What is your background? 

I was born in Sydney but spent a lot of my younger years in the United Kingdom and the United States - that is why my accent is all over the place! When I returned to Australia,I studied a bachelor of Renewable Energy Engineering at the University of NSW, and graduated at the end of 2015. It is a very specialised degree; in my mind it is like a combination between mechanical and electrical engineering with a focus on renewable energies. 

When did you start working at AEMO? 

Previously I worked at another company called Renewably Energy Systems (RES) Australia, helping to develop solar and wind farms in Australia, before applying to the graduate program at AEMO. I began working at AEMO in February 2016 and have been here for over two years. Initially I worked in one of our NSW offices before moving to Melbourne. 

What made you choose the AEMO graduate program? 

While working at RES Australia I realised that AEMO is a very central body to the energy industry and that it upholds a good reputation in the energy sector. The graduate program itself looked quite immersive and I thought that working at AEMO would give me a great breadth of experience and knowledge in the area. I knew that if I ever wanted to further my career in renewable energy, then this program would give me so many necessary skills and experience.

What is your current role here? 

I currently work in the Electricity Market Monitoring team, where we analyse the current events in the National Electricity Market (NEM). I have also been aiding different teams at AEMO for various projects that interact with the NEM. The graduate program allows us to do four nine-month rotations over the course of three years. The first rotations are decided for you, and as you progress, you get a bit more influence in the choice of where you go next. By the end of the three years you will generally find a place that you are passionate about and have a better idea about where you want your career to go. 

What is the most exciting thing about working in the Australian energy industry? 

The most exciting thing is how dynamic the industry is and that we get to overcome so many challenges. 

What does being an AEMO graduate mean for your future? 

I came here thinking it might be a stepping stone for me, but now I see myself at AEMO in the foreseeable future. That is probably a good reflection of the graduate program. 

What advice would you give someone who is applying to the program? 

Use all your connections! If you know a friend of a friend that works at AEMO, have a chat to them to get an idea about what it’s like here. Be passionate and show it! I would definitely recommend the graduate program to others!