Profiles

Ms Komal Dalal
Master of Engineering (Professional) - Water Environment (2007) Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus

I am motivated to work with people and organisations in the sector of Water - “the Gold of 21st Century” - where my engineering skills can be utilised on major projects enabling thousands of people to get access to safe drinking water. There is nothing more satisfying than to be able to say... “I have a part to play in this.”

Komal Dalal - a project manager with Barwon Region Water Corporation, Victoria's largest regional urban water corporation - chose postgraduate studies at Deakin because it was the only Victorian regional university offering the master of engineering course majoring in water environment. Importantly, it also offered her solid, practical experience.

“Deakin has an energetic group of professors and industrial partners committed to delivering excellence in postgraduate learning. The University’s association with various industries provides students with hands-on experience creating professional engineers who have a full package of workplace skills,” she says.

Originally from the Indian city of Ahmedabad, Komal started her career as a graduate engineer at Barwon Water and says she is ‘extremely satisfied’ with progress of her career over the past three and a half years.

“What I enjoy most about my job is the combination of engineering and project management - this broadened my options and flexibility, and provided the opportunity to work as a project manager. This requires skills in the fields of engineering, management, environment, safety, quality and liaising with community and stakeholders. I enjoy the variety of my day-to-day role and the challenges involved in delivering a successful project,” she says.

Komal also attributes much of her career success to the guidance she received from Deakin staff.

“They not only helped me in my studies and with practical industry experience, but also provided the valuable career advice that helped me secure a permanent position in the water industry even before completing my Masters studies. Deakin has shown strong commitment to not only research and teaching but also creating a friendly environment making it preferred by both local and international students,” she says.

During her course, Komal worked as a research assistant on various industrial projects which helped her gain insight into the operations of the water industry.
“The perfect blend of academic studies and professional experience with various industrial projects played a significant part in making me work-ready before I graduated.”