Emily Brebner

You don’t have to do a general degree and then choose a specialisation, which for someone like me who knew what I wanted to do, was ideal.

I’ve always been curious about the way things work and how functionality and form combine, so engineering was the obvious path for me. When I discovered my passion for renewable energy and design, the double degree in sustainable systems engineering and industrial design gave me the best of both worlds.

I decided to study at RMIT as it is known for its engineering courses. You don’t have to do a general degree and then choose a specialisation, which for someone like me who knew what I wanted to do, was ideal. I also learned that if you want to do something creative, like industrial design, RMIT was the place to be.

The most important factor for making my decision was knowing I would be learning hands-on, whereas I’d heard other universities were very theory based which isn’t my style.

A highlight of my studies has been going to Cambodia to participate in an Engineers Without Borders Design Summit. It was not only an experience of a lifetime, but it showed me how I could use my skills and knowledge to positively impact lives on a global scale. I learnt so much about humanitarian engineering and how our skill set as an engineer is so crucial in shaping the world’s future.

As part of my degree I completed six months work experience at Vestas, a wind turbine company. As part of the placement with this global company I got to observe how it all works, from sales, analysis, tendering and project signing.

When I complete my degree, my ideal job would where my passion lies  ̶  to work in humanitarian engineering. Something in renewables would be ideal, and a global career is a must. The ultimate dream would be a job that allowed me to help those stuck in poverty or crisis.