Pictured, from left: Timothy Myles, Social Sustainability Manager on the M80 Ring Road project and Aleyna Aydin, Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) student, La Trobe University, and Cadet Site Engineer – Structures, ACCIONA.
When La Trobe Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) student Aleyna Aydin joined ACCIONA’s M80 Ring Road project as part of her Work Integrated Learning placement, she was stepping into a major national infrastructure upgrade adding 14 kilometres of new lanes, eight bridges and 10 kilometres of pedestrian and cycle paths across Melbourne’s north.
“I first heard about the ACCIONA placement through La Trobe’s industry partnerships, which highlighted it as an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience with a global infrastructure company,” says Aleyna. “The alignment between ACCIONA’s focus on sustainability and innovation and my own career goals made it stand out.”
During her placement, Aleyna rotated through a range of structural works – from retaining walls and capping beams to her current involvement in the superstructure works on three bridges.
“Being part of such large-scale projects has been a highlight,” she says. “You really see how all the planning and technical details come together on site.” Her work has included concrete pours, scheduling, take-offs, inspections and managing LOTs inspection records – all of which, she says, has given her “a solid understanding of both the technical and practical sides of bridge construction.”
Some of her biggest lessons have been about precision and people. “Attention to detail and communication are everything on site. Even small mistakes can have big consequences later,” Aleyna says. “At first I was hesitant to speak up, but I learned that asking questions is the best way to learn and build trust. Once I started communicating more confidently, I became much more effective.”
That confidence has paid off. Aleyna has now been accepted into ACCIONA’s graduate engineering team on the same project, continuing her journey from cadet to professional engineer. “The graduate program combines hands-on experience with tailored development – monthly sessions with senior leaders, rotations across different areas, and opportunities to connect with other graduates around the world,” she says. “It’s an incredible chance to keep developing technically while growing as a professional.”
La Trobe has been really invested in our program and in preparing students to come on site, especially through their Work Integrated Learning initiative.
A new model for inclusion and impact
For Timothy Myles, Social Sustainability Manager on the M80 Ring Road project, Aleyna’s story reflects the broader success of ACCIONA’s cadet program – one deliberately designed to challenge convention and create more inclusive pathways into the industry.
ACCIONA’s collaboration with La Trobe has been key. “La Trobe has been really invested in our program and in preparing students to come on site, especially through their Work Integrated Learning initiative,” says Timothy. “It’s new to the industry, the way we’ve approached it, and La Trobe welcomed us with open arms. We’re keen to continue the relationship.”
“My role is to run the cadet program, where we engage about 26 cadets per year across all departments of the project,” says Timothy. “Traditionally, it would have just been engineering roles, but we decided to open it up to every area – from finance and HR to environment, legal, quality assurance and safety.”
Since launching three years ago, the program has welcomed 74 cadets, averaging 55–60 per cent female participation. It has also supported participants with disabilities and refugees through the Career Seekers program.
“The inclusive nature of it is really important to us,” says Timothy. “We wanted to approach it differently – to actually attract more women and create opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds.”
Each cadet completes a structured onboarding process, mentorship and professional development throughout the year. “We do a one-week induction, take a short video of each cadet, then at the end of the year they present to management and we show their video again,” he says. “You can really see their growth and development – their professionalism and confidence are completely different.”
For Aleyna, that partnership has been life-changing. “I’m really grateful for the experience and the support I’ve had along the way,” she says. “It’s been a big part of shaping where I want to go in my career, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
If you are a member of industry and interested in exploring opportunities to connect with La Trobe student talent, including through the Work Integrated Learning program, connect with La Trobe Talent.
La Trobe Talent will support your business throughout the process, from creating a placement description to promoting it to students and finalising the agreement. Contact La Trobe Talent at latrobetalent@latrobe.edu.au or submit an EOI Form.
