Conpower

Grad Week is often described as an introduction; to the business, the people and the projects. But for CPP’s 2026 graduate engineers and cohort, it quickly became something deeper: a week that challenged how they think about engineering, leadership and the many paths a career at CPP can take.

Bringing together graduates from across the business, Grad Week combined site visits, learning sessions and time with leaders. All designed to give our newest team members a clearer picture of not just what we do, but how and why we do it.

Advice from leadership

James Warr reflected on the transition many engineers consider during their careers, reframing management not as a departure from engineering, but an extension of it.

“Management is just a different set of problems to solve. We’ve been trained as engineers to solve problems – that’s what we do.”

He reminded graduates that leadership doesn’t arrive with a job title, nor does it require a sudden shift away from technical work.

“You don’t switch off engineering one day and switch on management the next day. It’s a gradual process throughout your career,” said James. “You don’t need to be a manager to be a leader.”

Wallie van Hoving echoed this sentiment, acknowledging that while today’s graduates are entering a very different industry landscape, the fundamentals remain unchanged.

“Be patient. Take your time to learn your craft, learn your trade, become good at what you do, and then start moving.”

He encouraged graduates to resist the urge to rush toward the next step, instead focusing on depth, confidence and sound judgement.

“What we can encourage is curiosity. Be restless, keep asking, keep growing.”

Supporting graduates’ development

That focus on understanding both systems and self was reinforced during sessions led by Melanie Mestrov, Organisational Development Manager.

“Great outcomes happen when we understand both the systems we work in and the impact of how we show up within them. It was excellent to hear the questions and insights from our graduates during Grad Week, as we built capability in systems thinking and self‑awareness through sessions exploring CPP’s value chain, innovation and DiSC.”

Grad Week also included visits to the Tailem Bend BESS site and Consolidated Power Industries (CPI) in Wingfield, giving graduates firsthand exposure to CPP’s vertically integrated capabilities.

At CPI, graduates met with Lloyd Bentley, General Manager – CPI, who shared the story of CPI’s growth and the mindset behind it.

“When I joined CPP, we didn’t have a single electrician – we relied on subcontractors. CPI was built from scratch to solve real problems.”

Graduates also heard from Asset Management Services, gaining insight into how field experience feeds back into design and long‑term performance, reinforcing CPP’s reputation for quality and collaboration.

Shaping the next generation of CPP

Hearing directly from graduates reinforced many of the themes shared throughout the week.

For Leo Forman, Graduate Accountant based in Brisbane, Grad Week offered a broader understanding of how CPP operates as a connected organisation.

“Grad Week was a real eye‑opener into how CPP operates as one connected business. I learned far more than I expected – not just about the scale of the organisation, but the importance of collaboration and building strong relationships across the business.”

That whole‑of‑business perspective was echoed by Araz Rozehkhan‑Akhouni, Graduate Electrical Engineer (Design) in Sydney.

“What stood out most was seeing how interconnected each discipline is, and how important collaboration and cross‑team communication are in delivering successful projects.”

For Ryan Kuchel, Graduate Structural Engineer based in Adelaide, hearing directly from leaders helped connect the technical work to a broader sense of purpose.

“Hearing directly from executive leadership was particularly engaging and reinforced the opportunity to contribute to projects supporting a more sustainable future for Australia.”

Understanding where individual roles fit within the wider organisation was a key takeaway for Adrian Freiburg, Graduate Project Engineer – Electrical, based in New South Wales.

“Grad Week helped provide the full context of what CPP does as a whole, and where we each fit within it.”

Isaac Rogers, Graduate Project Engineer in Brisbane, reflected on the people and culture underpinning the experience.

“What stood out most was the calibre of people – there’s a strong focus on breaking down silos and creating a culture where everyone is genuinely supportive and willing to help.”

As Grad Week wrapped up, one message stood out above all else: there is no single path to success at CPP. Whether a future lies in design, delivery, leadership or something that doesn’t yet exist, curiosity, capability and integrity will guide the way.

This week was a powerful reminder for leaders and graduates alike – the next generation of CPP is already here, and what they learn now will help shape the future of the company.