In November the API (with the support from the TJ Effeney Family and Energy Queensland sent 25 undergraduate students to sunny Sydney for the EECON Conference. It was a wonderful time for both the API staff and students.
Here is a wrap up of what happened, what we saw and what we learned:
On Day 1, the interstate students flew in to Sydney, after which we kicked off the the TJ Effeney Award activities at API Member Transgrid, with a tour of their underground, gas-cooled substation!
Prior to the Transgrid site tour, we had an excellent presentation from API Board Member and Head of Asset Management, Lance Wee. He spoke about his role, their current power assets and the new projects that they are working on.
We then heard from Whitney Spooner, Talent and Capability Advisor, as she provided some inside knowledge on the Transgrid graduate program, how to apply and how the interview process works.
She shared information on opportunities for graduates at Transgrid regarding professional development, employee support, mental health support and mentorship. This was supported by a current Transgrid’s graduate who told us about her experience and what she was working on.
To conclude Day 1, the API kicked off our final Alumni Event of the year in Sydney, which gave the TJ Effeney students a chance to have some fun and connect and network with some amazing API program alumni across our member organisations.
On Day 2 and 3, the API Team and the 25 TJ Effeney Awardees attended the Electrical Energy Society of Australia’s (EESA) annual Electric Energy Conference (EECON). The students built up their technical knowledge through the many industry presentations including hearing from the API’s CEO Dr David Pointing, Engagement Manager, Stephanie Somerville and our Professional Programs and Operations Manager, Emily Marschke who spoke about the programs they are undertaking in to develop the future power sector workforce.
API staff and TJ Effeney Awardees were also in attendance at the Women in Energy Breakfast, where they heard from speaker Hester De Wett and host Jenna Connellan followed by networking with the speakers and audience in attendance.
During all conference sessions, API students volunteered in aiding presenters during their Q&A sessions by providing the audience with microphones.
Additionally, the EECON Conversation Lounge (a collaboration between API, CIGRE and EESA) was a space dedicated to continuing the conversation with speakers following sessions, and provided the opportunity for professionals to connect with API Students, so they could sharpen their networking skills. TJ Effeney Awardees also had the chance to meet and connect with API Members, Wilson Transformer Company, Tyree Transformers, and Powerlink Queensland.
We thank Energy Queensland and the Effeney Family in funding the TJ Effeney Award. The Award would not be possible without their generous funding and support.
To find out more about the TJ Effeney Award and read the previous year reports, please head to https://www.api.edu.au/tje-award.
留言