Riding a wave of confidence Engineering the perfect graduate position isn’t
a student who is studying mechatronics in their third
something you can automate – it takes people power.
or fourth year of studies.
Graduate turned automation engineer Wade Dunham
“It was a very generous scholarship, but, importantly,
knows first-hand how crucial the belief and backing of
it led to a 12-week placement with TEMCO, which
others is when it comes to shaping a successful career.
was one of the most valuable aspects of my degree,”
He had academic rigour, an intense curiosity and the discipline to work anywhere in the world. However, thanks to the generous support of individuals and industry, he’s carving out an impressive engineering
Wade said. He worked alongside mineral-processing and control engineers in the large mineral processing operation 50km north of Launceston.
career in a cutting-edge field on the North-West Coast,
“The engineers shared their knowledge and perspective.
where he was born and bred.
I wasn’t just shadowing them; they trusted me to do
As a teenager, Wade was always fascinated with
small tasks under their supervision,” Wade said.
computers. He was also interested in a profession
“You can draw a straight line from my TEMCO placement
that enabled him to find creative solutions to real-
to the work that I’m doing now – I asked my supervisor to
world problems.
be one of my referees, and it was a large factor in landing
“I remember one piece of advice that my Dad gave
my current role.”
me was to pursue an area that I’m interested in,
Wade is an automation engineer with Cromarty, an
because then I’ll be willing to work hard and I’ll be
engineering firm founded by alums, which works with a
good at it, which means there will always be a market
range of industries, from food and beverage, to mining
for my expertise,” Wade said.
and manufacturing. He was recently involved with a
He chose to combine a Bachelor of Science with a Bachelor of Engineering. Wade was awarded the Harry and Nancy Frederiksen Scholarship, which
project to improve water-quality monitoring through the installation of new analysers, which gather information on water quality.
supports students from the North-West and West
“Technically, in terms of the challenges of the work,
coasts of Tasmania with academic potential to study
it’s as in-depth and high-quality as anything you
at the University of Tasmania.
can do on the mainland,” he said.
“The financial backing was very appreciated, but, for
At 27, Wade has high hopes for his future career and
me, a particularly salient and underrated aspect of
is also keen to continue his connection to his alumni
receiving the scholarship was the confidence it gave
community.
me that someone who was not obligated to support you – like your parents – was convinced that you have the potential to succeed,” he said.
“I attend University of Tasmania public lectures, webinars and events on the North-West Coast, even if it’s not about engineering; I find a lot of value in being exposed
Wade also received the South32 TEMCO Community
to philosophies and people from outside my industry,”
Foundation Scholarship in Engineering, which supports
Wade said.
Wade Dunham at work in Tasmania’s North-West.
Lucie van den Berg
| ISSUE 52 | 2021
Wade Dunham is drawing energy from the UTAS community.
alumni M A G A Z I N E
NORTH-WEST FOCUS
