I think the best advice for someone looking to pursue a career in the power/energy industry can be summarised in a quote from the movie Kung Fu Panda:
‘It doesn’t matter how many times you fall down, what matters is how many times you get back up.’
Entering the power industry, or any new field, can be challenging. There will always be moments of uncertainty, mistakes and setbacks. However, what determines success is not about avoiding failure, but about resilience and perseverance.
When you're new to the power industry, it is likely you will encounter complex technical challenges or interpersonal dynamics that are difficult to navigate. Each time you face a setback, whether it's a project that didn't go as planned or a concept that's tough to grasp, it's an experience to learn and grow. Getting back up means analysing what went wrong, seeking advice or mentorship and applying those lessons for the next opportunity. Overall, don’t be afraid of the challenge of pursuing a career in the power industry because the hurdles you overcome will provide the opportunities towards growth and success.
Who am I
Hi everyone, my name is Sarthak. I am currently in my 5th and final year of university, pursuing a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering. I have also completed my Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Data Science at the University of Western Australia.
During my studies, I have had the invaluable opportunity to be a student member of the Australian Power Institute, where I've actively promoted engineering to high school students and participated in energy-based conferences across Australia. Outside of my academic and professional interests, I enjoy playing sports such as basketball and soccer with a group of friends and I also have interests in music, particularly playing songs on my electric guitar. My passion for the electronics behind the instrument as well as music production were some of the main reasons for having chosen to study electrical engineering and data science at university, which has been an extremely fulfilling experience!
Why I chose a career in power
The power sector is an ever-growing industry, especially as the reliance on energy will continue to grow exponentially in the future. As the world’s dependence on energy continues to surge, the demand for innovative and sustainable power solutions will be integral. Australia itself is a world leader in the development of power and energy technologies, with many successful innovations such as in hydroelectric power generation and energy storage. The industry's commitment to pushing boundaries and creating a more efficient and sustainable energy landscape is a key focus within the sector. To summarise the industry, I think in the wise words of Yoda from Star Wars are quite accurate:
'Always in motion is the future.'
What truly invigorates me about pursuing a career in the power sector is its dynamic nature. The industry thrives on a culture of research, experimentation and innovation. Furthermore, there’s a big focus on pursuing development of cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, despite the many challenges associated with climate change, storage solutions and rising costs.
Overall, a career in the power sector is something that I believe would be professionally fulfilling and personally rewarding and the opportunity to be at the forefront of a field that is shaping the course of our future is an invaluable opportunity to have.
Where it all started
The power sector is an ever-growing industry, especially as the reliance on energy will continue to grow exponentially in the future. As the world’s dependence on energy continues to surge, the demand for innovative and sustainable power solutions will be integral. Australia itself is a world leader in the development of power and energy technologies, with many successful innovations such as in hydroelectric power generation and energy storage. The industry's commitment to pushing boundaries and creating a more efficient and sustainable energy landscape is a key focus within the sector. To summarise the industry, I think in the wise words of Yoda from Star Wars are quite accurate:
'Always in motion is the future.'
What truly invigorates me about pursuing a career in the power sector is its dynamic nature. The industry thrives on a culture of research, experimentation and innovation. Furthermore, there’s a big focus on pursuing development of cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, despite the many challenges associated with climate change, storage solutions and rising costs.
Overall, a career in the power sector is something that I believe would be professionally fulfilling and personally rewarding and the opportunity to be at the forefront of a field that is shaping the course of our future is an invaluable opportunity to have.
My work experience.
What's next?
Recently, one of my major roles involved working at INPEX, within the frontline team, where I was able to contribute to the optimisation of power generation systems such as for generators, drafting of electrical schematics and logic diagrams for protection relays as well as development of protection strategies for arc flash testing procedures. I also have experiences within data science and software development, having worked at an international, fintech company, where I helped create machine learning and data analysis programs. As someone entering the industry, the diverse career paths within the sector, including fields such as power generation, distribution networks, renewable energy and electrical infrastructures, offer an irreplaceable opportunity to learn a wide range of skills and experiences.
In particular, I am very interested in renewable energy innovations, emerging hydrogen technologies and battery optimisations. Additionally, the use of data for supply-demand balancing and energy optimisations aligns closely with my background in electrical engineering and data science, making these areas particularly appealing for me to explore. Overall, as a student entering the industry, the opportunity to solve current challenges in the power sector and contribute to the overall growth within the energy field is what excites me the most.