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emerging leader SERIES:
ashlee adams
MEMBER PROFILE
We’re pleased to introduce our latest Emerging Leader, Ashlee Adams. Ashlee is Principal Project Manager - Project Services at Toowoomba Regional Council, YIPWEAQ Deputy Chair and CQ branch representative for the Membership portfolio. Ashlee spoke with Engineering for Public Works (EPW) recently, taking the time to answer a few questions and we’re pleased to share the interview with our readers. EPW: Please tell us about yourself, where you’re from, your interests and what makes you tick. Ashlee: I guess I would say I’m a pretty happy go lucky type of person, but also a perfectionist and highly self-critical. I love to travel, exploring new places and cultures. There’s nothing like waking up in a foreign place knowing that everything you do and see that day will be completely new. My other interests include collecting vinyl records, listening to music, hiking, riding my motorbike and spending quality time with my family and friends. Professionally, what makes me tick is doing things in a new and different way that pushes boundaries or challenges mindsets. It is the best way for us as professionals to develop along with the organizations we work for.
Ashlee’s passion project: Toowoomba City Hall Auditorium and Annex.
EPW: Please summarise your career to date. Ashlee: I’m not your typical engineer, I’m one that loves old buildings, architecture and taking something old and giving it new life. I very nearly chose to do an architecture degree instead of Civil Engineering. But I’m very glad I chose this path. My career started at GHD as an undergraduate. Upon finishing my degree I stayed on full time and worked as a project engineer on the Oakey Army Aviation
Engineering for Public Works | June 2018
MRH upgrade project. It was very much a case of sink or swim. The project was in construction phase delivering four new buildings and four new hangars in preparation for the arrival of the MRH Helicopter. The design had been undertaken across several offices so my role was to coordinate RFI responses between all of them, attend the site meetings and on occasion undertake an inspection role. It was the best start to my career I could’ve asked for, although it certainly didn’t feel that way at the time.
