Society of Automotive Engineers - Australasia's Vehicle Technology Engineering Magazine July 2017. Member Interview with Daniel Stojanovski Pages 36-37.

1. Member
Interview
Tell us about yourself.
I am a 26-year-old professional,
now living in Melbourne after
growing up and studying in
Newcastle. I am very fortunate as
both my personal and professional
career have taken me abroad, from
ski seasons in Colorado (USA)
to interning with Tesla Motors
(Netherlands).
My engineering career started
before I was born. My father
is a passionate motor-vehicle
mechanic, running his own
business in Newcastle. This
fostered my love of learning 'how
things work'. Growing up with this
made the prospect of studying a
mechanical engineering degree
with a double degree in business
an easy decision!
After completing my final-year
project as team leader of the
University of Newcastle’s Formula
SAE-A Team (NU Racing) in
2014, I still had some subjects
left to complete. Needing a new
environment and challenge after
an intense year, I decided to finish
off my degree at the University of
Leeds in England.
There, I lived on campus with
a group of students from all
different continents and got to
explore another side of the world
for the first time. Plans to travel
after completing my degree was
shortened following my accepting
an internship at Tesla Motors in the
Netherlands.
Returning to Australia after being
away for a year, I was lucky enough
to be offered a position in another
city I had never been to, Melbourne!
I am currently working as a Design
Release Engineer within the
accessories team at GM Holden,
where I work with an experienced
team on a diverse portfolio of
projects.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about building
strong relationships and
keeping an open mind when
approaching new situations. I enjoy
anything active, such as skiing,
mountain-bike riding, going to
the beach, and I’m currently into
acroyoga! Creatively, I love doing
landscape photography.
What has been your connection
with the SAE-A?
My introduction to SAE-A was
through the Formula SAE-A
program. When I was a first-year
student in Formula SAE-A, I looked
up to my peers who were in their
final year of their degree and was
amazed at what they had built.
However, I did feel intimidated
getting involved in technical
matters. With this in mind, as
leader of the team in 2014, I tried
changing the culture by involving
everyone in a way that would set
the team up for the future. SAE-A
also supported me when I was
successful in applying for the
FISITA Travel Bursary Scholarship.
What has been one of the most
rewarding moments in your
career?
When I accepted positions at
Tesla Motors and GM Holden I
felt extremely proud of what I had
achieved and how it would make
my family feel. I could imagine my
parents explaining to friends where
I was in the world and what I was
doing.
Daniel
Stojanovski
with
36 July 2017
Society News | Member Interview

2. My father started as an apprentice
at a Holden dealership in
Newcastle and my brother Mitchell
is currently an intern in the body
engineering team.
As Holden encourages us to get
involved in company activities, a
highlight was volunteering with the
engineering team at the Hamodava
cafe in the Melbourne CBD, where
we provided meals for people in
less fortunate situations.
Furthermore, I had the opportunity
to mentor primary school students
in the RACV Energy Breakthrough
competition last year.
What are your career
aspirations?
It is exciting to be involved in the
automotive industry in a radically
shifting period, as no one has an
answer for what mobility is going
to look like in the next five to ten
years. With the shift in Australia
away from manufacturing, we still
play a key role in implementing
technological strategies into the
future. One day I hope to be leading
a team that is reflective of what I
did in Formula SAE-A.
Any inspirational figures in your
life?
Besides the common Elon
Musk and Steve Jobs in the
entrepreneurial world, an
inspirational figure to me is David
Heinemeier Hansson (DHH) as
he created a new programming
language, races in Le Mans, and is
an aspiring photographer!
What are some of the key
lessons you have learnt over the
years?
In Formula SAE-A you may think
you are up against challenges
that only apply to you and your
situation, but you then learn that
the problems you are faced with
occur in whatever scenario you are
in.
Work hard and put yourself in
uncomfortable situations. It is
highly unlikely you are going to get
that 'dream job' coming straight
out of university along with every
other student with the same
qualifications as you.
University teaches you to learn.
You don’t need everything figured
out. Take risks.
37VTEwww.saea.com.au
Society NewsMember Interview |