Beaconhills College kicked off its first Careers and Pathways Breakfast of the year, spotlighting Engineering and Innovation.

Hosted by Sarah Fawkner, Maths and Science teacher and STEM advocate, the event featured two inspiring alumni: Elise Castle (Class of 2011), a leader in mining, manufacturing, and continuous improvement, and Daniel Sawyer (Class of 2012), an expert in road safety and transport solutions.

Elise shared her journey, from earning a double degree in Chemical Engineering and Science at the University of Melbourne to starting with Rio Tinto’s Graduate Program. She later transitioned into business improvement roles, driving productivity and safety in the dairy industry.

Daniel, who holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Swinburne University, started as a Site Engineer and now leads traffic and transport projects at Trafficworks, focusing on safer road networks.

Both alumni shared valuable insights. Daniel emphasised that the Engineering Industry offers diverse career paths, many of which may not be obvious until you’re in the field.

Elise highlighted the importance of building resilience saying, “It’s about showing up and overcoming the challenges that come your way.” She also encouraged students not to put too much pressure on themselves, explaining that it’s more about taking the leap and seeing where it takes you.”