Conpower

The Charles Wright Graduate Engineering Program preparing engineering graduates with the skills to thrive in the Electrical HV Construction Industry.

The Charles Wright Graduate Engineering Program at CPP is tailored to equip engineering graduates with the tools needed to excel in their careers within the Electrical HV Construction Industry. It is designed to offer real-world exposure across three vital disciplines of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Projects in the HV Electrical sector.

The program is affectionately named after Charles Wright (who has since retired) to acknowledge his twenty years of service with CPP. The program facilitates rotational experiences to foster a comprehensive understanding of project engineering, construction, testing/commissioning, and the broader HV industry landscape. Through rotations, graduates not only gain insight into our business operations but also prime themselves for career advancement opportunities within CPP.

Although the indicative duration of the program is set at two years, extensions may occur to ensure graduates acquire the necessary proficiency across designated disciplinary areas. The timing and duration of each rotation are contingent upon project availabilities, with the possibility of extensions to facilitate the completion of significant work packages. This approach ensures that graduates witness projects from inception to commissioning, fostering a holistic understanding of project lifecycle dynamics. Embedded within established and supportive engineering teams, graduates contribute to major HV construction projects nationwide while rotating through key disciplines to diversify their skill sets.

Kyle Ong, a student engineer participating in this year’s program, outlined the experiences he had gained from it. “Through this program, I’ve had the great opportunity to not only learn deeply about technical substation design but also enhance my understanding of safety protocols in design through a series of specialized training with Engineering Australia. Plus, the support I’ve received from senior engineers has been amazing, some even spend hours during their busy day to carefully answering my questions. I feel so grateful and strongly believe that the supports I receive from the company and every individual here is setting me up for a bright future in engineering.”

CPP recently celebrated the achievements of its latest cohort of graduates with a three-day event, commencing in Adelaide. The event included a trip to the Bundey Substation, as well as a visit to the CPP head office, where graduates were accommodated at The Majestic Hotel and hosted for dinner by CPP President, Wallie Van Hoving, at Paper Tiger. This celebration underscores CPP’s commitment to providing graduates with hands-on experience in leading HV and renewables projects, as part of a comprehensive two-year rotation program spanning Primary Engineering, Secondary Engineering, and Site Testing/Commissioning. Mr. Van Hoving highlighted his support for the event. “It was fantastic to meet such a group of talented and enthusiastic young engineers. Our profession is in good hands!” he said.