Where are you from, and what have you studied, and at which institution?
I am originally from Malaysia. In May 2025, I graduated with my Master of Engineering (Civil & Environmental) at the University of Adelaide, which will combine with the University of South Australia to become Adelaide University in 2026.
I also completed my Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Hons.) in 2022 and Foundation in Civil Engineering in 2017 at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), in Malaysia.
What has your timeline in Adelaide looked like?
My timeline in Adelaide starts in February 2023, when I came to pursue my Master's. I spent the first few months on my studies; however, I decided, while I’m here, why not make the best of it?
Some of the most memorable highlights include being part of the Community Volunteering Program (CVP), where I received the Vice-Chancellor’s Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 2023, as well as the Adelaide Graduate Award. I’ve also had the chance to volunteer as a PASS leader.
Volunteering really boosted my confidence and helped me connect with others. I’m grateful to have worked alongside Kerry James and the CVP advisory team in 2023/2024.
I also volunteered with AUMSA (Adelaide University Malaysian Students’ Association) for several events and had the opportunity to share my culture during the charity event MOSAIC Adelaide 2023, where my friends and I planned, prepared, and served traditional Malaysian food.
Another major highlight was landing a summer internship at SA Water. The project I worked on became the basis of my Master’s thesis, titled “Assessment and Mitigation of Cyanobacterial Growth in the Onkaparinga Source Water System,”.
I was also honoured to receive the 2024 Merdeka Patron Award from the Australia Malaysia Business Council (AMBC) SA, which recognises outstanding final-year Malaysian students in South Australia.
Lastly, I was honoured to be part of the Women in STEM Careers (WiSC) 2024 cohort, where I had the opportunity to connect and collaborate with so many amazing women. The experience truly boosted my confidence and strengthened my determination to thrive in my field.
What motivated you to choose Adelaide over other Australian cities for your studies?
I was initially planning to do my PhD in the UK and skipped my Master's as I graduated with first-class honours during my undergraduate, but I did not receive the Malaysian government funds to move forward.
I initially got accepted to UNSW Sydney and the University of Adelaide; however, the living costs in Sydney alone were too high for me. I also received a partial scholarship from the University of Adelaide, which drove my decision to come here. I did background research on Adelaide and fell in love with the greenery and good work-life balance.
How did you select your course and institution, and what resources or support services have you found most helpful at your institution?
I’ve always been passionate about protecting the environment and contributing to society in meaningful ways. During my undergraduate studies in Malaysia, I discovered a strong interest and aptitude in water and environmental engineering. That led me to pursue a deeper understanding of the field through postgraduate studies.
I still remember what my former lecturer, from UNITEN, once said: “If you want to destroy a place, just pollute the water supply.” That statement stayed with me and reminded me of how critical clean water and a healthy environment are to humankind.
Also, coming from a family of engineers, it almost felt like a rite of passage to study engineering! My parents are leading researchers in their respective fields. They completed their postgraduate studies at the University of Swansea in the UK and have always supported my decision to study abroad. They believed it would give me a broader perspective, not just academically, but also in terms of life experiences. They are truly inspiring individuals, and I’m incredibly proud to be their daughter.
A great support service that I find most beneficial is the Career Services at offered at uni, which helped me prepare myself in terms of internships and life after uni.
Also, I found the counselling at the uni helpful. Especially, sometimes it was nice to have someone to talk to when I was in a slump and felt like I couldn’t continue my studies because of homesickness. From counselling, I learned that balancing a busy academic and personal schedule was definitely challenging, so I made it a priority to care for my mental health, getting enough sleep and ensuring I had at least one day off each week for myself.
Describe a moment when you felt truly at home in Adelaide.
When I came to Adelaide, I always thought that it would be temporary. But I met great people who became my second family here.
I feel truly at home when I surround myself with my Adelaide friends, whether we go on a trip to Barossa Valley to celebrate my birthday, spend nights at Aldinga Beach and Glenelg or try to catch Aurora Borealis. End of semester dinners at Truly Malaysian Village to eat childhood foods, watching the New Year’s fireworks show at North Terrace and spending time watching shows at Adelaide Fringe. Even spending quiet days at the Art Gallery, museum, being ‘stranded’ at Belair National Park or strawberry pickings in Hahndorf.
I feel very much at home when I am in my ‘home away from home’.
If you were to take a friend on a day trip around Adelaide, where would you take them and why?
I would take my friend to Port Adelaide, where we would visit the Maritime Museum, the Railway Museum, and the Aviation Museum. Then we would end the day with kayaking with the dolphins. This is something I have yet to experience in Adelaide. But if it were from my experience, I would book a day trip to Kangaroo Island to see everything there, especially the seal conservatory.
Where do you currently work, and what are your future aspirations?
After graduating, I had the opportunity to work as a Course Builder for the Adelaide University migration project. It was eye-opening to see the administrative side of the university and how hard people work to deliver excellence behind the scenes.
However, my time there was brief, as I was thrilled to be offered a place in the South Australian Government’s Department of Infrastructure and Transport’s 2025 Graduate Program. I’m truly honoured to be part of this year’s cohort and to begin my professional journey as a civil engineer after seven years at university. I’m especially excited to be contributing to the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project, the largest infrastructure project in Adelaide to date.
My aspirations in the future would probably be to try for a PhD, but that’s later in the future. I want to ‘get my hands dirty’ in engineering and get the much-needed experience in the industry, especially since I have been a student for 8 years. But at the moment, I just want to go with the flow, experience life and see where it takes me.
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