Starting his career journey with UGL in February 2024 as part of the CIMIC Group graduate program, Maxwell Smith has embraced his role as a commercial graduate in UGL's rail and technology systems line of business.
“I was excited to dive into an industry I hadn’t initially seen myself working in. Now, I’m grateful I did. This experience has been incredibly fulfilling.” As a commercial graduate, his role is about facilitating the day-to-day flow of projects and monitoring project progress closely to ensure everything aligns with UGL’s contracts.
Maxwell has had the opportunity to work on five projects in his first year, each presenting unique learning experiences. These include:
- BAI Satellites - to ensure continuous service, the project involved re-pointing satellite dishes across Australia as the satellite distributing ABC and SBS media content neared its end of life.
- Legacy Fire Maintenance Centre (LMC) - delivering a Building Code of Australia (BCA) certified design for the LMC Fire Engineering Works in Sydenham, New South Wales (NSW), including upgraded access roads, gates, a hydrant ring main, and improved ventilation.
- Sydney Metro Radio Communications Project – completion of essential radio system works in the city section, ensuring reliable passenger connectivity by installing and commissioning critical communications across stations and tunnels.
- Horizon Power – installation of self-contained standalone power systems across 50 sites in Western Australia (WA), with automatic power dispatching to meet demand.
- Overhead Wiring (OHW) - currently working across various OHW rail projects in WA and NSW.
The overhead wiring project stands out as Maxwell’s most impactful experience to date. “I had a more hands-on role across different parts of the project. It allowed me to dive deeper into commercial administration and understand the processes that ensure project success,” he reflects. “With fewer people working on it, I had more responsibility, which taught me a lot about the commercial space and gave me a better scope of the industry.”
Outside of work, Maxwell’s passion for sports keeps him busy. He enjoys playing and watching cricket, rugby league, and rugby union. He’s also an avid traveler, having recently explored Europe, including watching the Ashes in England and the Rugby World Cup in France.
Reflecting on his experience, Maxwell sees his time at UGL as a significant career move. “UGL has been an amazing place to start my career,” he says. “The team, the mentors, and the opportunity to work on projects like the Sydney Metro — being part of something so impactful has been amazing. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
