Sydney, 31 July 2025 — The CIBSE Young Engineers Network (YEN) NSW and CIOB’s Tomorrow’s Leaders brought together nearly 40 emerging professionals for an inspiring evening of insight, reflection, and connection at the Northrop Consulting Engineers Sydney office. The event, titled Aspirational Engineers, featured a dynamic panel of senior industry leaders who shared their personal journeys and professional wisdom in the building services and infrastructure sectors.
Panellists and Organisations
The panel included:
- Sarah McLaughlin – Group Manager & Senior Mechanical Engineer, Northrop Consulting Engineers
- Anna Davis – Senior Manager - Green Star Technical Delivery, Green Building Council Australia
- Janine Pickering – NSW/ACT Building Services Team Lead, Arup
- Alistair Lunn – Executive Director, Transport for NSW
Each speaker brought a unique perspective, united by a shared passion for sustainable and effective engineering solutions.
Event Highlights
The evening kicked off with a light-hearted icebreaker: “If you were a vegetable, which one would you be and why?” This unexpected question set a relaxed and engaging tone, allowing attendees to connect with the panellists on a personal level before diving into deeper discussions.
A 45-minute live Q&A followed, covering topics such as career development, work-life balance, and the evolving role of engineers in shaping the built environment.
Key Takeaways
- Career Journeys Are Unique: Panellists shared candid stories of their paths into engineering, often shaped by unexpected turns and early challenges.
- Career Transitions Require Self-Awareness: Recognising when to pivot or shift direction was a recurring theme, with adaptability highlighted as a key skill.
- Support for Women in Engineering: The panel emphasised the importance of mentorship, inclusive workplace cultures, and equitable opportunities to retain and empower women in the field.
- Advice for Emerging Engineers: Confidence, mentorship, and lifelong learning were identified as essential ingredients for a successful career.
- Imposter Syndrome Is Common: All speakers acknowledged experiencing imposter syndrome, sometimes daily, and shared strategies for overcoming it through mindset shifts, peer support, and personal growth.
Quotes from the Night
“Having curiosity is important as engineers so we can keep asking questions like ‘Why does this work the way it does?’ or ‘How can we make this better?’ Without that mindset, innovation and problem-solving stalls. Every advancement — from sustainable buildings to smarter infrastructure — begins with a question.”
— Sarah McLaughlin, Northrop Consulting Engineers
“Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity.”
— Alan Watts, Philosopher