SP Group (SP) is a leading player in the fields of energy, utilities, and digital solutions in the Asia-Pacific region. SP has established a reputation for its engineering excellence and is committed to moving the needle on sustainability through its suite of low-carbon smart energy solutions. The company also actively supports seniors, youth, and children, by funding programmes to improve their quality of life and rallying their staff in regular volunteer activities.

Behind the reliable grid operations, sustainable efforts, and community outreach are the people of SP who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make things happen. SP believes in cultivating promising talent, a feat that is made possible via its scholarship and graduate programmes, including the SgIS Scholarship.

Among the recent cohort of deserving recipients are SgIS Mid-Term Scholars Amelia Lim Sin Wei and Muhammad Hadi Bin Mohammad, who are Executive Engineers in the organisation. We learn more about them and the impact of their work with SP.

Tell us more about yourselves. What sparked your interest in engineering?

Amelia: My interest in engineering was influenced by my father, who is an engineer himself. Growing up, I was always curious and amazed by how things work. I was interested in the mechanics behind what makes a plane fly, or a vehicle move. Without fail, my father would enthusiastically explain to me how the mechanisms work. His passion and expertise in the engineering field have motivated me to follow in his footsteps.

Hadi: I’ve always had a fascination with science and math. Back in school, I enjoyed learning about the workings of machinery and solving complex problems. This developed into a natural interest in pursuing a career in engineering, solving day-to-day problems that will impact the lives of people.

Can you walk us through a day in the life of an Executive Engineer?

Amelia: I am an Engineer in the team that oversees the planning and development of the natural and town gas transmission network in Singapore. We also plan for new gas connections and the diversion of gas pipelines to support customers’ business needs and national infrastructure development such as the Land Transport Authority’s North-South Corridor projects.

My day often involves preparing project proposals including the pipeline plan, cost, and timeline; and coordinating with various internal and external stakeholders to review the project proposals and secure sufficient funds for the projects. It also includes addressing queries and concerns, managing expectations, and ensuring that everyone is aligned in working toward the project’s objectives.

Hadi: As part of the electricity distribution cable team, we are responsible for carrying out maintenance work and repairs for high and low-voltage power cables. Typically, I will be reviewing the maintenance schedule and prioritising tasks that impact customers such as voltage fluctuations or potential cable damage by third-party contractors at construction sites. We are also responsible for attending to emergency cable fault incidents, which may be caused by natural elements such as damage by tree roots or other parties carrying out works in the area of the incident. These faults require swift repair to minimise disruption to our customers.

There’s certainly a lot to your job! What is your favourite part about the work you do? And what are the toughest aspects of it?

Amelia: My work is never mundane. Each project I undertake presents various unique challenges ranging from site constraints and customer requirements to resource limitations. There are constantly evolving requests. This ever-changing environment hones my problem-solving abilities and allows me to take on every new project with a fresh perspective.

One of the challenging aspects of my job is stakeholder management. As projects would involve multiple stakeholders, it can be difficult to meet everyone’s expectations. I have learnt to be firm and transparent when justifying a decision and to prioritise resources based on project objectives, feasibility, and overall impact.

Hadi: I enjoy the dynamic nature of the job and the opportunities to solve new challenges every day. I also appreciate the help from more experienced colleagues whom I can reach out to for guidance and valuable advice. Teamwork and collaboration are critical in completing our time-sensitive tasks efficiently.

Handling unexpected cable fault events can be stressful, especially when we have to drop everything to attend to exigencies. At times, it is challenging to pinpoint the location of cable faults as there are many different types of cables installed underground. However, there is a huge sense of accomplishment once we are able to repair and restore the cables back to service. Working towards a common goal boosts the camaraderie among us.

Hadi, you mentioned your involvement as a staff volunteer with SP Heart Workers. Could you elaborate more on that?

I was part of the team to pilot a reading programme for kids from lower-income families. It was incredibly heart-warming to spend time reading with the children, as their enthusiasm for learning was infectious. We guided them on presentation skills and taught them simple PowerPoint skills to share their learnings. It was remarkable seeing the kids take the initiative to teach their peers too.

That’s very inspiring! Amelia, can you describe the work culture at SP Group in three words?

Supportive, collaborative, and inclusive.

On that note, how has the organisation been able to support the growth and development of your generation of engineers and innovators?

Amelia: SP Group has consistently demonstrated its strong support for its employees’ personal development. We have many opportunities to explore our interests and upgrade our skills.Through initiatives such as sponsorship for overseas master’s programmes, courses, and certification such as Professional Engineering (PE) and Project Management Certification, we are encouraged to widen our worldview and pursue our interests.

Hadi: SP is a place that promotes growth and development as we have easy access to courses to broaden our knowledge. There are also talks and masterclasses conducted by our in-house Technical Experts as well as industry experts from overseas. These initiatives are in line with SP’s efforts in supporting our professional growth, ensuring that we are equipped with future-ready skills.