Job Kit: Future Cities Shaper

CAREERS

withSTEM JOB KIT ™

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Future Cities Shaper

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Discover what it takes to build a career designing, planning and constructing the cities of tomorrow

Kirsteen James

QUT Interior Design graduate and Design Institute of Australia Design Graduate of the Year I not only want to make a difference in the world, but I especially want to change the impact that design of the built environment has on the most vulnerable. I hope to always design for a greater social change. QUT taught me that risk is worth taking if you have done your research and analysis correctly.

Make a positive impact Study architecture and built environment Design buildings, interiors and landscapes that make a positive impact on the environment, community health and wellbeing.

TEQSA Provider ID PRV12079 Australian University

I CRICOS No. 00213J I ©QUT 2023 25629

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FOREWORD

d l r o w r e t t e b Build a Want to be a part of building the inclusive, sustainable and smarter cities of the future? There’s a STEM job for that

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es of the future hat do the towns and citi be up to you. ld cou look like? Well, that constructing and ing ign Planning, des future is more the towns and cities of the ing a roads and bridges. Build than just about building t oun acc o int ing tak means better world for the future ing environmental future priorities – includ ty, community safety, uri sec sustainability, food , the ability to adapt to a wellbeing and connection lusivity catering to all changed climate, and inc es and backgrounds. genders, abilities, cultur and important to you, you g itin If this sounds exc per in the making. might be a future cities sha shaping the cities of the The careers involved in the people they cater to. future are as diverse as building roads, bridges and and Engineers designing engineers and computer infrastructure; software to incorporate digital scientists looking at ways es run smarter and more citi connection to make our al scientists and engineers efficiently; environment es interact with natural considering how our citi . the list goes on. ecosystems and wildlife..

the careers involved in shaping the cities of the future are as diverse as the people they cater to”

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Karen Vella Head of School of architecture & Built Environment, QUT

At QUT’s School of Archit ecture and Built Environment, we can set you up with the Architecture and STEM skills needed to join the workforce that’s buildin g sustainable, inclusive and smart cities of the future .

Read on to discover more about some of these career paths, and to meet two real-life people who have forged their own car eers in this exciting, broad and diverse field.

Professor Karen Vella, Head of School of Architecture and Bu ilt Environment, QUT

Check out Ca for more insights, inreerswithSTEM.com fo advice about a futu rmation, inspiration and re cities shaper care er!

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FUTURE CITIES SHAPER

DEEP DIVE

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e m o c o t s g n i Shape of th Imagine a world where skyscrapers power themselves, walkable access to amenities is a priority and there is an infrastructure, health and educational balance across all community demographics… that’s the vision of a future city shaper

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re right now. Big time. They’ uture cities are trending , ent pm ple in urban develo what scientists and peo ers, engineers and nn humanities, town pla er in the want to see come togeth environmental groups all th the wi ple peo visionaries need years ahead. And these ralised ent dec w ne g ppen. Designin right skills to ma ke it ha and communit y connection areas, creating a sense of ’ are all ies cit ini ‘m at wh nsport are inventing alternative tra of urban development. about – they’re the fut ure job of the one armed with the A fut ure cities shaper is with ked tas They’re the peeps bringing all of it together.

And it’s s. od rho tract’ for neighbou writing a new ‘socia l con ongst it. an exciting time to be am

ional ure isn’t just about tradit Shaping a cit y of the fut ng bei , ter bet ut ma king cities bricks and mortar. It’s abo and up d un gro process from the involved in the creative ent, nm iro env d an lth housing, hea balancing issues around t life. orrow can live their bes so the inhabitants of tom iversity Un the m fro s ist l scient For instance, solar pane be ered that their panels can of Michigan have discov is tipped ign nt. The carbon-based des transparent and efficie you pop ing an for 27,000 years – me to stand the test of time r! we po al ings for big natur those babies on big build ser vation welfare and heritage con ial soc If sustainability, career the ld cou s thi n projects, the are some of your passion ps growing… e job description just kee for you. The best bit? Th

Apply here ilding the cities We’re talking about bu of the requirements me so so , re tu fu e th of as our cities and of the job will change t ATM, these are the Bu . ve ol ev es iti un mm co illed pros: places looking for sk

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Architect

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

What they do: An architect designs buildings and spaces, making sure they are safe, functional and aesthetically pleasing for the people who use them. They create plans, drawings, and specifications that guide the construction process.

Employers: • Construction companies • Architecture firms, like Gensler • Government and universities Annual earning potential: $62K–$97K* *Source: payscale.com

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policy officer uses technical What they do: A policy officer ns around the stio knowhow to ask the tough que implications of l tica poli social, environmental and these findings.

Employers: Local councils; • GOVERNMENT! All of them. l. shires; state and federal leve * 99K K–$ $57 ial: ent pot Earning om le.c sca pay e: *Sourc

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Sanjay Parajuli civil engineer

Engineer

Sanjay Parajuli loves seeing designs become reality, and creating buildings and infrastructure that his kids will enjoy

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orn and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sanjay moved to the Gold Coast after finishing high school. Growing up near Kathmandu airport gave Sanjay a passion for roads and structures.

“I always wanted to be part of building something. That’s what drove me to engineering,” he says.

After starting out in commercial cooking and hospitality management, Sanjay became a permanent resident and enrolled in an associate degree in civil engineering at Queensland TAFE, then studied engineering at QUT. The associate degree counted as credit towards Sanjay’s bachelor’s degree, which he completed in just two and a half years.

ty of engineering What they do: There are plen ment of a new city or elop dev the in lved specialists invo facelift. From hydraulics giving a current urban area a astructure focus; – anything water; civil – infr rt machines; and mechanical – developing sma using the and geotechnical – building into us. earth IE, the ground beneath Employers: NMENT, • DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRO NG NNI PLA AND LAND, WATER • LENDLEASE • MERITON Annual earning potential: Hydraulics: $56K–$110K Civil: $59K–$114K Mechanical: $58K–$114K Geotechnical: $65K–$132K* *Source: payscale.com

Bachelor of Civil Engineering (honours), QUT

Building a dream career

Associate Degree, Civil Engineering, Queensland TAFE

What they do: The shape of a future city starts here. Town planners are the problem-solvers who balance environmental and developmental issues as they pop up.

For instance, they’ll figure out work arounds and talk to the right people if a massive wetland is smack bang where an airport landing strip is planned for development.

Employers: • DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, LAND, WATER AND PLANNING • SHIRE COUNCILS • URBIS Annual earning potential: $51K–$105K *source: payscale.com

Civil Engineer, GHD, Cairns, Queensland

Town planner

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Never give up!

If you want to be a civil engineer and shape future cities, you should never give up – even when the going gets tough. “Hang in tight, and study hard,” says Sanjay.

While studying engineering, Sanjay also took extra courses in nursing, worked in aged-care homes on weekends, and completed internships at Logan City Council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads. This stood him in good stead when applying for graduate jobs. – Nadine Cranenburgh

i always wanted ng to be part of buildiov e something. that dr me to engineering”

*SALARIES ACCORDING TO PAYSCALE.

What they do: An urban designer is tasked with creating environmentally sustainable, economically successful and socially equitable areas. Digital twins help deliver the vision, literally. Urban designers can work with digital twin engineers to build replicas of the physical areas in a digital space first using AI, VR and 3D-tech to see the end result in real-time. The modelling helps make the right decisions – and tick all the boxes – when developing innovative communities.

Employers: • SHIRE COUNCILS • URBIS • DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, LAND, WATER AND PLANNING Earning potential: $54K–$95K *Source: payscale.com

Diploma of Hospitality Management, Queensland TAFE

Urban designer

The day after graduating from QUT, Sanjay started as a civil engineer at GHD in Cairns, where a big part of his job is helping build the homes of the future by getting subdivisions ready for owner-builders taking advantage of government grants. One project Sanjay worked on had over 200 house lots!

Sanjay checks designs for new roads, bridges and water services, and makes sure most of the natural trees are protected during land clearing. And he uses his communications skills to help clients understand council regulations. “I’m very lucky! I’m using everything I learned at uni,” he says.

Chef and Head Chef, The Coffee Club Australia

New challenges

FUTURE CITIES SHAPER

REAL PEOPLE

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Stacey Akasha is an urban planner for Brisbane City Council and is excited about what the future holds in this career

stacey akasha urban planner

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a loved science and history. As n high school, Stacey Akasha re futu her ut abo d nged her min teenager, she constantly cha ks. understand how the world wor to ted wan ays alw career, but an be to d tine des was I me e told “My love of maps should hav urban planner,” she says.

QUT died urban development at With that in mind, Stacey stu in are t tha with technical skills and says the uni equipped her world. “They also ensured the ning plan high demand within the ter in ed projects that we encoun course content closely reflect the planning field.”

I love that we develop policies that really improve the lives of Brisbane residents”

On the job

Council where she works with Stacey is now at Brisbane City rnal ure net work teams and exte land use planners, infrastruct l astructure planning is wel stakeholders to make sure infr cies. poli integrated into their planning lysing information then ana be ld cou “On an average day I explains. “On a policy related communicating findings,” she t duties king the project managemen project, I would be underta king see be also ld reporting. I wou like tracking, updating and with the ops ksh wor ning run tners or project updates from our par infrastructure net works.”

Bachelor of Urban Development (honours) (Urban and Regional Planning), QUT

Urban Planner in Development Services, Brisbane City Council

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

The coolest par t of her job?

Working with pros from all kind s of technical backgrounds. “I love that we develop policies tha t really improve the lives of Bris bane residents.”

As for the future, Stacey is excited about further integra ting technology into policy develop ment and loves that data ana lysis skills are becoming highly valu able. Her plan is to stick with infrastructure planning and thinks the Brisbane 2032 Oly mpic and Paralympic Games hav e given her a once in a lifetime opportunity in this area! – Lou ise Meers Student Planner in the Urban Research and Monitoring Unit, Logan City Council

Urban Planner in Parks Planning and Policy, Brisbane City Council

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Urban Planner in Infrastructure Policy and Partnerships, Brisbane City Council

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Constructing the future Hayley Bell founded her own specialist commercial fitout company and has built dental clinics, research labs and even a veterinary hospital

hayley bell Urban Developer

Her career highlight to date? The design 2 and delivery of an 800m Sunshine Coast. the on tal veterinary hospi on running live projects “Day-to-day my focus is consultants and clients to like coordinating trades, smoothly, preparing cost ensure each project runs d just generally having plans for new projects an s Hayley. fun doing what I love!” say naging the business, ma es Her job also involv d optimising Belnic finances, marketing, an and procedures.

Constructions’ systems y is excited to see As for the fut ure, Hayle nities for women to more and more opportu cated in roles in be bot h interested and edu ing, and believes we eer constr uction and engin STEM workplace need more diversity in the hly va lued. “The world because difference is hig the mindset.” is evolving, and so must – Louise Meers

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ant to shape the cities of tomorrow? Start with studying studying construction management at QUT. Alt hough she originally studied psycho log y, Hayley switched her focus upon hearing about this degree and realised it was perfect for her.

Hayley started working in the industry during her first year of uni and loved how fast-paced it was. What she was learni ng at QUT was having a big impact on her work too.

“The construction mana gement course had a lot of practical subjects that were directly relevant to the work we would do in the industry – estimating, contract adm inistration and project management,” she says.

After working for two int erior fitout companies, Hayley started Belnic Co nstructions with Nicole Detsimas, who she met wh ile studying at QUT. They’re focused on leadin g the way in interior fitout in the health and me dical sector – think hospitals, labs, radiology clinics and vet clinics.

Day-to-day my focus is on running live projects... and just generally having fun doing what I love”

Bachelor of Business (Psychology), Griffith University Project Coordinator, Built Queensland

Bachelor of Urban Development (honours) (Construction Management), QUT

Project Manager, FDC Construction & Fitout

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Director, Belnic Constructions

FUTURE CITIES SHAPER

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Get the job!

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Choose th career if yois u…

Inspired to be part of shaping the cities of the future?

Here are your next steps:

> Are a people perso n > Are futu re-focusse d > Like solvi ng prob lems > Like seein g your work in the real world

let the games begin!

Watch it

City Dreamers (2018) This documentary focuses on four women architects and urb an planners who have made significant con tributions to the field of city buil ding, and offers a glimpse into their crea tive processes and the challen ges they have faced. Stream it free at citydreamersfilm.com

PLAY IT

SimCity This super popular open-ende d computer game has introduced millions of players to the joys and challenges of city planning and building – all in the virtual rea lm. It’s even been credited with inspiring a generation of city shapers, from town plan ners to architects and activists – who all got the ir first taste of their dream career playing the gam e.

ecklist Electives ch l electives?

h schoo Choosing hig will set you up for ts ec bj su planner: These a future city a career as ng ✔ Engi neeri g stud ies ✔ Computi n y d Tech nolog ✔ Desig n an ✔ Maths y ✔ Geograph

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We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

This edition was published on 28 October 2020 and updated 12 April 2023.

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ia will host In 2032, Brisbane, Austral ch will spell whi ics, the Summer Olymp and shape ties uni ort big local job opp e com to s ade dec the city for ortunities opp job ting crea to In addition rs and for professionals like enginee cities for decades after the big pe architects, Olympics can sha y and ure, boosting the local econom event, by improving infrastruct . city t hos the for e and excitement leaving a lasting legacy of prid the with nt, ere diff no are e Olympics The upcoming 2032 Brisban .1 A$7 g ndin spe to ted mit ts already com state and federal governmen refurbish existing ones. billion to build new venues and committed to being a ‘climate The Brisbane Olympics is also ouse rather than adding to greenh positive’ event, which means elerate the acc to in effort and investment emissions, it will help result future. city’s transition to a greener pers for any aspiring Aussie city sha re futu ht The upshot? A brig ject with pro ised ogn rec ally e-scale, glob who want experience in a larg ials. super sustainability credent