Interview with Elise Hillier

What degree are you currently studying and why? At what university??

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Civil Engineering at the University of New South Wales. I chose engineering because I want to be able to use my skills to positively impact society, and also with the intention of using my skills for missionary work in developing countries.?

What is your most memorable achievement up to this point? This can be university, sporting, cultural or otherwise.?

Aside from being a UNSW Rural Scholarship recipient, my most memorable achievement would be traveling through Paris and Switzerland by myself. It was a unique experience and which I believe was important to and positively impacted my personal growth.

As a young professional, what appeals to you about the infrastructure industry??

What appeals to me the most is the constant growth and change happening in the industry. It is continuously developing, and the new and unknown possibilities of what the future holds for the industry are exciting as a young professional.?

Why did you join E3 Advisory? What did you hope to learn here and what appealed to you when looking for undergraduate experience??

I joined E3 Advisory due to the diverse range of projects that the company is involved in. I believe that exposure to a diverse range of projects will prove invaluable at this stage of my career and allow me to learn and grow as an undergraduate. Most importantly, the type of work that E3 Advisory does allows me to learn about and have exposure to many different phases in the project lifecycle.?

What skills do you bring to E3 Advisory and what interesting projects/services do you hope to use these skills in??

I am fortunate to have had experience as an undergraduate in Tasmania and have also been lucky enough to be involved in a course encompassing e-waste and the circular economy through The Engineering and Design Institute in London (TEDI-London). I hope to use what I have learnt through these experiences to help advise our clients at E3 Advisory.

What is your advice for breaking into the infrastructure or general industry as an undergraduate? What are some challenges for undergraduates in 2021??

Most importantly, be passionate about what you do, make as many connections as possible and take as many opportunities as you can.?

What do you see as the future of the infrastructure industry and how you hope to impact it??

We are already starting to see it now, but I believe there will be a greater push towards sustainability in the infrastructure industry. I hope to positively impact this by learning more about these topics, particularly the circular economy and industrial ecology.?

What is the best piece of advice you have received and how did you take that on board??

I have received many words of wisdom and important pieces of advice from my Mum and Dad. However, what immediately comes to mind is something that my Mum tells me regularly, which is that ‘everything is always worse at night’. So, anytime I am feeling overwhelmed with university or work, or I have something difficult happening in my life, I will tend to sleep on it and approach the issue with a fresh mind in the morning.?

How do you balance your work life with your “real” life? How important is it to you?

Balancing work, uni and “real” life is very important to me and something that I am still working on. I think that it is important to stay diligent and make sure that you allow time in your schedule to relax and do non-work-related activities. I think that it is also important to leave work at work and keep different aspects of your life separate.?

Do you prefer working in the office or working from home? What is your top tip for working in-person and remotely?

I prefer working in the office because you feel more connected, involved and it is easier to separate your work life from your home life. My top tip for working remotely would be to set a clear schedule and ensure that you have a space that you can use just for work.

What is your hobby outside of work? What gets you jumping out of bed on the weekend? Please provide a photo of you doing your hobbies/your weekend self.

The prospect of coffee gets me out of bed on the weekend! Apart from this, I love getting up in the morning to go for a walk or run (depending how enthused I am) in the fresh air while it is still quiet outside.

If you could have dinner with one person, living or dead, who would they be and why?

Honestly, no-one. I am of the opinion that going on a hike with someone would be better, because in the bush, walking up steep hill that never seems to end is generally when a person shows their true colours.?