From Graduate to Principal Engineer
Growing up in Lara, just outside Geelong, Chris studied engineering at Deakin University and gained early experience at CSIRO and GHD. It was his decision to move interstate for a graduate program that truly set his career in motion.
“I wanted to give another state a go,” he says. “I applied for graduate programs in WA, QLD, and TAS."
"TasNetworks stood out, not just for the role, but because they made it clear that Tasmania would be the best place to learn and grow.”
Chris moved to Tasmania to begin a three-year graduate program at TasNetworks. His twin brother was convinced he’d return home, but Chris had other plans…
The Graduate Program: Building a strong foundation
In the TasNetworks graduate program, graduates rotate through different teams to gain hands-on experience across the business. For Chris, this included working alongside the Network Innovation, Network Planning, Outage Planning, and Network Performance functions.
Each rotation added a new layer to his understanding of the power system and helped him discover his passion for power system engineering, particularly generator and system modelling.
“I originally thought I’d become a protection engineer but I fell in love with power system modelling,” says Chris “The graduate program gave me the freedom to explore. You can ask anyone anything, and people will give you hours of their time.”
One of TasNetworks strengths is the mentors that are in the business to shape and develop young professionals.
Chris fondly remembers the mentoring opportunities given to him by Dr Mark Davies and Chris Latimer, who consistently have helped shape his career pathway. He was enjoying working in the field alongside experienced engineers so much, his brother finally had to admit that “he might not be coming home!”.
After the graduate program, Chris took up an opportunity with Hydro Tasmania as a Commissioning Engineer. The shift was challenging, but he embraced it fully, driven by a desire to learn. Working alongside Hydro Tasmania and Entura teams, Chris supported commissioning of wind, solar and battery energy storage systems.
“Renewables were booming,” he says. “It was a challenge to train younger engineers while delivering work under tight timeframes. But it was an incredible learning environment.”
Returning to TasNetworks: Shaping the future of the grid
A few years later, Chris returned to TasNetworks as a Senior Network Performance Engineer, before being promoted to Principal Power System Engineer.
“I wanted to come back and help shape the future of the grid,” he says. ”I’ve always had a sense of belonging at TasNetworks.”
Today, Chris focuses on enabling secure new connections and integrating grid-forming technologies. He’s also deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of engineers. Chris’s advice to future engineers is grounded in experience:
“The world may change, but the laws of physics don’t. Make sure you have a solid understanding of the basics. And always stay up to date with what’s happening in the industry.”
Chris’ story is a testament to the power of curiosity, resilience, and mentorship, and a reminder that great engineers are often shaped by those who take the time to teach!
Are you an aspiring engineer, looking for a career launchpad and access to brilliant mentors?
The TasNetworks Graduate Program recruits in March each year. Learn more about our programs and benefits, including flexibility, health and wellbeing, and electricity discounts.