From dreaming of being a doctor to becoming a Professor of engineering, Olivia has always worked towards her goals.

by Lorna Gordon

Before she became an engineer, professor, mentor and community leader in Western Sydney, Olivia Mirza was a determined young student growing up in Malaysia with a dream of becoming a doctor.

Olivia always loved learning, which was encouraged by her parents. She studied hard, determined to be a success and while her hard work paid off when she finished high school with outstanding results, placing in the top three percent of students in her state, she was still at a disadvantage.

On paper she should have had her choice of courses, her grades met the entry requirements for medicine, but she wasn’ t accepted into medical school. At the time in Malaysia at the time, university placements were based as much on ethnicity and religion as they were on academic achievements, with around 95 percent of places reserved for Muslim students, opportunities for others were limited.

“ It was a difficult moment,” she has reflected.“ I had studied so hard and achieved the results, but the opportunity wasn’ t there.”

Instead of allowing disappointment to take over, Olivia began to consider other options. She had always enjoyed problem solving, thinking logically and understanding how things worked, so she enrolled to study a diploma in engineering and that decision would change the course

of her life.

Engineering turned out to be a perfect match for her logical brain and she thrived, graduating as the top student in her college after three years of study. After completing her diploma, she worked in Malaysia for two years, gaining practical experience in the industry..

“ I was eager to learn,” she says.“ I felt that a diploma wasn’ t enough for what I wanted to achieve.”

While working full time she returned to study to complete an advanced diploma in engineering. Once again she finished at the top of her class. Her dedication and talent didn’ t go unnoticed. Soon after completing the course, she was offered the amazing opportunity of a full scholarship to study civil engineering in Australia.

At just 21, with her parents blessing, Oliva packed her bags and travelled to Australia to begin a new chapter at the University of New South Wales. It was a choice that would change her life and career.

She graduated with honours in civil and environmental engineering in 2002 and went on to spend a decade working as a structural engineer, contributing to major infrastructure and building projects. She worked on were the M7 Motorway, One Shelley Street, King Street Wharf and the innovative Diagrid Constructed Building in Sydney, which later achieved a six-star Green Star“ World

Leader” sustainability rating. She was also involved in engineering work connected to Tower 5 of the New York World Trade Centre.

Even with these successful projects under her belt, Oliva wanted to go back to learning and returned to university to work on her PhD at Western Sydney University which she gained in 2009.

Today Olivia is a Professor of Structural Engineering and Associate Dean Engagement in the School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment at Western Sydney University. But while her professional accomplishments stand out, it’ s not what she is most proud of, it’ s her commitment to supporting others that she views as the highlight of her work.

Olivia never forgot the barriers she faced as a young student searching for opportunity. Those experiences shaped her belief that success should never be limited by background, gender or circumstance. She explained why making a difference to others was so important to her.

“ Whatever I experienced in my life, I try to help the future generations, so they don’ t have to go through the same struggles.”

One of the most powerful examples of this is the ASPIRE Program, which she founded in 2020. The initiative was designed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying engineering, architecture, industrial design,