Meet the Team – Candy Lopez
Lidiar Group’s Candy Lopez has a passion for infrastructure inspired by Megastructures that has led to a career supporting the development of major resources and civil engineering projects. As Candy makes a positive impact on the projects we support, we caught up with her to learn a little more about her role, projects and interest in our industry’s move to a circular design-led path to net-zero infrastructure.
Why did you become a Construction/Engineering Professional?
When I was younger, I was fascinated with the TV series Megastructures which looked at everything from Grand Central Station to the Millau Bridge and I was inspired. I wanted to be involved in creating the types of structures seen on the show and to be part of projects that show our ability to engineer and construct amazing structures.
What do you love about our industry?
I love problem-solving and to be in our industry you must be a problem solver. We are in a state of constant innovation as we create new designs and bring them to life. It means that you never get bored, there is always a problem to solve.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on the engineering, planning, and scheduling of an upcoming gas project.
What has been your greatest professional achievement to date?
My biggest achievement was having my career and qualifications recognised in an English-speaking county. As someone who came to Australia with no connections or industry relationships having my skills recognised without the need for further assessment was a huge achievement.
What’s the best project you have worked on?
I don’t like to choose favourites because every project has is a favourite in its own way. Some have been more difficult than others but being able to overcome those difficulties and see the result of a work well executed has always been a great feeling.
What’s the most useful thing you’ve learned throughout your career?
Be flexible. We are in an ever-changing industry that is becoming more diverse regarding people and experience. So, be flexible, be open to change and never underestimate anybody or an idea.
What would your last meal be like?
I love fish and seafood my favourite is perfectly cooked salmon with crispy skin.
What is the last movie you watched or series you binged?
I’ve recently binged Manifest, a show about an airliner that disappears and reappears 5 years later. I’ve also just watched the Matrix Resurrections.
What excites you about the future of infrastructure?
I am really interested in the concept of circular design and how we can move towards net-zero projects. With new technologies, new materials, new methods of recycling and reusing waste there is a great opportunity to move to net-zero infrastructure, but there is still a long way to go as we must redesign our approaches from a traditional linear design to circular design thinking.
If you could have worked on any major project from history, what would it have been?
Any of the sustainable buildings that actually exist, maybe something like The Council House 2 in Melbourne, It has a gas-powered electricity and heat generation plant as well as solar panels and wind turbines on the roof. Or any megastructure from the TV series.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
When I am not working, I love hitting the dance floor, enjoying the amazing Australian environment, particularly the beach, or pampering myself at a spa.
What projects excite you for 2022 and beyond?
There are so many projects out there that are interesting, so I think I am more excited about projects that are taking the lead on reducing emissions, materials and waste.
What is the one piece of advice you would pass on to a project team to give their project the best chance of success?
Value your team. Projects are busy and often pressurised environments, so value your team, you cannot succeed without them.
What do you enjoy about working at Lidiar Group?
When you join a company, they talk about their culture and commitment to being a team, and the words are forgotten when you join them. At Lidiar Group it cannot be more different we have a great team to be part of and one where culture is really valued and appreciated.