Lumen Autumn 2017 - Flipbook - Page 17
story by Kelly Brown
Far left: The first of Navy’s
new DDG, NUSHIP
Hobart at the ASC
shipyard in Adelaide
Photo courtesy of
© Commonwealth of
Australia, Department
of Defence
Left: Alumna Heidi Ross
at work for ASC
Photo by ASC
T
hroughout school Heidi loved
competing in the World Solar
Challenge, but it wasn’t until she
visited the University of Adelaide that
she learned her passion for making
things could be channelled into a
career in engineering.
“I didn’t know what engineering was
until Year 11. It was at the University
open day where I listened to a talk about
engineering that I found what I wanted
to do,” says Heidi.
Heidi studied a Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) (Mechanical) at the University
and during her studies completed a
placement at ASC.
She then joined ASC’s two-year
graduate program where she rotated
through a number of departments and
learnt about the many complex systems
in naval submarines and ships.
“ASC has many departments for
different engineering specialisations:
from noise and vibration to structural
engineering, to production support
or electrical engineering, so there
are lots of different opportunities for
graduates,” says Heidi.
“I really enjoyed the ability to move
around and see different aspects of
the company and experience different
types of work.”
At the completion of the program, Heidi
secured a position with ASC on the Air
Warfare Destroyer Alliance Program in the
technical department, where she focused
on the systems engineering and technical
integrity of marine systems.
Heidi has been with ASC since 2007
and during that time has worked on
major projects, including submarine
maintenance and the Hobart Class Air
Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project.
In her current role as System Safety
Lead Engineer, she helps ensure the
safety and integrity of equipment
supplied to the Navy.
“People sometimes think systems
safety is about making sure people
wear hard hats and fluoro vests, but it’s
actually making sure that the products we
deliver are safe for people to use, so it’s
equivalent to making sure your car has
seat belts and airbags,” says Heidi.
“I look at the design of products from a
holistic system perspective which requires
me to have a very good understanding of
how all the systems interact and connect
– it’s a different aspect of engineering.”
It’s the technical detail of the projects
and working on things that have a critical
impact on people’s lives that provides
Heidi with a great amount of satisfaction.
“One of my favourite things about
working for defence is that I love serving
the people who serve our country –
the people in defence who protect
those in need and look after Australia’s
security interests.”
“They do such an important job and
sacrifice so much for us, so being able
to support them with good quality
equipment... that really motivates me.”
People sometimes
think systems safety is
about making sure people
wear hard hats and fluoro
vests, but it’s actually
making sure that the
products we deliver are
safe for people to use, so
it’s equivalent to making
sure your car has seat belts
and airbags.
ASC
ASC is Australia’s largest specialised
defence shipbuilding and submarine
platform organisation, with more than
2500 employees across three facilities
in South Australia and Western
Australia, including more than 380
engineering and technical specialists.
The University of Adelaide’s Masters
of Marine Engineering course was
co-developed by ASC, who are also
involved in its delivery.
The University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 15
