The decision to pursue civil engineering was not born out of a single life-changing moment for Ts. Nassmin Amanda Azam and Muhammad Zaid Bin Zahri, but rather a series of exploration and practical choices. Currently located in Australia, their fascination for engineering has only grown over time. For them, their passion for growth, along with their curiosity for the evolving nature of engineering, technology and AI keeps their career exciting.
Much like MyHeart’s Network and Connect Initiative, Amanda and Zaid encourage Malaysians abroad to sign up as a MyHeart member today to engage with the local Malaysian community wherever you are located. Though far from home, Amanda and Zaid look forward to connecting with other Malaysians abroad, whether exchanging experiences as fellow Malaysian living abroad, discovering ways to overcome homesickness or even just sharing the whereabouts to find “petai” if you’re living in Australia.
So, you may be wondering, how did Amanda and Zaid’s journey begin from being engineers in Malaysia to becoming a powerhouse project engineer duo in Australia?
The Start of Discovery, Growth and Finding Their Passion in Engineering
Amanda’s exposure to engineering began in Sekolah Menengah Teknik Tuanku Jaafar after completing her Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR), where she had to choose between pursuing biology or a technical field. Encouraged by seniors and driven by good academic results, she continued her leap into civil engineering at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Similarly, when Zaid was at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM), his decision was rooted in his passion for maths and physics. At first, his conversation with his peers made him consider pursuing actuarial science, but later on, he opted for engineering upon receiving an offer from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).
Amanda and Zaid mentioned that their Malaysian roots also shape their interactions with their peers. Their warmth, respect and adaptability ensure they can work well with their multicultural team of engineers in GAMUDA Australia. Much like MyHeart’s core value, this shows that our homegrown experts can thrive anywhere around the globe rather easily.
Breaking New Grounds In Engineering, The Amanda-And-Zaid Way
Amanda and Zaid’s journey as project engineers has always been extraordinary, as seen by the milestones in their careers.
For Amanda, her journey in engineering has always been about overcoming complex challenges. She played an important role in constructing Hospital Kuala Lumpur MRT2 station for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) for Sungai Buloh, Serdang, and Putrajaya (SSP) Line, where she oversaw everything from securing tenders to managing budget cuts and the complex underground works during the COVID-19 pandemic. But, that’s not all. Her proudest achievement? Implementing an 80-meter travelator beneath Jalan Tun Razak — an innovation that eased the rakyat’s accessibility to the hospital and provided a seamless commute for thousands of people daily to this day.
Her commitment extended beyond professionalism, where she had to manage time for work and take care of her mother. Her tenacity in not just juggling her professional and personal life, but in striving to always do her best led her to GAMUDA Australia, where she is now part of the $2.2 billion Coffs Harbour Bypass project, overseeing earthworks for a major highway project. This project aims to improve transportation efficiency while minimising environmental impact. Though her designation differs from her previous role, Amanda’s leadership remains unwavering.
On the other hand, Zaid’s diverse experience has also allowed him to achieve his triumphs in multiple sectors of the engineering industry. From project planning of the underground and above-ground work for the Cross-Over Box Mass Rapid Transit (MRT2) and U-Trough Girder under The Light Rail Transit Line 3 (LRT 3), to managing petrochemical industries and completing the construction of mining plant projects such as Mineral Processing Plant (Silica Sand), Zaid’s ability to adapt and excel in so many areas is something to be admired.
His extensive skills also allowed him to lead his team in some engineering projects, which eventually led him to secure a position as a project engineer at GAMUDA Australia. His experience made him a tremendously valuable asset, which allows him to compete successfully with local engineers and contribute his knowledge to high-profile development projects in Australia.
As they push the boundaries of infrastructure development in Australia, Amanda and Zaid continue to inspire engineers to always dream big and build bigger.
Amanda and Zaid’s Dream To Bring Their Expertise Back Home
Their time abroad has significantly shaped their outlook on the engineering landscape and Malaysia’s potential in engineering development. Their experience in Australia has equipped them with a wide array of technical skills including exposure to multiple engineering softwares that could be valuable for the future development of the engineering industry in Malaysia.
One of the key lessons they’ve discovered is they’re eager to contribute to the development of Malaysia by introducing new methodologies and technologies they have experienced. “As an engineer, we need to be ready to challenge designs rather than simply following them”, they mentioned. This approach is rather prevalent for engineers in Australia, but not in Malaysia. Amanda adds that the mindset of constantly seeking ways to optimise and improve design is something that she and Zaid truly advocate for to elevate our local engineering practices to global standards.
Aside from that, Amanda and Zaid envision using their experiences to mentor and guide young engineers to think out of the box. Their ultimate goal is to return to Malaysia with an abundance of knowledge that can help our local engineers in any of the engineering projects, including mega projects.
With a confident mindset, both Amanda and Zaid are ever-ready to contribute to building a more competitive engineering industry back in Malaysia. You should too!
Wondering how you can connect with other Malaysians abroad like Amanda and Zaid?
You can do so by becoming a MyHeart member today! Sign up now and get ready to exchange your knowledge and expertise with Malaysian talents across the globe. The nearest Malaysian talent could even be your neighbour. For more information, head over to www.myheart.my today.
