Sydney here we are!
This time, we are speaking to Maggie, “Mags”, undefeated champion of “Best laugh in the office” award and all around brilliant electrical engineer and project lead! Maggie is one of those amazing people who never gets flustered, always over-delivers and everyone is invariably thrilled when she is on their project. She joined BSE 6 years ago, and has embraced our True Partners approach to project delivery, and is now our Senior Electrical Engineer in our Sydney Buildings Team.
Q&A –
1. What excites you about your area of engineering?
Probably very similar to everyone else’s feedback [laughs], coming up with solutions to challenges that inevitably come up during projects, balancing the different needs of all stakeholders and giving necessary consideration to the different design approaches. Taking all of this and putting it into a buildable design. I love the multi-disciplinary approach to services design and with new technologies for user interfaces and automation, it’s very cutting edge. Balancing this with energy efficiency is a challenge, and we are always able to make it work.
2. How do services engineers add value to projects?
While it’s ‘trendy’ to make cost savings through a value-management-exercise after initial design, that often compromises by impacting operational costs and quality of fixtures and finishes. Clients make the sacrifices due to other scope blowouts and delays. A better project outcome can come from sufficient time for real design and consultation, not progressing initial stages based on assumptions. A strong services engineer can have real value on a project, giving the client what they actually want and need (not a substitute), with real long-term sustainability. Good design is not about the cheapest install option.
3. Did you choose the property/ construction industry as an intentional career choice, or did it choose you?
It chose me, definitely. I studied Mechatronics initially, and a friend introduced me to the idea construction and building services which is really functional engineering. I have been lucky to start off designing small new builds then expanding into residential blocks and a range of education, defence and commercial projects now. I enjoy it, the different range of projects, finding real engineering solutions and new challenges to work through.
To end on a lighter note, we’re asking all our team the most controversial question of recent time:
4. Pineapple on pizza?
Yes