The Spill

When Eleanor first joined Hydro Tasmania as a Graduate Mechanical Engineer, she never imagined she’d end up trading energy on the National Electricity Market. But that’s the beauty of a graduate program—you get to explore different career paths and discover new passions along the way. 

Eleanor’s journey begun in our Major Works team at the Cambridge Workshop (just 20 minutes from Hobart), refurbishing inlet gates and valves. From there, she moved into Production Engineering, spending plenty of time on-site across Tasmania, getting hands-on experience and seeing how everything fits together. 

“I was involved in commissioning Trevallyn Power Station after the Major Outage and worked across the West Coast and Mersey Forth regions. I even got to help prepare for the upcoming Gordon Major Outage—so it was a pretty big mix of experiences!” says Eleanor.  

For Eleanor, being on-site made all the difference. “There’s only so much you can get from drawings. Seeing the equipment up close and understanding how it all connects makes it much easier to wrap your head around.” 

Refurbishing Gordon Power Station 

Most mechanical engineers don’t plan on jumping into the world of energy trading, but Eleanor’s interest in the energy market kept growing. “I studied both Engineering and Economics at uni, so when I heard more about how the energy market works, I found it really interesting.” 

After her graduate rotations, she transitioned into a role as a Generation Dispatch Engineer, helping Hydro Tasmania trade energy in the spot market. 

“Every five minutes, we’re bidding into the market based on how much energy we’re generating. We adjust generation levels, respond to faults, and coordinate outages to keep everything running smoothly. We’re really connected across the state, working with teams managing the infrastructure and assets that I used to help refurbish. It’s pretty cool to see the full picture now.” 

Originally from Melbourne and Canberra, Eleanor was drawn to Tasmania for the lifestyle just as much as the career opportunities. “Working in renewables was a huge drawcard, but Tasmania itself was an easy choice, I love hiking and swimming, so it’s the perfect place to be.” 

“The energy market is changing so fast. More wind and solar are coming online, and we’re adapting how we run our hydro stations. Every day brings something new, and it’s exciting to be part of that shift. We also have a massive culture of sharing knowledge, both in my department and across Hydro Tasmania. I’ve learned so much from the people around me.” 

A typical day shift for Eleanor starts bright and early at 6 AM. “First thing is a handover from the night shift, checking water storage levels and the plan for the day. Some of that’s about energy generation, but it also includes managing water flows for things like white-water rafting and paddling.” 

Throughout the day, she monitors the market, adjusts machine settings, and reacts to any changes, whether that be a shift in energy prices or an unexpected fault. When she’s not on shift, the focus shifts to analysis. “We look at market trends, like how storms impact the National Electricity Market, and figure out how we can improve our response next time.” 

Eleanor never expected to land in energy trading, but that’s exactly why she recommends going into a graduate program with an open mind. 

“With each rotation, you have the chance to learn so much if you’re willing to dive in. I never would have guessed I’d end up here, but having the flexibility to explore different career paths within one business has been amazing.” 

Eleanor also encourages young people to explore careers in STEM, even if they’re unsure what engineering actually involves. “I had no idea what engineering was when I was in school, it was my parents who suggested it! There are so many different pathways, and the more visibility we can give young people about careers in STEM, the better.” 

If Eleanor’s story has sparked your curiosity, check out our graduate program and see where Hydro Tasmania could take you. You never know where you might end up! Learn more at www.hydro.com.au/graduates. Recruitment for 2026 closes Monday 14 April 2025!