The Distinguished Young Alumni of the Year award recognises the extraordinary achievements of the University’s new graduates, and nominees must be under the age of 35.

Emmeline (pictured above) grew up in Wagga Wagga as the eldest of three daughters and is one of the first female students to graduate from the Charles Sturt Engineering program.

“There was never a dull moment and my sisters and I were all very close growing up,” Emmeline said. “Although we are all in different stages of our lives now, I am so grateful to have strong relationships with them now as adults.”

Being the eldest, moving away from home and her family was a big deal for Emmeline.

“The thought of moving to a big city to a large university, where I would feel like a number, was scary for me so I chose a regional university to feel like part of a community,” she said.

“I was also drawn to the structure of the Charles Sturt engineering degree, which is very different to any engineering degree offered by other universities.

“The ability to complete work placements as part of my degree has allowed me to gain experience while studying and accelerate in my career and achieve promotions that would not be available if I had completed a traditional degree.”

Emmeline hit the ground running early in her Bachelor of Technology (Civil)/Master of Engineering (Civil) studies in the Charles Sturt School of Computing, Mathematics and Engineering and is blazing a trail for others to follow.

She undertook her first two work placements in Wagga Wagga – an engineering traineeship at Riverina Water, and a building cadetship with Hansen Yuncken working on the construction of Estella Primary School.

Emmeline knew this was the right path for her to take when she was working on small design projects and was not enjoying being stuck in an office staring at a computer all day. One of the engineers asked if she wanted to visit the site of a new water reservoir under construction that had a big concrete pour happening that day.

“Seeing the hive of activity and the different trades all working together was so interesting to me,” she said. “From that moment I knew I wanted to be part of that, and I started researching local construction companies to apply for once my local government placement ended.”

Emmeline moved to Albury-Wodonga in 2021 to join Zauner Construction, completing her remaining two placements while finishing her studies and master’s thesis.

Zauner Construction promoted Emmeline to her current role as Project Manager upon graduation in 2023. She has worked on some of the company’s leading projects, including the Northeast Health Wangaratta redevelopment, the Opal Fibre Packaging Plant and a five-level carpark.

Emmeline is currently project managing the redevelopment of Jacob Toyota in Wodonga.

“My journey as a civil engineer and project manager would not have been possible without the opportunities that the Charles Sturt Engineering degree offered me,” Emmeline said.

Emmeline is committed to advancing opportunities for women in the male-dominated construction industry. She shares her experience freely with current and future engineering students through a range of Charles Sturt events, including Engineering Career Pathways and EngFest. She is an active mentor in Charles Sturt’s Connecting to Industry program and has facilitated student cadetships.

Emmeline has also spoken with girls from Albury-Wodonga high schools as part of Regional Industry Education Partnerships’ ‘Girls Can Too’ initiative, reshaping their perception of construction as exclusively a ‘man’s field’.

Her genuine passion for her work and determination to inspire a new, more diverse generation of engineers shine brightly in Emmeline’s every interaction.

“Through my involvement with these programs, I am committed to breaking down barriers and stigmas around women working in the construction industry,” she said.

In recognition of her inspiring contribution and leadership in the industry, Emmeline was awarded the 2024 Women in Building Award for the Riverina Murray Region by the Master Builders’ Association.

She has also been nominated for the association’s NSW Graduate of the Year Award, to be announced later this year.