Tiana Sing

Tiana Sing is only a few months into her graduate role at Nova Systems in Melbourne, but she can already see a bright future unfolding before her. This is thanks in part to the immersive and hands-on experience she had during her degree at Griffith.

“Griffith is one of the top universities in the world and maintains a high focus on delivering hands-on and practical experience,” says Tiana.

“I was a member of the Women in Engineering executive team, and completed my university work experience with Airbus in Brisbane, chosen purely on reputation and an interest in helicopters.

“It was here I developed a love for working in the defence industry and feeling like I was contributing to the safety of our nation in some small way. From here, I knew I wanted to pursue a career within the defence industry.”

While this passion for defence is a relatively new one, Tiana’s enthusiasm for engineering was spurred from a very young age.

“Growing up, I loved figuring out how different mechanical systems worked, to the extent of even pulling apart an old coffee machine,” says Tiana.

Inspired by an older brother who brought her along to university Open Days, Tiana decided engineering would be her path early in her high school career.

“I’ve always enjoyed problem solving and using my creative skills, so it just felt like Mechanical Engineering was the only logical solution,” she says.

However, choosing the degree was only half of the battle. Tiana took some time to choose the direction she would take in an industry that is broad and expanding every year.

By trying out a few different areas, Tiana was able to narrow down her choices and find her passion.

“I never really knew where I wanted to take my degree post-graduation. Through my work experience and getting involved in university clubs, I eventually concluded I enjoyed the defence and aerospace industries, which has led me to my current position as a Graduate Engineer at Nova Systems.

“I’ve only been working there for a couple of months, but so far, the company is amazing and incredibly supportive of its employees, and the work is really interesting.”

Now that she is on her career path, Tiana urges others to take every opportunity offered at Griffith to gain experience, understanding, and a taste of what sort of career you might want to build for yourself.

"Putting yourself out there and getting involved is what ultimately gains you the experience and the connections you need to truly stand out in any future job applications. In addition, it can help you narrow down what you want to do with your degree after graduation.”