Manju Puthanveetil and Vishnu Ramaraj on Attending Summer School 2025

By Manju Puthanveetil BE MIEAust CPEng APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus) 

Design Delivery Manager Civil 

Endeavour Energy 

This year, I had the privilege of attending the API 2-week Summer School program, a unique opportunity that brought together professionals from across the energy sector to learn, collaborate, and share insights about the challenges and opportunities in our industry. Reflecting on this experience, I can say it was both professionally enriching and personally transformative. 

I discovered the API Summer School through my organisation, Endeavour Energy. A few of our senior leaders are strong advocates for the program, actively promotes it within the company and my manager encouraged me to participate, and I am grateful for their support. 

My Path to the Program 

I was fortunate to be nominated to attend the Summer School, an opportunity that came with a sense of responsibility. Representing my organisation and contributing to discussions with industry professionals was both exciting and a bit daunting at first.  

From Trepidation to Teamwork 

At the start of the Summer School, I felt a mix of uncertainty and trepidation. Spending two weeks with a group of people I had never met before was initially intimidating. However, those feelings quickly transformed into a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. By the end of the program, our cohort had become a close-knit team, united by discussions about challenges, solutions, and strategies to address the energy transition. The professional relationships formed during these two weeks are ones I will carry forward for a lifetime. 

Highlights of the Experience 

The program was filled with valuable experiences, but a few moments stood out. The insights shared by industry executives about challenges facing the energy sector were thought-provoking. The Network Visioning Workshop provided practical tools to shape strategies and was a standout experience. 

The site visits were another highlight. Visiting South Morang Terminal Station and the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub (MREH) gave me a deeper understanding of how innovative designs are being implemented in real-world scenarios. These visits provided practical insights that I can apply in my own work. 

Key Takeaways for My Professional Journey 

One of the most significant takeaways was the Network Visioning Tool, which I plan to use for strategy development. Additionally, the networking opportunities facilitated by API were invaluable. The connections I made and the knowledge shared will enhance my approach to problem-solving and collaboration in the energy sector. 

In conclusion, the API Summer School was a transformative experience that broadened my horizons, strengthened my professional network, and equipped me with tools to contribute more effectively to the energy transition.

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By Vishnu Ramaraj (RPEQ, CPEng, NER) 

Senior Substation Design Engineer 

Substation Design and Engineering 

Energy Queensland  

When I first heard about the Summer School, it was through my manager who forwarded me an internal email. At the time, I wasn’t actively looking for training opportunities, but the program stood out — it promised not only technical learning but also the chance to connect with peers across the power sector. I was intrigued.  

The application process was straightforward but competitive. At my workplace, I had to submit a brief proposal outlining how the Summer School aligned with my professional development goals and how I intended to apply the learnings in my role. I was fortunate to receive a nomination from my manager, who’s always supported growth opportunities like this.  

At the beginning of the Summer School, I’ll admit I felt a bit overwhelmed. Being surrounded by such a diverse and accomplished group of professionals was both inspiring and intimidating. But by the end of the two weeks, my perspective had completely shifted. I left feeling energised, more confident, and part of a broader community of like-minded professionals working toward a more resilient and sustainable power system.  

The highlight for me was a hands-on group exercise where we had to work on our challenge question defined by Jasmine Doak - “How can we ensure local communities and Traditional Owners genuinely and enduringly share the economic benefits of Australia’s next resources boom: the transition to renewable energy”. I am grateful to be assigned with this challenge question. Coming from a technical background, this task has challenged me to do intense research about the existing policies and current benefit sharing schemes across Australia.  But most importantly, to come up recommendations that addresses these ongoing challenges within the given two week’s period. 

I would also like to request API to have similar challenging questions in future to discuss various issues that remote communities face in a day today basis, so that young and developing professionals in power industry will have an awareness of these issues and co-design a better solution.  

One key takeaway from the program that I will carry into my working life is the importance of systems thinking — seeing beyond technical issues and considering the wider network of people, infrastructure, and policies. It’s something I plan to integrate into my approach to project planning and stakeholder engagement.  

All in all, the Summer School was more than just a learning opportunity — it was a chance to grow professionally, connect personally, and return to work with a fresh sense of purpose.