Dheeraj is a Civil engineering Project Manager and has worked in regional Australia handling tender management, contract management and capital works delivery. He’s managed the design and delivery of complex building projects involving a multi-disciplinary team of architects, consultants and contractors. Currently, he’s working on a Victorian Government Big Build project in Melbourne. Dheeraj kick-started his engineering career in Nepal… working as a civil engineer for a multinational telecom company. He moved to Australia in 2012 to pursue a master's degree and enhanced his learnings further in Project Management.

Apart from work… he also volunteers at the local CFA, training to be a Volunteer Firefighter.  

I first met Dheeraj in 2015 after he’d completed his master’s in civil engineering. My initial impression was that he was professional in his approach to finding work – methodical, thorough and showed great attention to detail… all prerequisites for being an excellent engineer and leader.

In our conversation, Dheeraj talks about:

• Leveraging a master’s project for paid work


• Job seeking strategy


• Graduate program applications


• Visa challenges


• Strategy change after meeting with OBP Australia


• Job interview experiences


• Working & living in regional Australia compared to capital city life


• Country Fire Authority membership


• Why Australia over other options


• Role of a construction Project Manager


• Professional development


• Stakeholder engagement


• Cultural differences between Nepal and Australia


• Advice for fitting in