It isn’t just the hands-on experience that Fariha Chowdhury will take from her Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) internship.
She’s been able to absorb and grow in her role across the 6 months, working on the Burwood Highway-McMahons Road Intersection Upgrade and the Thompsons Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road Intersection Upgrade.
As her internship has come to an end, Chowdhury is proud to look back what she’s learned first-hand on Victoria's Big Build, especially that invaluable guidance she’s found from outstanding female mentors.
“I've found immense enjoyment in my experiences at MRPV," Chowdhury said. "I consider myself fortunate to have been part of 2 distinct phases of road projects, enabling me to gain invaluable insights. These experiences have been instrumental in shaping my perspective as a future civil engineer and have equipped me with practical knowledge crucial for launching my career.”
Women helping women to grow within construction is an incredible wave of change sweeping across the industry at the moment and for Chowdhury, she has been able to get this amazing support and mentoring working alongside MRPV Project Manager Erin Ross. Having Ross’ support and seeing how she works within this field has been an incredible insight.
“Erin’s role as my manager has been incredibly inspiring,” Chowdhury said. “I've seen firsthand her expertise, extensive knowledge in road projects, and exceptional leadership qualities. Her unwavering support for my learning and opportunities, coupled with entrusting me with various responsibilities, has been invaluable. Observing Erin's success underscores the fact that as a woman in engineering, we can make equally significant contributions to the community. Having her as a role model has bolstered my confidence, reaffirmed my belief in pushing forward and striving for excellence.”
It’s a holistic shift as more women are encouraged to study in STEM fields and are given opportunities as female engineers within the construction industry. Victoria's Big Build isn’t just about building the road and rail infrastructure that Victoria needs into the future, but also upskilling a new generation of engineers, builders and many other professionals to ensure our construction knowledge and insight remain top notch.
For Chowdhury, creation and construction go hand-in-hand as it’s the next step in a lifelong journey admiring the world around her. From an early age growing up in Bangladesh, her love of architecture and the buildings in her neighbourhood laid the first foundation for her life in engineering to come.
While teamwork and collaboration aren’t the first things you think about when it comes to building new roads and intersections, Chowdhury has taken plenty away from her time embedded in MRPV and its team-first mentality.
“What stood out in both the Burwood Highway project and the Thompsons Road Intersection project is the remarkable display of teamwork,” Chowdhury said. “Achieving success wasn't solely the effort of a group of engineers; it involved the collaboration of various teams such as the Communications, Environmental, Surveillance, Engineering and Safety teams to name just a few. One significant lesson learned is that despite our expertise and field knowledge, there's always room for things to not go as planned. However, the beauty lies in the collective capability of a team to address and resolve any challenge that arises.”
So what’s next for Fariha? After spending time at MRPV and seeing the impact an incredible array of female engineers can offer construction, she wants to continue to develop and grow in this field.
From her own internship experience to the goal of starting her own firm, a life spent building not only the impressive infrastructure of the future but also the career opportunities of aspiring female engineers like herself is in her sights.
“Looking ahead, my goal is to become an entrepreneur by establishing my own firm, specifically focusing on fostering the involvement of women in engineering,” Chowdhury said. “I've had the privilege of working alongside incredibly talented and intelligent women engineers, highlighting the need for more representation of women in our industry. I aim to create opportunities and support to encourage more women to pursue and thrive in engineering roles.”
MRPV’s Internship Program is a structured development experience which aims to build the next generation of diverse and inclusive talent ready for careers post-study. The aim is to provide opportunities for students identifying with an underrepresented group who may otherwise face employment barriers.
Find out more about MRPV's Internship Program.