Back to People Spotlight: Meet Our Team
Public WorksAsset ManagementSouth Australia
Tonkin's People Spotlight gives you behind the scenes insights about the technical specialists in our business.
From a career change into asset management, Ana’s career journey shows how the right skills can open unexpected doors.
Ana works closely with councils to manage their asset data in Conquest and turn it into easy-to-understand dashboards and reports. Her role sits at the intersection of data and decision making, supporting clients balance costs, risks and long-term planning.
From a career change into asset management, Ana’s career journey shows how the right skills can open unexpected doors.
Ana works closely with councils to manage their asset data in Conquest and turn it into easy-to-understand dashboards and reports. Her role sits at the intersection of data and decision making, supporting clients balance costs, risks and long-term planning.
How did you come to be working at Tonkin and what’s a typical day at work like?
I was looking to change career paths and initially applied for an admin role to get my foot in the door at Tonkin. During my interview, Maria Giorgi and Mel Lutton recognised my skills in working with data, numbers, and Excel - supported by my engineering degree - and saw the potential to apply them within an Asset System Consultant position.
After meeting the team, I could immediately see myself in the role, and over the past two years I’ve been continuously learning and growing in the field.
A typical day now involves managing asset data in Conquest (Asset Management Platform) for several council clients, ensuring its accuracy and consistency, and turning it into clear insights through dashboards and reports to support informed decision-making.
After meeting the team, I could immediately see myself in the role, and over the past two years I’ve been continuously learning and growing in the field.
A typical day now involves managing asset data in Conquest (Asset Management Platform) for several council clients, ensuring its accuracy and consistency, and turning it into clear insights through dashboards and reports to support informed decision-making.
What advice would you give to someone starting out as an Assets Engineer?
Start by building a solid understanding of how assets function in the real world, not just in systems or spreadsheets. Ask questions, spend time with field teams, and stay curious. Asset management is about balancing data, risk, cost, and service, so developing both technical and communication skills early on will make a big difference.
What are the most common challenges in your field / industry?
One of the biggest challenges is working with incomplete or inconsistent data while still needing to make informed decisions. There’s also the challenge of aligning technical asset insights with organisational priorities like budget, risk, and long-term planning. Bridging that gap between data and decision-making is where a lot of the complexity sits.
How does Tonkin support your professional development?
Tonkin supported me from day one as I transitioned from a different industry. The team has been incredibly approachable, making it easy to ask questions and learn in a supportive environment. Alongside that, I’ve had the opportunity to work across a variety of projects, which has helped me grow both technically and professionally.