Our People: Cassidy Gallagher

What experience led you to joining Hitachi?

As part of my engineering degree, I completed a 12 week internship program with HCA. Following this, I was offered a permanent role as a graduate engineer in early 2020. Through the graduate program I gained the opportunity to work in different areas of the business, which led me to my role of Technology Analytics Specialist. I have enjoyed learning about the industry and the business beyond what the machines do.

What do you do as a Technology Analytics Specialist?

I analyse how we can better utilise technology within the business. This includes rolling out new developments such as updates to the ConSite platform, performing analysis tasks on machine telemetry and parts, then determining how we can improve reporting techniques to make the data more accessible in the future. I like that my job is about innovation and development. It has huge potential to influence how Hitachi use the technology to report, record and use data.

What other interests do you have outside of work?

I am a nationally accredited hockey umpire and have umpired in our top domestic league – previously known as the Australian Hockey League, now called Hockey One. Umpiring can be very challenging, especially with mentality and mindset, but it is also extremely rewarding. I have been lucky it has granted me opportunities to travel, including overseas!

Which personal attributes did you need to apply to help you succeed?

Confidence – I found going through university the easy bit because I was very comfortable and confident in my academic abilities. The transition to the ‘real world’ was harder and I started to doubt myself in an unfamiliar industry. I remind myself that it is ok to still be learning and ask questions because going forward is what really matters.

Do you find your job fulfilling and inclusive?

I am always challenged and learning new things, which leads to a sense of accomplishment. As we become more technologically advanced and need better tools to support this, there is great potential for my role to change how Hitachi uses data. I feel that at Hitachi, my career path will be defined by my abilities. I chose to study engineering because I was interested in it, not because of any stereotypes. Similarly, I would encourage everyone, regardless of gender, to choose a field they are interested in and will find rewarding.

What advice would you give to others who may be considering taking on a new challenge?

The most important thing is to have a go – and your biggest asset is confidence. You need to convince yourself that you are the right person for the role…then you need to convince everyone else! This might be through study and career experience, volunteering for different opportunities at work, or even just changing your mindset. There may be outside activities which can help enhanced your skillset – for me, umpiring has helped with my confidence but has also taught me how to make mistakes and learn from them, which is something I use every day in my career.