Environmental engineering
What is environmental engineering?
What do environmental engineers do?
Where do environmental engineers work?
Work conditions
Employment opportunities
Salaries
Graduate profile: Environment Coordinator
What is environmental engineering?
Environmental engineering is concerned with assessing and managing the impact and effects of human and other activity on the environment.
What do environmental engineers do?
Environmental engineers design, implement and manage solutions to restore and protect the environment. They often work as part of a multidisciplinary team in areas such as environmental impact assessment, natural resources management, pollution control, water quality monitoring and assessment, waterway management and river rehabilitation, and land management, just to name a few.
Where do environmental engineers work?
Environmental engineers commonly work for engineering consulting firms, water agencies, environmental protection agencies, government departments and agencies, catchment management authorities, mining companies, management consulting firms, and research and education institutions.
Work conditions
Environmental engineers often work closely with other professionals. The particular tasks undertaken on any given day can vary widely and may necessitate work in offices or at outdoor sites. Travel is therefore often a necessary part of this occupation.
Employment opportunities
Engineers Australia's 2008 publication The engineering profession — a statistical overview reports that environmental engineers are in relative shortage in Australia. This fact, along with the increased focus in recent years on the environment and its protection, is likely to translate into a long-term positive employment outlook in this field.
Salaries
According to Engineers Australia's 2007 Salary and Benefits survey, the average base salary for a graduate environmental engineer in 2007, across the private and public sectors, was $47,357. Environmental engineers with 4-10 years experience earned an average of $75,287.
Find out more
Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia (APESMA), www.apesma.asn.au
Engineers Australia, www.engineersaustralia.org.au
Society for Sustainability and Environmental Engineers, www.ssee.org.au
I am working as the Environment Coordinator for Acciona Energy, an international company with a head office in Spain, which specialises in renewable energies like wind, solar, hydro and biofuels.
Acciona Energy is a leading developer, owner and operator of wind farms across the world, with 172 wind farms in 10 countries, representing over 5027 megawatts (MW) of wind power installed or under construction.
My role involves working on the planning and environmental approvals for projects, and managing environmental issues during construction and operation. Working within the Environment and Stakeholder Relations Team I am also involved in community consultation for some projects, which I find really interesting and challenging.
I find Acciona Energy quite a vibrant place to work because the people who work here are young, very passionate and dedicated to renewable energy and sustainability. It has always been important to me to ‘believe in’ my work, and working in renewable energy means that most days I feel like I am making a positive contribution to the world.
I hope to keep working in the broad field of environment and sustainability. Longer term, I’d love to work for an environmental organisation or government on planning and implementing policies with a genuine long-term sustainability agenda.