Meet Phoebe Moses

Phoebe Moses, a structural engineer in our Auckland team, was presented the Outstanding Emerging Professional Award at the Engineering New Zealand Auckland Branch Centennial Awards on 23 August. Find out what Phoebe has to say about her award and what gets her excited and motivated for the future...

Phoebe was recognised for championing diversity in engineering and her passion for social and environmental sustainability. She has shown to be an emerging professional who inspires others and shows extraordinary enthusiasm to contribute to engineering. Read the full media release here.

Phoebe started at Beca in 2014 as part of our Beca Graduate Development Programme. During that time she has flourished as a structural engineer, showcasing her fervour and drive to make a difference.

1. How does it feel to be recognised as the Engineering New Zealand 2018 Outstanding Emerging Professional of the year?

I was excited to find out I was a finalist alongside Gage Boon who I’d done a lot of Beca grad development initiatives with. Sitting in the audience waiting for the award to be announced, I was feeling slightly hopeful but was trying to squash it with realism. To hear my name called out was very gratifying and it will be a while before the excitement dies down!

2. What makes you so passionate about diversity and sustainability?

Learning about current events and trends, and hearing people’s experiences – it’s so evident that a lot of the world (including the developed world) needs to drastically change their behaviours and expectations to ensure a future which is good to live in for everybody. Apathy in others fuels my drive to make change – and there’s a lot of apathy, which makes me very passionate.

3. How does the work you do ‘make everyday better’?

I’m lucky in my role as a structural engineer that much of my work contributes to the built environment of Auckland. We have the opportunity to create buildings which enhance the community, the visible landscape and the economic productivity of the local environment.

The additional internal initiatives I work on focus on encouraging sustainable behaviour to make every day better. The very definition of sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The same goes for promoting diversity and inclusion both within Beca and with any client, contractor or other consultant who I interact with.

4. What support and guidance have you had to develop your technical skills in your area of expertise?

I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with leading engineers in their fields who are constantly pushing the boundaries of applied knowledge, but who also have enormous amounts of experience to draw from. All of these people have supported my technical development through transferral of their expertise and their encouragement to challenge myself constantly.

5. How did the Beca Graduate Development Programme help you to emerge as a successful consultant?

Having been one of Auckland’s graduate representatives, I’ve had the unique perspective of someone who is both behind the scenes of, and benefiting from, the Beca Graduate Development Programme. I have simultaneously been able to learn about effective communication and networking while putting into practice those skills in coordinating training sessions.

6. It sounds like you’re very busy! Outside of work, how do you like to relax and recharge?

I like to play team sports (mostly netball), read books and get involved in my church community. And getting eight hours of sleep a night is definitely necessary to keep up energy levels!

7. What does the next 12 months hold for you?

I’m looking forward to continuing work with a team at Beca that aims to embed sustainable thought and action processes within the way we operate and communicate with our clients. I’ll also continue my journey in te reo Māori, hopefully achieving a higher level of fluency than I currently have!