Whatever your passion, there’s a role for you in STEMM. Aya Zeidan shares how she developed her interests into an award-winning career.
When you think about careers in STEMM, what comes to mind? Aya Zeidan, an engineer at Pacific National, urges you to forget the stereotypes and know that anything is possible.
“Whatever your interests, you’ll be able to find them reflected in a career in STEMM. There are so many opportunities and career options available – you can do anything!”
Aya’s route into engineering began when deciding what university course to apply for while still at school.:
“Words like ‘design,’ ‘machines,’ ‘hands-on,’ and ‘problem-solving’ piqued my interest. They sounded fun and engaging – which is what led me to study Mechanical Engineering!”
Identify your interests and do your research
With almost endless STEMM career paths, Aya recommends first determining your interests and then conducting research.
“Research what’s out there and listen to the stories of women currently working in STEMM. Decide what sounds the most appealing to you. Whatever your passion might be, if you give it what it needs, you will be able to achieve it, and it will give you so much back in return.”
Aya was first introduced to the rail industry during her final year at university. She was excited by the varied work and diverse roles available.
“There are so many different things you can do in the rail industry. You’re not limited to one thing. After graduation, I landed a position at Pacific National as a Graduate Wagon Engineer, and my passion for the industry grew even more from there. Now, I work as a Freight Loading Engineer.”
With new challenges every day, Aya enjoys the practical application of the skills she’s developed through her studies and on-the-job experience.
“My favorite part in my current role is doing calculations and directly applying the engineering principles I learned at university to solve complex problems.”
Pacific National employs 3,500 people in more than 70 sites across Australia.
Be passionate about what you do – and win awards!
As a Freight Loading Engineer, Aya’s role centers around safety – chiefly ensuring that customers’ freight gets from A to B in one piece. The best way to test this is through a tilt test, but these can be expensive and time-consuming.
So, what did Aya do to overcome this obstacle? She built her own tilt test rig at home!
“Showing our customers the results visually through a tilt test is a much better method of communicating, as opposed to showing them numbers and calculations on a screen. However, completing full-scale tilt tests on-site using cranes is expensive and time-consuming. So, I built a simple, small-scale tilt-test at home! I made it from a plank of plywood and a steel plate taken from my backyard, along with a portable magnetic angle meter. It costs around A$40 but does the job intended!”
Aya and her team may still need to go on to complete a full-scale onsite tilt test, but her at-home test is a really useful first step in guiding the decision on what approach to take and why.
Her work has significantly improved and made systems and processes safer. In 2024, Aya was awarded the CEO “Individual” Award in the category “Making it Simple.”
“The CEO award has shown me that my work is being recognized and appreciated at a high level. The in-depth feedback I received has shown me that rather than just focusing on the outcomes and results of my work, there is an understanding of all the work that I have put in from start to finish to achieve those outcomes.”
Try new things and call on your support network
Aya is very passionate about her work and future career, encouraging everyone to think big and try new things.
“I hope to continue to grow as an engineer, to gain more experience, to learn as many skills as I can, to try as many different things as I can, and take on all the opportunities that come my way.”
As a participant in the 2023 Pacific National Connects Women’s Series, Aya has joined a network of women across the company at different career levels and stages. The group supports each other, and Aya knows she can rely on them if needed.
“Hearing of the achievements and experiences of women from different areas of the business made me realize that we all have shared experiences and challenges. You are never alone in your experiences, and talking with other women can give you insight into navigating your challenges. Just having other women to listen to and acknowledge your experiences, having a chance to say it out loud in a group in confidence, people who are encouraging you to achieve your potential and complete your goals – it’s amazing.”
It’s also a reminder that the world of STEMM has changed—and is continuing to improve for women.
“Do not let the negative biases surrounding women in STEMM deter you! There will always be a support system you can rely on in the industry, whether that be a mentor, your manager, or even your fellow peers.”
As Aya advances in her career, she wants to give back to others who might follow in her footsteps.
“As I gain the experience required – and hopefully become a chartered engineer – I one day hope to also become a mentor to help others grow in the same way I have been supported.”
Always challenge the status quo
When building a successful career in STEMM, Aya wants everyone to know they can achieve anything they want to – all you need is a little self-belief and to follow your passions.
“I want my story to show other women that they can do it too. There are other options besides the status quo. There will be challenges, yes, but these are challenges you can overcome by being resilient and confident in yourself and your abilities and potential. The only true hurdle to you following your passion is yourself and the boundaries and limitations you put on yourself.”
