As we sit down with Melissa, it’s clear that she is justifiably proud of her progression from graduate to a leadership position at ASC.

“When I started back in 2016, ASC was much smaller and the graduate program was really different,” Melissa shares.

“I don’t think there are too many people who can say they have been on a submarine whilst submerged, but I was lucky to have that incredible experience as a graduate.

“You don’t have any real sense of what time of day it is on a submarine.  I was sound asleep, and I was suddenly woken by a strange whirring sound – what is that noise?  I looked over and it was a submariner doing a workout on a rowing machine just near me.

“I was amazed how submariners keep up their fitness regime at sea despite being underwater.”

Melissa also had the opportunity to do some work onboard HMAS Brisbane, an Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD).

“I remember a Navy guy apologising that there wasn’t much space for us to do our work on the AWD, but remember being a bit bemused, because it was almost palatial compared to the close confines extreme living conditions on board a Collins Class submarine.

“All of these experiences confirmed that ASC was where I wanted to grow and work as an engineer.”

Today, in her current role of Head of Platform Engineering within the LOTE program, Melissa manages 65 people, with five direct reports.  She is extremely proud of what the team has achieved so far, and there is a high level of confidence that the plan represents a technically sound solution.

“I love the leadership side of my job,” says Melissa. “Yes, I need to be a technical expert, but I strongly believe that effective leadership and management of people is just as important.  I am a ‘people person’, I care for my colleagues, and I get a lot of satisfaction out of working with, and leading people.”

Melissa is also a passionate advocate for women at ASC. She actively mentors other women, champions inclusive practices, and enthusiastically participates in events and forums that promote increased participation of women in STEM, engineering and defence careers. 

“I recently spoke on a panel as part of the University of Adelaide Women in STEM program,” says Melissa. “The discussion was really candid – there’s no avoiding the issue: there are challenges for women working in this environment, particularly in the engineering field. We’re still in the minority, but it’s slowly shifting. There are several women leaders now in LOTE, and it’s inspiring to see more women stepping into executive leadership roles and joining the ASC Board.”

So, what’s next for Melissa?

“I really enjoy being a leader and I hope that I can continue to grow my leadership skills and take on greater managerial responsibility in time,” says Melissa.

“Longer term, I am really looking forward to delving into the nuclear world and I am excited about the prospect of working on the new SSN-AUKUS program. But for now, I’m fully focused on LOTE.”

Melissa’s experiences to date are an outstanding example of the opportunities for people working in Australia’s submarine industry. These opportunities are only set to grow as ASC expands, in partnership with BAE Systems, to jointly build Australia’s next class of submarine – the SSN-AUKUS, a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine class.