water engineering. The other subjects, I felt, were not as stimulating. Water is a precious and scarce resource and one that needs to be managed properly.

One of the things that was important to me before I joined Aurecon was being able to make a difference to society. With Aurecon, I’m able to do that on a much larger platform.

Having started my career working on irrigation and reticulation projects, I now work on bulk water and pipeline projects that are very stimulating and have a big impact on industry and the communities in which we work.

Aurecon’s continual growth has helped me build my career. New acquisitions to the company have brought with them opportunities for me to work not just on planning or small scale projects, but to get really involved in technical management on large ones too.

There’s a lot of collaboration within our unit and, with me being still relatively young in engineering, I have many people with a wealth of experience or specific expertise that I can turn to for advice. Not just in my office, but from any of our offices around the world.

name Viren Gajathar

Job Civil Engineer

Location Tshwane office, South Africa

“I think I’m quite ambitious and at Aurecon, when it comes to my future career, I feel like the sky is the limit.”

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As a young adult, choosing a career path was one of my most challenging decisions. I understood and enjoyed both science and creative art subjects. Finding a career that combined these was difficult. Fortunately, in 2006 I attended a summer engineering school that gave an introduction to the different types of engineering.

Civil engineering caught my attention immediately as I learnt that it broadly involves detailed calculations, 3D drawings and design reports. This suited my personality as I would be able to carry out calculations but still use my creativity in drawing and designs.

In 2007 I began a National Diploma in Civil Engineering at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. For the first two semesters I doubted whether I had made the correct decision, as the general subjects and the thought of working onsite did not interest me. Nevertheless, I continued with the course, wanting to see through what I had started instead of giving up at the first sign of being uncomfortable.

These doubts went away after I had successfully completed my theory subjects at the end of 2008. One of my lecturers, who had worked for Aurecon (at that time Ninham Shand) previously, inspired me to apply to the company for my experiential training. My first working day in this field was 12 January 2009.

I have developed tremendously in the last four years and I have the outstanding work ethics and integrity of the Aurecon team to thank. My colleagues have supported my learning,

challenged my thinking and believed in my potential, and ultimately enabled me to gain experience and confidence in my abilities. I will graduate with a Bachelor of Technology in Urban Development qualification in April this year (2013).

There are many lessons I have learnt along the way, but what has stood out for me is that there are always going to be good days and not so good days. The important thing is to find ways to learn and move forward through the challenges and to celebrate the successful days.

We are the walking brand for Aurecon. We can make a difference and influence our clients positively by integrating our values with the deliverables we produce.

I feel extremely fortunate to be a part of Aurecon and will continue to be open to learn and change and thereby add value to our team.

name Sarisha Hurrisunker

Job Civil Technician

Location Port Elizabeth office, South Africa

“My colleagues have supported my learning, challenged my thinking and believed in my potential.”

Five years ago, I was a mechanical engineering student in my final year, sitting at university with next to no idea what jobs were out there or what I wanted to be. I think that this is common among students - they have a basic understanding of the available industries, but don’t understand the range of different roles they can play, whether it be a design consultant, construction contractor, maintenance engineer or project manager etc.

For me, the role of a design consultant appealed, as you need a range of skills: technical knowledge, science, applying creative thought to your design and client interaction.

This means that no two days are the same. Sometimes I’ll be starting new

sketches on a clean page, sometimes getting into the depth of detail with advanced analysis software and sometimes meeting with a client or other engineers, collaborating and coordinating. And best of all, you have a tangible result at the end of the project, with your name on it, which is a rewarding part of the job.

It was a talk that I attended that alerted me to the field I now work in (environmentally sustainable development): “Emissions from buildings account for 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions”; and “40% of the total energy usage worldwide is consumed in buildings”. The conservation of the environment really interests me and these were significant numbers. So now I’m part of a young, rapidly evolving and growing industry, with huge potential ahead of it, which is exciting.

I’ve been at Aurecon for four years, most of it in my home town of Perth (Australia). Recently, I decided that I was keen for a change of scenery in my personal life and to also get professional experience abroad. So six months ago I moved to the Aurecon office in Cape Town, South Africa, which has been great both personally and professionally. This is one of the major benefits of working for a large multinational and multidisciplinary company like Aurecon.

name Dan O’Leary

Job Mechanical Engineer

Location Perth, Australia (currently on secondment in Cape Town, South Africa)

“Not only is there a wide range of opportunities available, but you also have room to move.”

a thinking organisation

A thinking organisationWhen you join Aurecon, you are joining a team with experts recognised as thought leaders in their fields. Their innovative ideas and thinking papers help shape the industries in which we work. Here, we share excerpts from a few thinking papers that look beyond established thought to challenge traditional boundaries and present new approaches to complex, technical issues.


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Melbourne Park western Precinct Australia


Already considered one of the most important trends to emerge across the design and construction sector for decades, BIM is often regarded as revolutionary to the way we work. Rather, I believe BIM presents evolutionary change, as evolving technologies continue to change both the way our drawings look, and how we can interact with the data behind them. As these technologies continue to evolve, so too will the potential of this powerful tool across various sectors - the way that we create, present and interact with BIM outputs is significantly different today compared, even, to last year.

Full virtual prototyping of buildings is no longer a dream for the distant future and many clients already expect 3D based design.

We can already simulate aspects of the performance of a building before it is constructed. As our technology develops, the potential exists for the creation of a complete virtual building in which all of its aspects and its internal relationships can be tested and understood.

The potential insights from using BIM data are endless. Imagine planning and sequencing opportunities in 4D, preordering materials to reduce waste, calculating whole of life costs for streamlining operations, inhabiting the model with agents programmed with human behavioural patterns, simulating air flows or acoustic performance and rehearsing clash free, right first time construction schedules.

The exciting new world of biMBuilding information modelling (BIM) is moving us closer to the dream of ‘virtual building’ - a fully defined, integrated and operationally tested digital prototype of the finished work. Aurecon has been at the forefront of delivering this revolutionary capability to clients for over ten years. Here, John Hainsworth, Aurecon’s BIM Leader, explains why he believes BIM is more evolutionary than revolutionary and why BIM brings endless potential across many industries.

biM. what’s that?There is no single definition of BIM. Put simply, BIM, as it is understood today, can be defined as a cross disciplinary, coordinated 3D model in which 3D objects can be displayed across synchronised 2D drawings.

BIM software is database driven, so objects can be counted and ordered, and they act as place holders for relationships and any amount of data that we might attach to them. The manipulation of this data is also termed BIM.

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The evolution continuesWhile BIM has been around for just over a decade, a significant change has been its recent uptake in infrastructure projects. The lessons that we learned going up vertically in buildings are now being applied horizontally on infrastructure across Aurecon’s transport and land development service groups.

General technological developments are also further building our BIM capabilities. Consider the rapid advancements in cloud computing.

Currently, design is a time consuming process. Design teams meet, conceive options and then go away to investigate and test those options. The team meets again and the process repeats, while in the background simulations are run that often take days or weeks.

In contrast, imagine being able to harness the power of multiple computers to undertake the simulation tasks, interacting and retrieving real time results. The ability to run these routines and collaborate on the spot will help designers work through options far more rapidly.

At Aurecon, we are already exploring how we can design in a way that allows us to work closely with our clients to react to simulations, be that in terms of rationalisation, optimisation or standardisation. The emerging processes will become fundamental to design innovation, producing results that could not have been predicted before the advent of BIM and other technologies. Very soon we may see BIM savvy clients who watch the design

process through cloud computing and have instant access to what we produce. These clients will be able to manipulate the data themselves, view the simulation and make informed decisions.

It’s opportunities like this that make the future of BIM so exciting.

Translating technology into savingsThanks to new BIM technologies, the potential exists to rely on hard facts rather than just design intuition. Virtual building will eventually enable designers to develop a fully tested building solution, with confidence in its constructability and long term operational performance. This equates to significant savings on speed and time of construction across the board, without compromising quality and safety.

Clients will benefit from design and construction that has been fully tested, with savings from:• Better control of project budget• The timely application and use of

accurate data• Maintaining access to old information

and data• Improved maintenance and operation

planning

Contractors will see more inspections passed first time, decreased rework and increased productivity, resulting in savings from:• Timely planning, refurbishment or

demolition decisions

• Reducing friction in project management (elimination of unnecessary work such as rekeying information, fixing mistakes or inefficient methods)

• Streamlining our processes• Reduced conflicts and changes• The timely application and use of

accurate, quality data

Aurecon is able to deliver a world-class project and gain intimate knowledge of the project, which is passed on to the client and contractor, creating savings from:• Sharing data and information • Speed and efficiency in producing

synchronised drawing sets and schedules

John Hainsworth is one of Australia’s leading BIM experts. A structural engineer with more than 25 years of experience, John has spent the last 13 years specialising in 3D and BIM delivery. He recently joined Aurecon to lead our BIM team within the Buildings service group.


The future looks brightWhile the potential of BIM is endless, imagine these exciting possibilities:

virtual designPlans and designs can be conceived, tested and optimised in a virtual world before committing to construction, using data about usage, consumption and performance of the existing built environment.

construction as a manufacturing processConstruction will tend towards a manufacturing process using ‘just in time’ procurement allied with ‘mass customisation’ and onsite assembly, with all information flowing directly from digital databases and/or information rich models.

Asset managementBIM can improve the efficiency of asset management and operation, reducing energy consumption, optimising operating costs and determining replacement plans.

Smart infrastructureSome systems – such as transport, electricity grids and water supply - can be optimised in real time using sensors, networks and computers, allowing for informed decisions around intelligent traffic control, logistics optimisation, smart ticketing and routing traffic.

behavioursPeople will improve their usage of systems if provided with real time information via communications networks such as urban informatics and smart meters. Behaviour changes might range from interacting in a virtual world (video/hologram conferences) to flexible working practices based on real time energy and transport information.

FeedbackAll usage, consumption and performance of systems and assets, including relevant human behaviour, can be recorded and used for physical optimisation and reconfiguration, and fed back into the planning and design of the future built environment.

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“The intricate cogs and levers in the clockwork of land use development and transport need to be finely balanced to create corridors and precincts that are no longer simply waypoints on a journey to a destination, but are destinations in their own right,” bernard van biljon, Associate, Transport Services.

Sandton Gautrain Station South Africa

what is hUb-id?Aurecon’s HUB-id focuses on creating liveable and attractive places for people, where success is measured by the overall outcome for the place - the hub itself - whether that place is an intermodal transport facility, a transport corridor, a development precinct, a suburb or a sporting facility.

Through the use of smart assessment tools, HUB-id moves away from the traditional and establishes a consolidated approach that links integrated transport planning, transit orientated development and place-making to cater for individual destination (“id”) and not only the transport mode. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we are able to create the highest form of integration of transport and land use.

what are the benefits?Taking an integrated and collaborative approach to transport and land use, planning can provide significant benefits for city and regional authorities, as well as commercial and retail operators and developers. Delivering genuine solutions involves simultaneously considering the social, economic and environmental objectives of a precinct and integrating transport modes to create an optimal transport solution.

The opportunities presented by changing the way we approach integrated development of public transport corridors and the precincts around these corridors are significant.

By harnessing the merits of fresh thinking and smart processes, Aurecon’s HUB-id is a new way of delivering our integrated transport and land use planning service, to make transport hubs efficient, highly integrated places for people and business. With the main focus on the movement of people, our thinking balances urban rejuvenation with smart approaches that lead to gains in social sustainability and economic growth.

“Our HUB-id philosophy allows us to fully integrate planners, engineers, architects, urban designers, transport modellers, economists and property professionals, and focus on movement and people,” brian Smith Associate, Transport Services.


what is our hUb-id thinking?


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Public precincts should move towards representing trends observed in world class cities.

The elements underlying current deficiencies should be flagged and corrected.

The boundaries of what can be achieved should not be confined by current realities and preconceived notions.

The focal point of the precinct (the public transport facility) must set the tone for what can be attained with the rest of the precinct (partnership required).

“The true goal of the HUB-id approach is to enhance the physical environment by creating enjoyable places for communities.” brian Smith Associate, Transport Services

Aurecon’s hUb-id view of the future A successful HUB-id project will aim to smartly facilitate travel and journey-making, as well as minimise the length of and the need for that journey.

Marlboro Gautrain Station South Africa


The vital community element in sustainable projects

why do we need to consider our community stakeholders so carefully?The days of communities being viewed as someone else’s ‘problem’ have long passed. Truly successful projects are those that not only achieve their objectives through the application of the highest engineering and project management standards, but also add value by delivering sustainable benefits and effective skills development to communities.

what has driven this change?There are many things which have driven change. Some include:• A moral responsibility, as reflected

in Aurecon’s value statements, that we are committed to sustainable practices and investing in the well-being of present and future generations

• Community development specifications are increasingly embodied in a major project contract

• Many governments, such as in South Africa, have put in place various regulatory instruments to ensure that companies are attentive to the basic needs of poorer communities affected by new projects

Increasingly, the emphasis of sustainable major projects has moved to engaging communities and supporting self-sustained growth to break the cycle of poverty, particularly in developing countries. Amelia Visagie, Project Manager, Socio Economic Development based in our Tshwane office in South Africa, shares her views on some important questions about this trend and explains what it entails.

AccESS Indonesia


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what types of projects need the involvement of communities and what are the benefits?The primary focus is on projects that have a long term impact on our economy and can contribute to the sustainable, beneficial development of a community. Properly informed community members will better understand the project process and ramifications. They can be a meaningful part of a project’s decision making process and will be more likely to support a project in which they provided input.

you also need to look at it from an economic perspective. With skills transfer and a better governance framework, the community is better equipped to look after itself and sustain the development process.

The indirect benefits should never be underestimated, in particular the building of trust and relationships with governments, aid donors and other key players.

what is Aurecon’s approach to community engagement?Through our extensive experience, Aurecon knows first-hand the importance of an integrated and participatory approach to ensuring the long term sustainability of projects. We have developed the expertise and structures to undertake holistic social intervention programmes as integrated parts of projects and not as ‘add on’ afterthoughts.

Aurecon’s approach to infrastructure projects has evolved to focus on capacity building and socio-economic development, rather than solely the delivery of technical related projects. The approach has to be flexible and adapted to suit the unique needs of the client by using the assets of the community.

Does leaving a ‘skills legacy’ benefit the service provider?The experience gained while delivering a successful major project needs to be properly captured and passed on as a skills legacy to those who will be involved in the operation of the finished project. Ideally, these will be mainly local community members and local technical staff recruited for the project team. This is particularly true of poorer developing countries, where the infrequency of major projects makes it vital that opportunities are not missed to improve the skills levels of everyone involved.

One of the most powerful incentives to create a skills legacy is reputational gain. The importance this can have on building relationships with governments, aid organisations and other key players – who may also have training agendas – should not be underestimated. Aligning with these agendas allows consultants to become trusted partners for future development projects.

what are the requirements for an effective community participation campaign?It is important to achieve an effective level of communication and understanding that enables communities to be involved in project design by:

• Inspiring them to identify, manage and control their own development aspirations

• Ensuring the project goals and objectives will meet the challenges in the community

• Ensuring the project strategy is appropriate to local circumstances

• Building partnerships, ownership and commitment needed for effective implementation.

Amelia believes in the holistic development of people and promotes personal responsibility for individual growth and development. With a background in training and development, Amelia is passionate about assisting and developing her fellow human beings.


community Refurbishment Programme South Africa

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Paul Thorstenson is Aurecon’s Chief Administration Officer and a member of the Aurecon Board. He chairs the ANZ & Asia Diversity Leadership Team. Previously Aurecon’s General Manager for Australia, Paul was responsible for the effective operations, business improvement initiatives and management of overheads. Over 30 years, Paul has gained wide-ranging experience in civil, structural and industrial engineering projects, including building design and major industrial plant expansions.

Zohra Ebrahim is a non-executive Director of the Aurecon South Africa Board. She is the chair of the Aurecon South Africa Diversity Forum and sits on a number of external boards and advisory bodies. Her commitments include being Deputy Chair of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, Chair of the South Africa Social Housing Regulatory Authority and former President of the South African Institute of People Management (the first black female president for the Institute).

Good corporate citizenship or commercial advantage?

Two of Aurecon’s diversity champions discuss what diversity means for modern, global organisations.

FAcE To FAcE

People often think diversity is about being a good corporate citizen. For diversity to work, every single person in the organisation needs to move past this ‘tick the box’ mentality and see the enormous commercial advantage a diverse workforce brings. At Aurecon, we believe building a diverse workforce is smart business. A workforce representing a diverse range of races, gender, ages and lifestyles, is essential to realising Aurecon’s vision of being ‘Leading, Vibrant and Global’.

They are some very valid points. Another aspect relates to our ability to interact with clients wherever they may intend operating. Our clients trust us to deliver market leading solutions based on localised knowledge, regardless of where their project is. As our clients expand their interests into new regions, Aurecon’s diverse workforce ensures we have the right people with the skills, sensitivity, experience and confidence to work within and alongside various cultures and across national borders.

That’s right. The diversity of our people is a strength of Aurecon. We have employees in 24 countries around the world and there are more than 32 different languages spoken within our business – all sharing common goals and focusing on one vision. The commercial advantages of such a diverse workforce complements the Group’s high performance culture.

Don’t you think that the wide-ranging benefits of diversity are often not fully appreciated? For example, in terms of recruitment, it enables us to select top talent from a much larger pool of candidates, as more people want to work for a company where diversity forms the core of their workforce. Coupled to this, having a more diverse group of managers not only assists with the need to have top talent, but also helps to retain employees as they can actually see the opportunity to grow their careers regardless of, for example, their race or gender. Of course, different diversity priorities may dominate at any given time in any particular country but we should be aware that diversity is a multi-faceted issue. In gaining and retaining top talent, we improve our innovation capabilities through employing the best. We also meet our clients’ expectations of receiving world-class services and solutions, as well as their expectations of partnering with a company that puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to diversity and lives diversity as a core value.

I suggest that it is not only the capability of working across national boundaries, it is the fact that people from different backgrounds often bring different perspectives to the problem-solving process. Also, the people in a country, anywhere, are never entirely homogenous – so it is also about expressing sensitivity without reacting in a culturally stereotyped way.

This is invaluable when coming up with integrated, holistic solutions and also enables us to be more aligned with clients, who also have diverse workforces with associated specific needs. Embracing diversity enables us to be more naturally in tune with these needs and to automatically provide our clients with solutions that from the onset take into account ways of overcoming any sensitive cultural or religious issues.

This should extend to the recruiting pool being as diverse as possible, with an emphasis on the specific skills and/or demographics that we would like to address. Once all potential candidates have been given a fair chance, the best people are recruited for the job. This ultimately helps Aurecon provide excellent client service by actively recruiting with diversity in mind.

Good corporate citizenship or commercial advantage?

face to face 35


The concept of diversity incorporates so many aspects of what makes us all individual. Gender, race, employment equity, age, disability, religion, lifestyle and culture – a unique balance between these shapes individuals, as well as different experiences and points of view. If well-managed, leadership groups and wider teams benefit enormously from the different perspectives a diverse workforce brings.

I agree. However, while we celebrate this diversity, we acknowledge that diversity management is not always easy or automatic. Indeed, diversity needs to be driven at the highest level to demonstrate commitment and provide leadership and direction on this critical subject.

When Aurecon was formed more than three years ago, we had thousands of people from across the globe being called to work together as one. Since then, the company’s leadership has put resources and effort into building a strong sense of team amongst employees and in cultivating this ‘Aurecon culture’ through clear communication, team building initiatives and targeted employee engagement programmes. The inclusion of specific diversity questions in our exit interviews and employee engagement surveys is an example of how we are gathering feedback from staff to identify what we do well concerning diversity and what areas require greater attention.

Allied to the above, the Group has consciously created diversity forums to recognise and develop the benefits that managing diversity brings. This means addressing difficult questions sometimes and being prepared to acknowledge that alternate perspectives coexist. Arising from this, our global diversity business case is based around four key outcomes, as well as a shared belief that diversity is essential. The outcomes were that, as a global organisation, we should:

1. Equip our people with the skills, sensitivity and confidence to work within and alongside various cultures, and across national borders

2. Take advantage of the benefits of different perspectives within leadership groups and teams

3. Maximise the available resources talent pool, including attracting, retaining and developing female talent

4. Respond to increasing client expectations for tangible diversity management (gender, race, employment equity, disability and culture)

While in their relative infancy, these forums are already engaging with employee groupings such our emerging professionals group – Limelight and Aurecon Women Achieving Women to address youth and gender issues respectively, to further our aim of ’Fostering Human Achievement’.

The diversity forums lead our transformation efforts to affect positive change across a number of dimensions and support our wider corporate social initiatives. This transformation is a key priority for us and encompasses other themes such as Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, skills development and positive procurement. While we are still in early stages of our transformation journey, we are already seeing some real, measurable change. For example, of the 20 carefully-selected beneficiaries in this year’s bursary intake in South Africa, 15 were black and eight were women.

Aurecon and diversityAs a global organisation, Aurecon aims to equip its people with the skills, sensitivity and confidence to work within and alongside various cultures and across national borders. We take advantage of the benefits of different perspectives across our leadership groups and teams. Our aim is to maximise the available resources talent pool, including attracting, retaining and developing female talent and championing Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBB-EE) for Aurecon in South Africa.

But wouldn’t you agree that diversity is not a one-size-fits-all outcome; each region has different diversity issues? In some areas of the world, it is ensuring cultural diversity. In others, it may be around age and in other parts of the world gender may be the key issue. One of the challenges of a global workforce is understanding each region’s unique challenges and what we can do to overcome them. It is also in developing initiatives that ensure not only a diverse and inclusive workforce but also wide-based representation in our leadership teams.

As you rightly pointed out, different regions have different diversity challenges, some of which have to be overcome by all global companies. Aurecon and our partners and clients are by no means exempted from those challenges.

Probably the biggest diversity challenge lies in the fact that many diversity issues are interlinked – the one influences the other. Therefore, you have to tackle all issues and perform well in all areas of diversity to truly be leading the marketplace when it comes to diversity and of course performance must be more than perceived, it must be managed and felt within the organisational culture.

To have a competitive edge, you must attract the best talent and experts. To achieve this, your workplace and diversity policy needs to be inclusive and, more importantly, sustainable as these individuals would rather associate themselves with a company that truly embraces diversity rather than window dressing to suit the situation. With a diverse workforce in place, more innovative solutions can be achieved as different people approach problem-solving differently. Attracting a more diverse range of clients and partners is also easier as a diverse workforce can associate with a diverse group of clients and partners – leading to business expansion into more regions.

Although the challenges of getting diversity right are undisputed, investing in policies and procedures that enhance a diverse workforce is well worth it and only when policies and procedures are accompanied by actions and good practice, will we have changed to how society expects us to behave as good corporate citizens, as well as reap the commercial rewards.

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The learning curve continues

Finishing university means your journey has only just begun. And so has your learning.

Experience

70%

Structured courses and programmes

10%

Your peers

20%

the learning curve continues

Experience

70%

•Financialandbusinessacumen - it takes knowledge to grow and run a business of this size, operating in different sectors across the globe. This section gives you an understanding of Aurecon’s commercial operations, increasing your financial acumen across budgeting and forecasting.

•Drive project results - develop skills fundamental to becoming a successful project leader focussed on the delivery of successful projects, on time and on budget. Our Level 1 Project Leader training focuses on foundations of project leadership, encompassing finance, project proposal and scoping, as well as Health & Safety.

informal learningOften, the best way to learn is to spend time with someone who has ‘been there and done that’. As an emerging professional, you will be provided with development that goes beyond formal learning modules through the mentoring programme – Mentoring for Success. you will be partnered with an experienced Aurecon leader who will assist you on your journey, providing open and constructive feedback.

AccreditationProfessional accreditation can bring both the organisation and the individual immense benefits and increase the quality of our business. Our emerging professionals are supported every step of the journey to professional accreditation and have one professional membership paid for by Aurecon.

Education assistanceAurecon recognises the importance of accessing best practice external programmes and studies to complement the commercial, technical and professional learning offered inhouse. We support employees to

undertake approved studies to meet both immediate and longer term professional development and business needs by providing financial support and study leave.

Aurecon campusAurecon Campus – Professional Skills is a learning and development reference framework that oultines the Aurecon learning opportunites available to all staff to grow their skills and careers.It has been designed to be read like a map, assisting you to drive your career development.

As your development goals evolve along with your career, Aurecon Campus will help you navigate the many learning choices available and, in conjunction with your manager, choose the learning option that best suits your individual career goals.

Finishing formal studies and entering the workforce is a huge milestone. But generally it isn’t the end of your learning journey – it’s just the beginning.

your learning will continue throughout your career at Aurecon, allowing you to build on your strengths, take on new challenges and take your career in new directions.

We’ve invested in extensive professional development programmes that will arm you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to become market leaders in your field. From informal interactions with colleagues, through the official mentoring programme or through our comprehensive formal learning programmes, at Aurecon you will be supported throughout your career to follow your aspirations and live your ideas.

Emerging Professionals Programme (EPP)

The EPP is a four year programme designed to help you become

a recognised professional in your field and support you to realise your career aspirations through four key areas.

•Self-management - focussing on personal resilience, collaboration and teamwork, problem solving, time management, communication and business writing, the self-management suite prepares our emerging professionals for their transition into life in a professional services firm.

•Clientrelationships- clients are at the centre of everything we do at Aurecon,

so understanding their business and their needs is important. The

client relationship suite focuses on getting to know, understand and

work with clients in order to deliver successful outcomes and results.

Learn your way We know that people learn in a variety of ways, so our professional development is in line with the 70:20:10 learning model. This model recognises that learning occurs on the job, in our daily role through experience and interactions with others. So we have designed our learning around both formal and informal learning encounters. The result is a comprehensive learning offering that is driven by you.

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Limelight

Limelight is a forum for Aurecon’s emerging professionals to support and network with each other. It empowers emerging professionals to ask questions, make recommendations, challenge current practices and contribute to the future of Aurecon.

For me, Limelight has been an opportunity to learn from peers, get great insight into other areas of the business and have regular interaction with senior business leaders.

Limelight holds various events to support young professionals who are passionate and proactive about their career development. In this section, I would like to introduce you to just three of these events, as seen through the eyes of other Aurecon emerging professionals.

Michael SmithGlobal Chair, Limelight Perth, Australia

My Aurecon story began in late 2007 when I worked as a vacation student, before starting with Aurecon full time after graduating from university in 2008. I started out with the Resources and manufacturing (R&M) service group and have since been involved in civil, structural and marine projects including levee repair and upgrade works following numerous cyclones, haul road upgrades, the design of wharf expansions and jetty structural audits.

Today, I am a Ports and Marine Engineer in our rapidly growing office in Perth, Western Australia.

Engineering is only one part of my work at Aurecon. I am also the Global Chair for Limelight. We meet regularly to discuss, plan, implement and review all things related to emerging professionals, ranging from training and accreditation to networking and mentoring. We work closely with Aurecon’s Talent Development team and have strong support from senior management.

If you would like to find out more about Limelight or read the stories of our Limelight chairs, visit www.aurecongroup.com/Graduate

limelight

Jacques’ storyJacques did vacation work with Aurecon, secured a bursary while studying and started as a graduate engineer in our Cape Town transport team in 2009. He has been working as a bridge design engineer in Dubai for the past three years.

and stakeholder management. We were privileged to have some really senior managers take the time to join us in the forum, including Aurecon’s Chief Operating Officer, Gustav Rohde, and Louise Adams, herself a former Aurecon graduate who has climbed the ranks and is now the Country Manager for the UAE.

One of the highlights was spending time at a local orphanage, where we taught the children about engineering through games and challenges, and helped them with gardening and repair work to some of their grounds. It was an experience I will always remember.

We’ve had brilliant feedback after the forum and will be presenting a recommendation report, detailing the initiatives and ideas we generated, to the Aurecon Leadership Team.

There have been many positives for me from this experience. I got to meet colleagues from around the world, learn from their experiences, see the power of diversity in action and gain a fresh perspective from varying corners of the global Aurecon network.

The most exciting part though, is contributing to important emerging professionals initiatives, and knowing that through passion and enthusiasm, we were able to make them happen. I am excited by the challenge of taking back and incorporating all of the great ideas and initiatives tabled at the Limelight leadership forum to Aurecon’s emerging professionals in the Middle East.

Jacques SchmidtStructural Design Engineer, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Taking Limelight to AureconIn 2012, we held the inaugural Limelight Leadership Forum. As Aurecon’s Limelight Leader in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), I was one of the lucky group invited to attend the three day event in Tshwane, South Africa. This was the first time that all of us – the Limelight Leaders from regions around the world – were able to meet in person. It was an opportunity to work collaboratively as a team on a range of emerging professional initiatives as well as strengthening our global emerging professional network on a personal face to face level.

The forum had the backing of Aurecon’s leadership team, including our Chief Executive Officer, Paul Hardy. With such a high level of support, we knew this was our chance to come up with some powerful ideas and initiatives that could really make an impact on emerging professionals in the business.

Over the three days, we were exposed to many different development themes, such as leadership training, skills in change management, mobility, diversity

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Competing against consultants from around the world, two Aurecon teams, Gaussian Eliminators and AureCAN, finished second and fourth respectively. The combined achievements of our two teams saw Aurecon win the Sponsor’s Award as the company with the best performing three or more teams. We were so proud to carry the trophy home – the first time it has been won by a team outside the United Kingdom.

I was team leader for Aurecon’s Gaussian Eliminators. Being there in London, competing against the other companies in person rather than just through a computer, made the whole process more realistic. Competition was tough and we were thrilled to end in second place.

MERIT was a chance for me to get an insight into the management of a large company and the complex decisions that need to be made to ensure the success of a business. It was also an opportunity for the emerging professionals involved to get to know different people across the company and understand the value and ease of working across different offices as a team.

We had to make the same decisions that you would in real life, except with the safety net that this was a virtual

simulation of a company. We made financial decisions on investing in other companies and how much dividend to pay shareholders. We chose which projects we should bid for and how many people to employ in different roles to ensure the projects finished on time.

The whole competition was a very rewarding learning experience for me. Not only did I get insight into what it takes to run a business, I was able to meet peers from different parts of the world and expand my professional network.

Samantha haydenProject Manager, Darwin, Australia

winning on a world stageIn 2012, I was one of the emerging professionals involved in Aurecon’s success in the global MERIT competition.

MERIT (Management, Enterprise, Risk, Innovation and Teamwork) is a global competition in which teams of emerging professionals manage a construction company in the form of a computer based simulation. Teams compete online from their offices and after twelve rounds the top six performing teams are invited to an intensive two day final, this year held in London.

Samantha’s storySamantha joined Aurecon as a graduate structural engineer in our Canberra office. She gained experience working on a range of different projects and is now pursuing her interest in project management, working on a broad range of projects from our Darwin office. After her experience in the MERIT competition, Samantha also became the chairperson for Darwin’s Limelight group.

limelight

to volunteering in community kitchens and putting together birthing kits for developing countries.

To me, the day represented another great reason for joining Aurecon – joining a company that is truly committed to contributing to communities around the world.

catherine blerschCivil Engineer, Cape Town, South Africa

67 minutes in 25 offices makes a difference Held annually, Mandela Day encourages action to help change the world for the better and to empower communities everywhere. Behind this is the concept of contributing at least 67 minutes of the day to volunteering or contributing to the local community – each minute representing one of the 67 years Nelson Mandela dedicated to humanity. While it’s a global movement, it holds particular relevance to Limelight members like me who are based in our South African offices.

Last year, on 18 July, Limelight was the driving force behind Aurecon’s involvement in Mandela Day, with 26 events organised in Aurecon offices around the world. The response from the wider Aurecon community was amazing.

People from around the business embraced the events and threw themselves behind a huge range of projects, ranging from donating blood,

To see more pictures of our activities to support this year’s Mandela Day, www.facebook.com/Aurecon

catherine’s storyCatherine joined our Cape Town office’s water team in January 2010. Since then, Catherine has worked across all sectors of water from planning right through to implementation. Catherine says she is continually inspired by the creativity, passion and energy shown by Aurecon’s emerging professionals.

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Did you know you can find lots of information on Aurecon’s LinkedIn page? In 2012, we were voted one of the world’s top 12 company pages. Follow us to see what the fuss is about at www.linkedin.com/company/Aurecon

With more than 202 million members and growing strong, LinkedIn is the world’s largest business network, providing the perfect opportunity for students and young professionals to build professional relationships and establish successful and fulfilling careers.

• Manage your online brand and reputation

• Keep you up to date with news from clients and other important stakeholders

Linkedin fast facts• Two new members sign up per second• The second most popular social

networking site, after Facebook• Executives from all 2011 Fortune 500

companies are members• 61% use LinkedIn as their primary

professional networking site• 81% of users belong to at least one

group

For many, LinkedIn is becoming an important tool in landing that dream job. your profile may be the first result of an online search of your name and can be a valuable tool for recruiters to better understand your background and your career interests.

LinkedIn is also an important networking and personal branding tool, that can help you:• Establish your professional profile• Stay in touch with colleagues• Find experts and collaborate on ideas• Broaden your network of professional

contacts

Linking with that dream job




want more tips?There are heaps more available at www.aurecongroup.com/Graduate

•Search for events – find out about events coming up in your area that might help you build your professional network offline

•build your network – LinkedIn helps students and graduates build and maintain professional networks efficiently and effectively. Connecting with classmates, faculty, colleagues and friends on LinkedIn will help strengthen your network

•Join groups – groups are a great source of company information, industry news and job opportunities. Search for groups which are relevant to the subject you have studied and the industry or discipline you are looking to work in. Once you are part of a group, you can take part in topical discussions and forums, as well as being exposed to articles, blogs and other useful material which will keep you up to date with what is happening within the industry

•keep your profile public – although you may be concerned about privacy, keeping a private profile is not the way to go on LinkedIn. Open your profile up publicly to connect with new people, but keep in mind that this should be a professional profile, not a personal one (so be careful what you share)

Linkedin top tips•Add a photo – research shows that

LinkedIn members who add an appropriate photo are more likely to have their profile viewed

•Promote yourself – LinkedIn has recently introduced new profiles for grads, allowing users to list projects, honours, associations and memberships, and even courses that you’ve taken while at university. This is all relevant information that can help you stand out from the crowd

•List your skills and expertise – this is a key area of your profile as it gives a brief snapshot of your capabilities. Think about your skill sets and how they can apply to a potential career, then list them. This can be a few short, concise sentences, or even dot points

•Ask for recommendations – contact your current or former employers, professors and colleagues to greatly improve your LinkedIn profile with recommendations from those who know you in your university or professional life

•Personalise your connections – when requesting connections on LinkedIn, take a moment to change the template request from “I’d like to add you to my professional network” to something that actually identifies you and why you should be connected with that person

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Registered office, Singapore 152 Beach Road #22-02Gateway EastSingapore 189721T +65 6256 6188E [email protected]

Registered office, Australia MelbourneAurecon CentreLevel 8, 850 Collins StreetDocklands VIC 3008 AustraliaT +61 3 9975 3000E [email protected]

Registered office, South Africa TshwaneAurecon Centre Lynnwood Bridge Office Park 4 Daventry Street Lynnwood Manor 0081 South Africa T +27 12 427 2000 E [email protected]

About Aurecon Aurecon provides engineering, management and specialist technical services for public and private sector clients globally. The group, with an office network extending across 24 countries, has been involved in projects in over 80 countries across Africa, Asia Pacific and the Middle East and employs around 7 500 people throughout 11 industry groups. We seek to foster human achievement in all aspects of our work.

Aurecon offices are located in:Angola, Australia, Botswana, China, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam.

For more information please visit www.aurecongroup.com

Aurecon South Africa (Pty) Ltd is a certified Level 3 BBBEE contributor.

The Aurecon Group is made up of a number of separate legal entities operating across diverse jurisdictions. Not all those entities provide services to clients.

©2013 Aurecon

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Follow us on www.linkedin.com/company/Aurecon

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Across 80 countries

10 000+ world-wide projects

Documents

Graduates 2013 - 360 degrees magazine