Jason is a Graduate Engineer working in our Infrastructure (Highways) team in Perth. As a kid, Jason was fascinated with transport, particularly airports and roads and public transport. He dreamt of being a pilot, and when he had the chance to fly, he would gaze outside the airport windows and watch the planes come and go. As he got older, his passion for transportation brought him to civil engineering, where he discovered he could help shape the future of airports.
Jason best aligns with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal is number nine, ‘Industry, innovation and infrastructure’. Learn how Arup is helping Jason create a pathway to his purpose:
Why did you choose the Arup graduate programme?
I first learnt about Arup in my final year of university at a career event in Perth. I started talking to some people from the highways team about the culture and the projects at Arup. They were approachable and were passionate about their work. So, I applied to the vacation programme to try the firm out for a few months. The leaders and team members of the highways team were very welcoming and supportive and always encouraged me to learn, ask questions, and pursue my goals. I then transitioned into the Graduate Programme and started in 2021.
What do you get up to in your day-to-day role?
Every day is different and involves working with diverse teams across the firm. On occasion, I enjoy getting out of the office and visiting client sites and learning how a design will work in the field. Working at Arup is a continuous learning experience, and everyone is always keen to help you out and answer questions. Arup’s flexible working opportunities allow me to spread my working hours across the office and home to maintain a healthy work-life balance. I enjoy catching up with colleagues for a coffee or with my grad cohort for lunches and learning about their experiences.
What has been your most enjoyable moment/project so far?
I have been fortunate to work on various projects, from small road intersection upgrades to large infrastructure projects, such as the Fremantle Bridges Alliance. A highlight for me is helping upgrade a major Western Australian airport, helping design its first multi-storey car park to improve passenger access to the terminal. It’s always been a dream for me to work on an airport-related projects ad having this opportunity in my first year of work has exceeded my expectations.
What are your future aspirations?
I want to develop my aviation design and planning skills in the future. Air travel is here to stay, so we as engineers must help design airports as sustainable as possible through new and innovative ways. Arup is already researching ways to reduce emissions in air travel and airports. It’s an exciting industry, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the future. I am grateful to start my career in a firm like Arup, which offers the chance to learn and be part of a diverse array of projects in many different industries.