The importance of being ‘Carlo’, and becoming active in YPG

I was asked to write this article about why it is worth being involved with the VPELA YPG and why our Young Professional cohort should apply for the VPELA Young Professional of the Year. There’s not much more that I can say, other than I don’t think I would be where I am today if I wasn’t so heavily involved with (and supported by) VPELA and the YPG.

That said, here is more that I can say. When I first joined the YPG in 2012, I didn’t know how to organise an event, wasn’t a very good public speaker, didn’t truly understand what the industry did, and didn’t have any work friends outside of the traffic, civil and structural engineers that I knew from my workplace.

VPELA, and particularly the YPG, changed all of that.

I can still remember my first State Planning Conference Committee meeting in 2014 where I was the YPG representative (I was also Co-Convenor of the YPG Committee at the time). I didn’t even know what the Conference was! Eight years later and I’ve been to Warrnambool, Phillip Island, and Lorne all on the back of being part of the committee and you won’t see me giving up my position on the committee any time soon.

After successfully applying for the Young Professional’s Award in 2015, (the State Government had just announced commitment to the Metro Tunnel Project), I used the grant money to fund a trip to Madrid and met with infrastructure giants Acciona. I was able to do this through contacts I made from a VPELA event, organised through the YPG, and with the money that the YPG Award Sponsors so generously provided as part of the Award.

Around the same time I got to follow Rob Adams (City Architect at City of Melbourne) around for a day. What an experience! Something I know would not have been possible if I wasn’t part of the VPELA YPG and writing an article for the Revue

Carlo Morello, Director Traffix Group

As a YPG Committee Member I was lucky enough to be matched with Board Buddies the likes of Tamara Brezzi, Adrian Finanzio, and John Carey. At the 100s of seminars, networking events, conferences and committee meetings that have followed since I first joined the YPG, I have been lucky enough to have had more mentors, friends and colleagues than I can count, and the tally keeps rising.

I migrated to the VPELA Board in 2016 and continue to be challenged and excited everyday to be part of such an amazing industry and association, surrounded by such quality leaders who make up the rest of the Board.

I know that my transfer to Traffix Group 7 years ago (where I have recently become a Director) could only have been aided by the fact that I was part of the YPG and so heavily involved in VPELA.

Yes, there is a bit of work that goes into organising and participating in events and attending board and committee meetings. That work pales in comparison, however, to the fun, friendships and ultimately career and life benefits that come from it.

As Aaron Burr says (in Hamilton), you’ve “got to be in the room where it happens, room where it happens”. And if there’s a room that a young professional associated with VPELA can be in, then it is in the rooms (or Zooms) where the YPG Committee meet and where the YPG Award is presented!

So, I implore all of you young professionals out there to apply for the YPG Award now, and when the YPG Committee Calls for nominations at the end of the year, put in your application and get involved!

Carlo Morello Director Traffix Group

E:

CMorello@traffixgroup.com.au