Q: Name of the town you went to primary school?

Karana Downs, Queensland

Q: How would you describe yourself when you were in Primary school?

I was athletic and creative! I loved hockey and karate, and in grade 4 I started learning guitar. Shortly after, I began writing my own
songs.

Q: Which were your favourite subjects in high school?

English & The Arts

Q: What further study/qualifications did you complete after high school?

Diploma of Music Performance – Southbank TAFE, Diploma of Sound Engineering – Southbank TAFE, Diploma of Electronics and Communications

Q: What is the name of your STEM career?

Control Systems Programmer

Q: What attracted you to this STEM career?

I love that there are always new challenges or “puzzles to solve”. The satisfaction of seeing a concept come to life is so rewarding
and I love that ‘hell yeah!’ moment when you’ve just worked out a problem. Where some people see obstacles, I see an opportunity to get creative! Maybe that’s my background in music? I think being a creative has given me perspective, but being a female in this male dominated industry has given me an edge! I like to think of it as my superpower.

Q: What is some of the typical work you do in this career?

Everyday is different in my job. From quoting, designing, programming and commissioning, I do a bit of everything! Typically though my role is programmer, and so I’m often out and about at various sites with my laptop commissioning new systems or servicing old ones. Some of my favourite tasks are creating custom user interfaces for touchscreens, and programming dynamic lighting systems sometimes on building facades or in venues. In order to program a lighting control system, I’ll typically receive a control brief to determine how it will operate. Then, whether that is by a timed schedule, a button press from a touchscreen, a motion sensor, sometimes music, and often all of the above, I’ll program the devices using the software specific for the hardware.

Q: What do you love about your job?

I really do love that its always so different. There are limitless possibilities with programming and… sounds kind of cliché, but
programming lights lights me up! I get a lot of satisfaction seeing something I’ve worked so hard on, come to life! I always get a little ‘Woah’ moment afterwards
feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Find something that lights you up, and just go for it! Also know that, passions can change.. and that’s not a bad thing. A change in direction can take you down a path that you may have never envisaged for yourself.. And that’s exciting!

Claire Enoka