My name is Ziao Veneziani and I’m a Graduate Engineer at Laing O’Rourke. I joined Laing O’Rourke in 2021 as part of the Internship Programme in Western Australia and relocated to Melbourne as a Graduate. I am currently completing a rotation as a Graduate Engineer on a major infrastructure project.
What did you study/specialise in and why?
I studied a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Engineering Science) and a Master of Professional Engineering (Civil) at The University of Western Australia. I chose to pursue Civil Engineering because of the positive long-lasting impact you can have on the community from working on critical infrastructure projects that people will use daily. With Civil Engineering you can also work in a wide range of sectors and help solve complex problems including safety, transport, environment and sustainability.
What does your average day look like?
It’s dynamic and no two days are ever the same. It can consist of site inspections, quality assurance, planning, subcontractor management, procurement, tracking costs and productivity and attending meetings to name a few. By being based on site, you see the evolution of a project from design to reality, all made possible by the collective dedication and efforts of everyone involved - this is the highlight for me.
What do you like most about the Laing O’Rourke Intern/Graduate program and why?
What I liked most about the Laing O’Rourke Internship Programme was that it provided a challenge for me as I was based on site and entrusted with the responsibilities of a typical Site Engineer. Throughout the Internship Programme I was always guided and supported by everyone around me. Completing an Internship with Laing O’Rourke also means that you are prioritised for the Graduate Development Programme.
The Graduate Programme is great as it provides you with the opportunity to complete your rotations interstate. You can also choose from a wide variety of rotations no matter your degree – something many other companies don’t offer. Being able to travel to various Australian capital cities for our Graduate Development Days throughout the year is also really fun.
How would you describe the culture at Laing O’Rourke?
Incredibly supportive, development focused, collaborative, inclusive and diverse.
What or who inspired you to take your career path?
Studying Civil Engineering and working in the Construction industry always interested me as you can work on a wide variety of projects. I’ve always seen Construction as the industry that allows people and communities to better connect with one another. Growing up in Perth, I was always exposed to Construction, whether it be watching my Grandad build houses when I was little or seeing constant change throughout the state across all the sectors. Building a lot of Lego over the year’s most likely contributed to me pursuing a career in Construction too.
