My name is Cairo Howard and I’m a Commercial Management and Procurement Graduate on two major infrastructure projects in Sydney. I joined Laing O’Rourke in 2021 as an Intern in my home city of Melbourne and was lucky enough to relocate to Sydney as a Graduate.
What did you study/specialise in and why?
I completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Majoring in Management and Marketing) and a Concurrent Diploma of Language (French) at the University of Melbourne.
I believe entrepreneurialism is the solution to many modern problems and there is a lot of scope for creativity, critical-thinking and strategy within the business. I am also bilingual and have always believed in the importance of multilingualism.
What does your average day look like?
It depends on the day - no two days are the same!
One of the projects I am working on is nearing completion, so typical activities involve cost tracking and preparing accruals for end-of-month reporting, issuing variation directions for defect works, processing payment claims, and final accounting contract sums to close out our agreements.
The other project is in the initial stages and the average day in procurement involves assisting the engineers and designers prepare tender packs, driving the market-testing for various packages and supporting the estimators calculate an accurate total outturn cost for the client.
What do you like most about the Laing O’Rourke Intern/Graduate program and why?
The Graduate Program allows us to discover all the functions within Laing O’Rourke, and experiment with roles that align with our interests and strengths across a variety of different projects. At the same time, it’s also an opportunity to figure out which functions we might not prefer to pursue careers in, and that’s as equally valuable.
I love to travel – it’s great to be part of a company that supports Graduates moving between states to complete their rotations.
We’re well supported with dedicated ‘Grad Days’ for skill development, a graduate committee, mentors and early talent advisors. It’s a tight-knit community!
How would you describe the culture at Laing O’Rourke?
Warm, inclusive and innovative.
The people at Laing O’Rourke all share a common desire to lead the evolution of the industry, whether it be with respect to social and community impacts, technology or sustainability - everyone has something to contribute.
What or who inspired you to take your career path?
I’ve always had good appetite for challenge and learning, and joining Laing O’Rourke was especially motivated by my observation that the engineering and construction industry has historically lacked sustainable operations and diverse social representation.
I wanted to join an innovative company whose values aligned with my own, and to cement my place among other problem solvers who seek to push the boundaries of today’s definition of engineering for solutions to a better world.
