As part of a series profiling people of influence from across Beca, we sat down with senior associate in our water engineering team, Hong Yip Ng, to explore her career journey and life in Adelaide.
What does life in Adelaide look like for you?
I didn’t always plan to build a life in Adelaide, but somewhere along the way, it became home.
I originally came to Adelaide as an international student from Malaysia and always thought I’d leave after finishing my degree. But I ended up starting my career here, and over time, opportunities kept coming.
Now, nearly 20 years on, it’s where everything is - my work, my family, my friends.
I’m married to an Aussie, my kids were born here, and most of my close connections are here too. It feels more like home than anywhere else.
What I really value is the balance. Adelaide gives me space to grow professionally, while still having time for life outside of work. There’s less of the rush you see in bigger cities, and that makes a real difference day to day.
How did your career path lead you here?
Honestly, there wasn’t a plan.
I often describe myself as a “mixed bag of lollies” because I’ve tried a bit of everything along the way.
I started with a civil engineering degree at the University of Adelaide and went into footing engineering (structural/geotechnical) during a downturn in the market. From there, I moved into structural work, land development, and eventually found my way into the water industry through a major desalination project in South Australia.
One of the biggest turning points came after I returned from maternity leave. I applied for a senior engineer role and ended up being offered a team manager position instead.
I was completely terrified at the time because suddenly I was leading a team of nearly 10 people.
But that experience taught me a lot. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and shaped how I think about leadership and growth. From there, I went on to lead larger teams, including at SA Water.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: there’s no blueprint. I’ve just focused on what’s next and how I can keep learning.
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you be doing?
When I was younger, I actually wanted to be a doctor.
At the time, I didn’t fully understand why, but looking back, it’s because I wanted to help people and solve problems.
That’s still what drives me today.
Whether it’s engineering or medicine, it’s about finding solutions, understanding a problem and figuring out how to make things better.
What has your experience been like as a woman in engineering?
Being a female engineer, and an Asian female engineer, you do stand out at times.
That said, I’ve seen the industry change a lot over the years. There’s more awareness now and more effort to encourage diversity, which is a really positive step.
But I still think we need to do more to challenge stereotypes, such as what people think an engineer “should” look like or sound like.
For me, it’s not just about gender diversity. It’s about diversity of thinking, backgrounds and perspectives. The more we showcase different types of people, the more we create space for others to see themselves in the industry.
What drew you to Beca, and what keeps you here?
After spending time at SA Water, I wanted to come back to consulting and reconnect with my technical roots. I also felt I could bring more value to clients by understanding both sides of the fence.
What attracted me to Beca was the opportunity to build something. At the time, the Adelaide presence was quite small, and I liked the idea of being part of that journey.
What’s kept me here is the people.
There’s a real sense of accessibility – you can reach out to anyone for support, and no one makes you feel like you’re just a small part of a big machine.
That connectedness, combined with the depth of technical expertise across the business, makes it a really rewarding place to be.
You’ve worked on some pretty big projects across South Australia, which one are you most proud of?
Earlier in my career, it was about the tangible things, like seeing something built and knowing I played a part in it.
These days, I’m most proud of the people side of the work.
Being able to support others and helping engineers grow, develop and step into new opportunities has been incredibly rewarding.
I’m also proud to have contributed, even in a small way, to the broader development of South Australia. When you look at how much has changed over the past 20 years, it really has been a collective effort across the industry.
And more recently, I’m proud of how far Beca has come in Adelaide. We’ve built a strong presence, and people know who we are now.
What keeps you busy outside of work?
My kids, without a doubt.
They’re at that stage now where they don’t need you as much physically, but they need you more emotionally, which is a different kind of commitment.
I’m really conscious of being present for them, especially after times in my career where I felt like I missed a bit of that.
I also try to look after my own wellbeing by implementing movement into my day, whether that’s walking or doing some weights at home. It’s easy to overlook, but it does make a difference.
Tell us more about your kids
My daughter Audrey is heading into her teenage years, and my son Oliver isn’t far behind.
What I find interesting is how they see my job.
During COVID, when I was working from home, they said, “Mum, you just talk all day.”
More importantly, they don’t see my role through a gender lens. To them, I’m not a “female engineer”, I’m just an engineer.
And I think that’s a really good thing.
Finally… we have to ask, Adelaide Crows or Port Power?
I still don’t fully understand footy, even after years of taking clients to games.
But if I have to choose, I’ll say the Crows… mainly because it feels like the safer option!
