Andrew Dawkins

The highlight of my studies so far has been mixing with a diverse group of students and being able to meet a range of industry experts through guest lectures.

After completing a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronics) in Western Australia, I worked as an engineer in the marine sector. Most of my work was in the oil and gas industries, but my passion was in renewable energy and sustainability and I decided to do postgraduate study in sustainable energy.

I chose to study at RMIT because of its reputation for quality engineering education and research.

I researched comparable programs but after speaking with students who were studying the program and meeting with the coordinator, I ultimately found that RMIT had the most suitable program for me. The employment rates for graduates are also high, which was important to me.

The highlight of my studies so far has been mixing with a diverse group of students and being able to meet a range of industry experts through guest lectures. The ‘practise what you preach’ attitude among the lecturers has also been motivating.

We must address sustainability issues in order to maintain or increase the quality of life of future generations. Our energy and resource consumption continues to grow and we have to actively work to develop sustainable ways to manage this.

In the future, I want to make a tangible difference to the field, either in a technical role, or possibly on the political side. I hope to find a role that will allow me to contribute and see the positive effects of what I’ve achieved.