Our Six New Undergrads Talk About Life at ATC
The ATC Vacation Placement Program intake began in November 2025. We’ve had six undergrads join the program across our Melbourne and Brisbane offices after a lengthy application and interview process.
These budding engineers were selected from amongst the many applications due to their enthusiasm for working with the environment and aptitude for geotechnical work and water management.
We look forward to following their progress as they learn new skills. Upon completion, they will have an opportunity to continue to work alongside our teams in our Graduate Momentum Program, one to two days a week.
BRISBANE
Isaac Brown
Queensland University of Technology
Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)
What was your first job?
I worked as a McDonald’s Kitchen staff member for 4 years while in high school.
Can you share what sparked your interest in engineering?
Growing up around carpentry my whole life sparked my interest in civil works, and I was always interested and quite good at maths, so I thought engineering would be the perfect career.
What have you enjoyed the most so far?
So far at ATC Williams, I have enjoyed learning to use QGIS to draw catchments and make professional industry-standard maps for real-world problems related to coal and gold mine projects.
Jakob Booth
University of Queensland
Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)
What was your first job?
Fruit re-stocker at the local fruit store.
Can you share what sparked your interest in engineering?
I have always enjoyed undertaking creative endeavours and believe that an engineer is a creative person who looks for solutions that others might not see, and also happens to have some understanding of maths.
What work are you doing at ATCW?
I have been working on quite a few projects in the waste team. It is very satisfying to see the work I have done start to roll out into tangible forms. I am very excited to see the projects that are lined up for the start of early 2026 get underway.
Masroor Ahmed
Queensland University of Technology
Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)
What have been your favourite course subjects at Uni?
Structural engineering, water engineering and geotechnical engineering.
What have you been working on?
I’ve been working within the mining team on Tailings Storage Facility projects.
What have you enjoyed the most so far?
Working with the mining team and learning from people who are truly passionate about what they do. The supportive environment at ATC Williams has made it easy to ask questions, build confidence, and feel like I’m contributing to meaningful outcomes.
MELBOURNE
Eli Hubbard
Monash University
Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)
What have been your favourite course subjects at Uni?
I’ve especially enjoyed geomechanics, particularly an assignment where we explored the stability issues behind the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Can you share what sparked your interest in engineering?
I’ve been interested in engineering from a young age, largely influenced by my dad’s work in the construction industry, and that curiosity has grown as I discovered how much I enjoy tackling practical, real‑world challenges.
What have you enjoyed the most so far?
I’ve enjoyed working in the lab performing soil analysis tests, along with dam‑break modelling and stability analysis. Strengthening my understanding of soil behaviour has given me a hands‑on, practical way to apply what I’ve learned at uni.
Kendrick Lo
Monash University
Bachelor of Engineering (Hon)/Science
What have been your favourite course subjects at Uni?
Civil and Environmental Engineering Practice, Hydrology
Can you share what sparked your interest in engineering?
I would often visit the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur when I was younger, and I was always amazed at how such big structures were constructed.
What have you enjoyed the most so far?
Talking to others around the office, it’s been great getting to know people here.
Liam Byrne
RMIT
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Infrastructure)
How did you hear about the ATCW undergraduate program?
I first heard about ATCW through an Industry Day at RMIT.
What have you been working on since starting in November?
I have worked on designing spillways for critical storms, modelling dam breaks and assigning consequence categories, evaluating stability and seepage through dam embankments and creating water balance models.
What have you enjoyed the most so far?
I’ve enjoyed how dam break modelling brings together water modelling and geotechnical knowledge of tailings to create a visual representation of dam failure.