Forging her engineering career at A.G. Coombs and inspiring other young women to follow in her footsteps

October 14, 2024

As Taylor Burdett sits the final exams of a degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) next month, she will have the extra confidence and security of knowing that the full-time job she loves at A.G. Coombs will continue and evolve. The only thing that will be changing as she moves from being a student completing her Engineering Work Placement rotations to a member of the A.G. Coombs Graduate Program will be her job title and relevant position description.

Already deeply immersed in the A.G. Coombs Projects team based in Brisbane, Taylor has had the opportunity to work on a multitude of projects over the past two years – but the one that makes her most proud is the Queens Wharf development. It’s a project that she hopes she can point to in years to come and tell her family that she helped bring the new precinct to life.

An inclusive work environment that recognises talent

In 2021, Taylor wasn’t feeling challenged with the job she had and decided the best thing she could do while studying was to get a position at a company within her chosen field. Having already gained some administration skills, she applied for an administration role at A.G. Coombs (QLD) Pty Ltd.

Her managers were quick to realise her interest in getting closer to the engineering side of the business and she was rotated into the A.G. Coombs Advisory team in a hybrid administration and engineering work placement role.

A year on from that, as part of Taylor’s rotation, she then went into the
A.G. Coombs Projects team and has enjoyed working on a variety of commercial and institutional mechanical services projects. She is also looking forward to further rotations in the Graduate Program which will allow her to better understand the breadth of options available to her across the
A.G. Coombs Group of Companies.

“My favourite part of combining study and work is being exposed to the practical elements of engineering, rather than just the theory I learn at university. Doing the two in parallel is so beneficial, especially with classes on thermodynamics having the experience with HVAC machines in practice, plus also gaining the soft skills of understanding how to write a report and communicate effectively,” said Taylor.

“Being at A.G. Coombs has helped me tremendously with my studies and given me the flexibility and extra advantage that I need. It really is ‘the place to work,” she added.

Support and guidance from her colleagues

Taylor’s achievements serve as a powerful example of what can be accomplished with dedication. When asked about her pathway, Taylor stressed the importance of personal drive and ambition.

“To make your career thrive, you must have drive and determination, but equally as important is the support. I’ve been really fortunate to have had both personal and professional support from within A.G. Coombs, helping to keep me motivated and get me to where I want to go,” she remarked.

Taylor was recently invited to share her career journey with an audience in the sector as part of the AIRAH HVAC Innovation Conference 2024 in a panel session event titled “The pathway to success.”

Praise for Taylors Commitment to HVAC and diversity

Taylor acknowledges the current imbalance of male to female managers within the Building Services / HVAC industry.

“The HVAC sector currently has a large base of female administrators, and
I believe that HVAC companies should be looking at upskilling these women so they can progress to roles in contract management, project management and finance,” she commented.

“The women I know in these roles are some of the ‘best in the business’ when it comes to organisation and communication,” she added.

In her letter of thanks for Taylor’s participation in the women’s panel session, Sonia Holzheimer, Women of AIRAH Chair wrote:

“Taylor’s participation was invaluable… Her journey from reception and administration to more technical roles, including project engineering, offers a unique perspective that inspired many attendees. Her ability to navigate a career in a traditionally male-dominated industry, coupled with her academic background and work experience, was truly inspiring.”

A role model for the advancement of women in HVAC and building services

 “I’m not sure what stream I want to pursue yet, but thinking ahead to my long-term goals, I want to have young female engineers in my team who I can mentor, so I can be the one they look up to. I want to be part of the change to help others,” commented Taylor.

For more information about engineering student placements and the graduate programs at A.G. Coombs, send us a message using the Contact Us page.

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