CHANGE AGENT EMILIA TARGONSKA FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH The CIBSE ASHRAE Graduate of the Year Award is a huge stepping stone for a young engineer starting out in their career. Last years winner, Emilia Targonska, shares her experiences since lifting the trophy E milia Targonska completed an environmental engineering degree at Warsaw University of Technology, followed by a low-energy building services engineering MSc at Loughborough University. Her MSc research dissertation was accepted for presentation at the People and Buildings Conference, organised by LEARN at London Metropolitan University, and she graduated with distinction. Before starting her MSc, Targonska worked alongside her father, helping to design HVAC systems for various developments in Poland. She joined the Hoare Lea team, in London, in September 2014. I gained a global perspective on how we, as engineers, can have a positive impact on peoples living conditions What was it like to win? It was one of the most rewarding moments of my life. I did not expect to win, and felt honoured just to be shortlisted and have the opportunity to present to some of the brightest engineers and designers in our industry. I was really touched I could share the story of my father a building services engineer with more than 40 years experience who inspired me to pursue a career in engineering. My parents helped me follow my dreams and study abroad, so the best thing was being able to make them proud. What have you learned? To believe in myself, and that anything is possible if you work hard. I have always wanted to study abroad and explore the world, yet I never opportunity to attend many events and meet people who have really inspired me to challenge myself even more. The industry leaders I met showed me the importance of constantly improving our designs to make them more efficient, as well as pushing the boundaries of what is possible. The future of the industry and the environment is in our hands. It is a great responsibility. ASHRAE family. I loved having the opportunity to discuss design issues with extremely experienced engineers and specialists from around the world. I was impressed with how passionate everyone was about building services, which I believe is one of the key factors to ensure the best possible future for our industry. Has it changed your view of the industry? Yes. I won the competition shortly after graduating from university, so the past year has been a never-ending learning curve. The award gave me an Has it changed your career plans? No, it has only reassured me that a career in building services is something I am really passionate about. On the other hand, it opened many doors for me and revealed exciting opportunities I would like to explore in the future. What advice would you give to young people considering a career in building services? Work hard towards your goals. Make sure you are positive and passionate about what you do. Get involved as much as you can. Take every opportunity to learn from those more experienced, but also challenge yourself. There are many interesting events in the industry, which are free expected to do it and win such a prestigious award. It opened up so many new opportunities and gave me more confidence. I gained a global perspective on how we, as engineers, can have a positive impact on peoples living conditions and reduce the impact on the environment. I could not have asked for a better start to my career. What has been the highlight? My trip to the ASHRAE Winter Conference in Chicago was an unforgettable experience, especially because of all the amazing people I met. I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome I received and really felt like a member of a big to attend and offer a great opportunity to meet highly experienced designers. Dont be shy; introduce yourself and ask questions! What are you working on now? I am involved in an HVAC design for a high-end residential skyscraper for the Newfoundland scheme within Canary Wharf group. I am also preparing for the ASHRAE Energy Modelling Conference in Atlanta, where I will present the results of my research on the airflow and thermal comfort assessment of a naturally ventilated educational building. The results will soon be published in a paper I am working on with Loughborough University. Do you have any advice for this years finalists? Work hard, be well prepared and, more than anything, just be you. Let others see your passion for engineering this is what helped me win. Read about this years Young Engineers Awards finalists EMILIA TARGOSKA is graduate mechanical engineer at Hoare Lea