Steven Wang
Building Services Team Leader, GHD Ltd
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering (First Class)
The beauty of his role is that each project is different, says mechanical engineering alumnus Steven Wang who is now the building services team leader for GHD Ltd.
“At any one time I could be working on multiple projects, large and small, as well as being involved in multiple market sectors, primarily property and buildings, but also for the water, transport, power and energy, digital and advisory sectors. I’ve had the privilege of leading multi-million dollar and multi-disciplinary teams for complex projects ranging from NC10 recording studios and modular buildings, to an aquarium, heritage buildings, and airport and laboratory redevelopments; with a number of them being award-winning projects.
“On the people side, I enjoy each and every encounter with the amazing and diverse talents we have in Aotearoa. I treasure the learnings from the diverse group of people I meet both on the job or in the industry.”
He says he was keen to give back to the engineering profession and community that offered so much help along his journey.
“I’ve been part of a special interest group within Engineering New Zealand: Te Ao Rangahau to help immigrant engineers in my various roles as communications coordinator, vice chair and chair. We aimed to foster professional development, employment and career counselling to help international engineers settle into life and work in Aotearoa. I’m also involved in the Engineering New Zealand Auckland branch as a committee member and vice chair, creating connections while promoting the engineering profession and Engineering New Zealand. It’s priceless to watch the engineering professionals we’ve helped land jobs and contribute to the prosperity of Aotearoa.”
Memories of AUT
Steven says he discovered his passion for mechanical engineering early on.
“My love for mechanical engineering was born out of seeing two of my grandparents at their drawing tables – both mechanical engineers.”
He would soon follow in their footsteps and eventually enrolled in a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering; a qualification he completed in 2014.
“AUT has a reputation for being practical and this is being valued by Kiwi employers. From the receptionist to the lecturers, all the AUT staff I encountered were engaging and approachable, and that was the deciding factor for me.
“I can still vividly remember the awesome lecturers using real-world examples to illustrate why materials behave differently under compression or tension, I can memorise writing the PID control loops to fly a drone, and know how to transform programming scripts into layers of an object for 3D printing, which I had then made at the university 3D printer. I also haven’t forgotten the engineering design philosophies that my lecturer with many years of industry experience taught us – and I apply these in my job every day.”
Highly recommended
Steven – who received the 2013 Heavy Engineering Research Association Prize for the best mechanical engineering project and had his final-year industry project published in the Universal Journal of Mechanical Engineering – says he wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the engineering programmes to other students.
“As AUT graduates we’re highly regarded in the industry for our practical approach to solutions, our ability to apply common sense to complex real-world issues, our ability to communicate with and present to a wide spectrum of stakeholders, and – most importantly – our emphasis on the people aspects when interpreting technical problems.”
The supportive lecturers were among the highlights of his time at AUT.
“I had the privilege of being taught by some of the most passionate lecturers who are never too busy to discuss any difficulties or ideas you may have. There was an unwritten ‘open door policy’ that was highly praised by my peers. I can confidently memorise this personal approach to learning as the highlight of my time at AUT.”
