What's your job about?
My role is a data analyst for Essential Energy, based in Port Macquarie. Essential Energy is responsible for the distribution of electricity to almost all of NSW outside of Sydney and Newcastle. If a pole falls, it’s our job to fix it so you have power. My role specifically is utilising data to make informed business decisions. This can be a range of things such as where are we most at risk for bushfires? How can we better utilise the existing network? Some projects I have worked on include working out which areas need bigger inverters to support more solar power, working out why our outages are increasing in length but not frequency and building a database for our fibre assets.
What's your background?
I grew up in Brisbane, QLD and studied at UQ. I studied a dual degree in Mathematics majoring in Data Analytics and Operations Research and Science majoring in Statistics. Through university, I was able to gain experience in tutoring and large statistical and optimisation projects through 3rd and 4th-year courses. I applied for Essential Energy in my final year of university in 2020. At the time, COVID lockdowns were at their peak. As a result, not many places were hiring graduates, so I had to expand my sights and I am glad that I did. I applied and after a number of Zoom interviews, I got a job as a data analyst at Essential Energy. I had no idea what I would be doing because I had no experience in the energy industry. Because of COVID, I was forced to work from home in Brisbane and I continue to today. Despite this, I enjoy regularly coming to Port Macquarie to catch up with colleagues and attend training sessions.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
It would be difficult I think to do my job without a similar educational background. A lot of my role requires knowledge in coding (SQL, R, Python) as well as a deep understanding of how to properly use statistics. Ideally, a person who was applying for a role similar to mine would be analytically minded, work well in a team and have a love for solving problems.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
Other than the RDO every second week, my favourite part of the role is being able to come up with decisions that have real implications for the business and the appreciation that my managers have for my input.
What are the limitations of your job?
One of the biggest limitations is you have to be thorough in your answers. It is very easy to unknowingly come up with the wrong answer without being thorough. Additionally, some people may struggle to work in an office / at home all day. Data analysts typically don’t get out as much as engineers for example.
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