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  • Baila Shah

    Baila Shah

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Baila Shah

Master of Engineering (2015)

Becoming an engineer was always a childhood dream for ECU graduate Baila Shah.

Growing up, Baila enjoyed learning how things worked, always questioning and challenging herself.

She says growing up in a household of engineers was a major influence in the development of her career goals as an Engineer. “My dad was a Professor in Chemistry, and my brothers are engineers,” Baila explains. But she credits her mum to be the best engineer in the house. “My mother is the best engineer in the family even though she doesn’t possess an engineering degree but she has a logical way of thinking and ends up mending things that we are unable to fix”.

“I’m proud to be born in a family who valued my education as important as my brothers’ and always encouraged me to pursue my dreams,” Baila says.

Baila was determined to explore new horizons and defy the stereotype of what women can or can’t do. And it lead her to purse Masters of Instrumentation, Control and Automation Engineering at ECU.

Just a week after graduating with her Master’s degree in 2015, Baila secured a full-time graduate position with Primero Group, where she went on to work for over two years.

“I started working with Primero soon after my graduation, and I’ve been very fortunate to work on many exciting projects during my time at the company,” Baila reflects.

Baila’s projects have included design and commissioning of control systems for fuel facilities at mine sites for Fortescue Metal Group and Citic Pacific Mining, as well as taking responsibilities as a Site Engineer for construction and commissioning of light vehicle wash bay and water standpipes for a Rio Tinto facility in Karratha.

“I’m proud to be born in a family who valued my education as important as my brothers’ and always encouraged me to pursue my dreams,”

According to Baila, commissioning is often stressful and always time-constrained as it is the final step of the project, before giving it the all clear for use and hand it over to the client. “Not giving up is pretty much the utensil for working through commissioning.” Baila says she always sets her mind to complete any task she is given, no matter how perplexed. ”The hard work pays off when everything on the project works. That sense of accomplishment is unmatchable and motivates me to keep going”, Baila emphasises.

Baila praises Australia for being a country that offers equal opportunity to women. However, she highlights that it is up to the women to step-up and take full advantage of the opportunity that is given to them. She believes enthusiasm is always recognised.

“Whenever there is an opportunity to learn, I raise my hand. I have seen my willingness to learn welcomed by senior engineers at work”. She advises graduates to be enthusiastic and always be willing to learn.

With a very promising career ahead of her, Baila hopes to one day secure a senior role that allows her to manage large scale projects through from its start to its finishing stages.

Baila is currently Superintendent Reliability Fixed Plant Maintenance at BHP Jimblebar mine site. She is looking forward to the future –not just to working with a team of inspiring engineers, but to growing along-term career as an ECU engineering graduate.

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