Stuart Maclaine

You graduated with a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering at UNSW, what initially sparked your interest in chemical engineering?

Whilst I can't remember a specific event that triggered my interest, I had always been quite interested in chemistry and physics at high school. This led me to browse through lots of different types of science and engineering courses in year 12 to try and figure out which one to pursue. I had no family history of people working in engineering fields but I'd gone to a UNSW Open Day and was impressed with the students I met from the School and I think that's what really locked me in!

Can you share any specific projects or research during your time at UNSW that were particularly meaningful in shaping your career path?

My 4th year design project was actually based on converting spent grain into biogas at the Tooheys brewery in Lidcombe where I now work! Our group really enjoyed the challenge of the project and it set me up for my internship and eventual job at Tooheys. It's a great example of how the School brings real world industry into the curriculum and builds connections between students and business.

Can you tell us about your current role and what career opportunities you believe exist for graduates?

In my current role I'm a brewer at the Tooheys brewery in Lidcombe. Every day I get to make hundreds of thousands of litres of beer that goes out to our consumers in every corner of the country. Its great working for a brand that has over 150 years of history and its definitely the best job I've ever had, no day is exactly the same!

For the calibre of chemical engineering student that UNSW produces, there will always be opportunities locally in all sorts of fields. Many of my friends who I studied with at UNSW have gone into environmental, water, finance, mining, and food + beverage industries - and we all studied the same thing! Its definitely a skillset that can take you anywhere. We currently employ multiple UNSW chemical engineering students each year as interns and they have regularly been successful in our graduate program thanks to the way the School sets them up for success when it comes to getting their first industry roles.

What did you learn about yourself during your time studying at UNSW, including the impact UNSW’s social culture may have had on your professional career?

For me, UNSW was an amazing place to meet new people and grow as a young adult. The Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Society (CEUS) was a huge part of this and is definitely one of the best things about UNSW Chem Eng. The Society gave me my first opportunities to manage a budget that wasn't just my own money, and it made me into a leader who could run events for hundreds of people at a time - a few skills that most graduates don't necessarily learn until much later in life! The connections I made through the Society and the School are still largely part of my social circle today and definitely mean I know someone working in every industry too!

One of the best things about my job now is that it has supported me to maintain a connection with the current CEUS leadership to support the next generation of chemical engineers. We host site tours, provide events support and run internships so they have opportunities to learn and build industry experience for when they graduate. It's definitely really unique that the School engages and supports their student society so well.

Do you have any overall advice for current students or recent graduates?

Take advantage of every opportunity that UNSW Chem Eng offers! The wealth of industry connections, student events, research opportunities and study support is unmatched and definitely sets you up for success in the next stage of your career.