Breadcrumbs

Research and hard work pays off for engineering alumna

27 October 2021

catherine-downes
Pictured in the University's large scale lab, Engineering alumna Catherine Downes has now secured her dream job at Fisher & Paykel.

Engineering alumna Catherine Downes (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) has never left anything to chance.

At high school in Tongariro, Catherine’s favourite subjects were physics and maths. When a teacher suggested she look at further study in engineering, she had a good think.

“I did a bit of research and felt that out of all the disciplines, mechanical engineering most suited me because I’m quite a visual person,” she says.

In 2012 she began a Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Waikato. Catherine says the first year was a good introduction to engineering principles, such as maths and physics, and from the second year became more detailed depending on the discipline.

“It was in my second and third year that I started to really understand what engineering is and fell in love with it. I got more of an appreciation of just how much engineering is about problem-solving, where you’re presented with a problem and need to use the tools and learnings you have to fix the problem in front of you.”

Catherine particularly enjoyed seeing her engineering designs come to life, including the third-year product design paper where students are given a task to achieve, and then must design a machine to achieve that task.

“I really enjoy being part of projects which make change and offer much-needed solutions to problems. I enjoyed it so much that I decided I wanted to do a Masters, where I worked alongside scientists and engineers to develop a robotic vehicle to thin apple orchards, pick blueberries and prune vineyards.”

Dream job at Fisher & Paykel

When her Masters project came to an end, Catherine thought about her next move. “In the end, I wanted to use my skills in the real world, and I was also keen to move and explore somewhere new,” she says.

Catherine set her sights on a role as product development engineer at healthcare giant Fisher & Paykel, based in Auckland. “My interest in healthcare grew during the pandemic and I knew they were an innovative company with a good culture and lots of opportunities to grow.”

She put her researching hat on again, reaching out to some current and former employees to get an idea of what to expect, learned as much as she could about the company, and subsequently made it through the tough recruitment process to land the job.

Catherine says she is enjoying working in a multi-disciplinary team made up of different engineering skills, plus marketing and finance teams, to help bring a product to life from initial concept through to market.

Encouraging students into STEM subjects

Catherine hopes her story will inspire other students, particularly females, to consider a career in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) industries.

“I used to feel intimidated by it all, but now that I’m into my career I’ve realised that the majority of colleagues and people in the industry are kind and helpful and want to help you succeed.

“You can really be anything you want to be in this industry, whether that’s the highest-paid designer, manager or CEO – it’s all within your reach.”


Latest stories

Related stories

Three generations of Dr Ritchies

Pioneering Psychology Professor leaves peaceful parenting legacy

The University of Waikato sadly acknowledges the passing of Emeritus Professor Jane Ritchie OBE, at…

Graduates at Te Kohinga Mārama Marae on Monday.

A week of celebration for Waikato graduates

It’s graduation week at the University of Waikato – and that means four days of…

Rhythm and resilience: A deputy principal’s inspiring journey to success

A talented dancer and performer, Caroline Gill has had a long history with the University…

Jackson Mason-Mackey

Alumnus making his mark on the world in the humanitarian sector

Not many people can say they’ve worked in Mozambique, Italy, Afghanistan and Colombia, but Jackson…

Nathan Bailey, inaugural recipient of the Tauranga Moana Futures Scholarship

Scholarship enables inaugural recipient to contribute to the redevelopment of Tauranga City

University of Waikato first-year Bachelor of Engineering student Nathan Bailey is the inaugural recipient of…

A group of people stand outside the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts at the 50th anniversary celebrations for the School of Psychology postgraduate clinical and behavioural psychology diplomas.

Saving lives: Psychology programmes celebrate 50 years

More than 85 people gathered to celebrate the University of Waikato’s School of Psychology on…

Award-winning soprano and Waikato alumna is branching out into the world

With one of her recent achievements on home soil having been the runner up at…

Waikato researchers at the frontier of New Zealand’s high-tech robotics industry

Developing a high-tech robotics industry in New Zealand to grow and support a horticulture sector…

Scholarship

Scholarship recipient loves learning about people

It takes a special person to receive two scholarships from the University of Waikato but…

Scholarship recipient

Ashleigh Ngow receives Dr Andrew Smith Medal for Academic Excellence

Protecting the environment has always been important to Maketū-raised Ashleigh Ngow who completed the Bachelor…

NY Honours 2023

2023 New Year Honours recognise eight Waikato alumni and former academics

University of Waikato alumni and both former and current academic staff have been named in…

Kiwifruit E-BIN a winner for Waikato

The University of Waikato’s electronic Kiwifruit Human Assisted Harvesting (e-BIN) that simplifies harvesting of kiwifruit…