Sagun Kafle

Engineering Graduate
Masters of Engineering (Civil)

Not many first-year graduates have the opportunity to support a contract that provides services to 49 government agencies across an entire state. Following that with a rotation in telecommunications and then into Transport, Engineering Graduate Sagun Sharma Paudel Kafle will certainly have a lot of great experience to add to her resume by the end of her two year stint at Ventia.

After discovering Ventia through the GradConnect website, Sagun was immediately drawn to the graduate program. Though unfamiliar with the company at the time, the opportunity to rotate across multiple business areas was a major attraction. “I like that we get to work in rotations and have the ability to learn which areas we are interested in,” Sagun shared.

She began her first rotation in Ventia’s largest sector, Defence & Social Infrastructure (D&SI), where she worked on the Across Government Facilities Management Arrangement (AGFMA) contract in South Australia.

In this role, Sagun helped manage assets across government facilities from hospitals to schools to law courts and office buildings. She attended workshops, updated contractor information, and most excitingly she was able to visit a variety of sites to see our teams in action and engage with key stakeholders.

Her second rotation took her into the Telecommunications sector, where she joined the Specialised Coverage Solution (SCS) team in South Australia. The SCS team delivers tailored mobile coverage solutions ensuring reliable connectivity in complex environments such as hospitals, tunnels and stadiums.

“Telco was completely new for me. The terms and processes were totally different,” she admitted. Despite the initial learning curve, with strong support from her manager and colleagues, Sagun embraced the challenge, gaining skills in customer management, reporting, and deadline coordination.

In their second year, graduates undertake a full 12-month rotation. Joining the Transport sector in January, Sagun is contributing to the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) contract again in South Australia. This contract sees Ventia form an Alliance including John Holland Group, Bouygues, Arcadis, and Jacobs.

T2D is a $15.4 billion investment by the South Australian and Australian Governments and will complete the 78km North-South Corridor. This corridor is set to revolutionise Adelaide’s traffic landscape by providing a seamless, traffic-light-free route that connects Gawler and Old Noarlunga, effectively easing the city’s notorious congestion.

Sagun will participate in depot designs, engineering calculations, and project management support. “This experience is already boosting my confidence and helped me identify which areas of the business I want to explore further,” she said.

John Cowle, Sagun’s rotation manager noted that Sagun has been instrumental in developing new records and validating data for the asset management system currently in development. “Her technical abilities support her well in framing the output of her work.”

A standout aspect of the graduate program for Sagun has been the strong sense of community. Although the only graduate based in Adelaide, she’s travelled interstate for workshops and built lasting connections with her cohort. “Everyone is super friendly, it’s nice having people I can relate to in a corporate environment,” she noted.

As a working mum, Sagun’s journey through the Ventia Graduate Program has been both rewarding and uniquely shaped by the dual responsibilities of parenting and professional growth.

“Balancing family life with a dynamic work environment has its own challenges, but Ventia has been incredibly supportive every step of the way,” she explains. The Graduate team has played a key role in this support, offering flexible work hours, remote work options, regular check-ins, and access to mentoring programs that have helped her thrive both personally and professionally.

Reflecting on her journey, Sagun shared, “I started with little corporate experience, but Ventia has helped me grow both technically and personally. My advice to new graduates? Just apply and say yes to opportunities, you never know where they might take you.”

Holly Parkin

Engineering Graduate
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Environmental Engineering

After graduating from university and taking a gap year, Holly set her sights on joining a graduate program. While she hadn’t heard of Ventia initially, her search for careers in STEM industries led her to the Ventia Graduate Program.

What caught her attention was the opportunity to complete three specialised rotations across different sectors, providing broad exposure and experience.

Holly dove into the program with her first rotation in the Transport sector, working on the North East Link project in Victoria. There, she applied her design background to help prepare and review activities in the lead up to Ventia’s tunnel operations. “It was such a cool project to work on in my first rotation—I got insight into the behind-the-scenes processes,” Holly says.

Her second rotation took her into a corporate setting with the Plant Optimisation team. With a background in environmental sustainability from her university studies, Holly focused on emissions analysis while sharpening her Excel skills. “This was an area I had never considered before, so it was cool to learn about something completely new,” she reflects.

Currently, Holly is three months into her final year of the program, working in Sustainability and Innovation, again within the Transport sector. Drawing on her past Transport experience and passion for sustainability, Holly now analyses data and identifies opportunities to reduce emissions.

"It’s a great stepping-stone for where I see myself in the future."

Saorla Finucane, Holly’s current manager, says having a graduate join the team has been a great experience. “Holly arrived with valuable insights from her previous placements in Group Plant and Transport Operations, which has helped us think more broadly about how we might continue to decarbonise within the Transport sector.”

Holly’s strong data analytics skills, developed during her university studies and now at Ventia have allowed her to make an immediate impact. She’s been supporting both sector level and contract level initiatives—diving straight into complex workstreams with confidence and enthusiasm.

“I’ve always been passionate about supporting those in their early career,” Saorla adds.

Working with Holly has reinforced that; she’s been eager to contribute and learn wherever she can. I’m really enjoying the experience of sharing my knowledge with someone so enthusiastic.

A highlight of the program for Holly has been the connections she's made with fellow grads. “It’s fun sharing experiences and super valuable for networking, learning what others are working on and what opportunities are out there,” she says. Site visits have also been a standout, including trips to Transport contracts and even a Defence base, allowing her to see the real- world impact of Ventia’s work.

One especially memorable project was the Innovation Challenge - a program where grads team up to tackle a business challenge. Over two months, Holly collaborated with her group to develop an initiative that captures ideas from leader learning conversations. Their efforts helped lead to the launch of VenSpark, Ventia’s refreshed innovation platform.

"It really helped me grow my innovation and presentation skills, and I got to connect with a broad range of stakeholders across Ventia."

As she approaches the end of her graduate journey, Holly says the program has been instrumental in shaping her early career. “It’s given me a much clearer idea of what I want to pursue, most likely in Environmental Sustainability within the Transport sector.” For Holly, the biggest takeaway has been the opportunity to explore different roles and gradually discover where her passions lie.

"There’s so much going on at Ventia and being able to learn about it all before locking into one path has been incredibly helpful."

Ricky Su

Business Graduate
Bachelor of Business, majoring in Marketing and Strategic Management

Ricky Su, a second-year business graduate, has embarked on an exciting career path, marked by an unexpected but fulfilling journey with Ventia.

Originally from New Zealand, Ricky moved to Australia in early 2025 to pursue new opportunities within the company. With a double major in marketing and strategic management from the University of Waikato, Ricky’s story is one of exploration, growth, and discovering unexpected passions along the way.

From New Zealand to Australia

Ricky’s roots lie in Hamilton, New Zealand, a small town located an hour and a half from Auckland. While studying, Ricky began exploring different career options, initially considering trade roles before diving into a business degree.

His journey with Ventia began after doing extensive research into the company, which was relatively unknown to him at the time. However, the more he learned, the more intrigued he became by Ventia’s broad portfolio of services. Ricky says one thing that drew him to Ventia was its unique graduate program offering.

“Unlike many other programs, Ventia provided diverse rotations across different sectors, allowing Ricky to experience various aspects of business management. He says this was a crucial opportunity for him to explore his options and figure out where he wanted to focus his career.”

First Rotation: Infrastructure Services

In his first rotation, Ricky joined the Infrastructure Services team, working within the growth and strategy division. The role involved exploring new business opportunities, assisting with contract management, and developing strategies to expand the company’s reach. Ricky says he appreciated the dynamic nature of the work, with new contracts and projects emerging every week.

“The cross-selling opportunities across sectors allowed me to understand how Ventia’s various business arms interconnect, which is expanding my knowledge of the industry.”

The highlights of Ricky’s first rotation included being invited to leadership meetings and a site visit to a mining project in Melbourne, an experience he fondly remembers. "It was awesome to be involved in these high-level meetings and to see the company’s work on the ground," he reflects.

Surprising Discoveries at Ventia

Through his research, Ricky learned we are a major player in New Zealand's fibre infrastructure. However, what truly surprised him was the breadth of Ventia’s work across various industries. From defence and firefighting to supporting hospitals and critical infrastructure, Ricky realized just how expansive the company’s role is in society.

"I was shocked at the wide range of services Ventia provides, from defence to helping with hospitals. It was much broader than I initially thought," he shares.

When Ricky first entered the graduate program, he wasn't entirely sure what direction he wanted to take. Ventia’s program, however, helped him gain clarity. While Ricky’s background was in marketing, he found himself drawn to the human resources side of things during his rotations. His experiences at career expos and engaging with new talent opened his eyes to the potential of HR. Despite this, Ricky ultimately decided that marketing was where his passion lay, and Ventia played a crucial role in helping him realise that.

Ricky’s current manager, Digital Marketing Advisor Sarah Norbury says,

"Having a graduate like Ricky, currently in his second-year rotation, brings invaluable experience from various sectors of the business and from New Zealand. The structure of our program, which includes three rotations, allows grads to gain diverse experiences across different locations, sectors, and disciplines—opportunities they may not find in other programs. Because of this structure, Ricky's fresh perspective has enriched our team and has been instrumental in shaping our strategies."

Through his second rotation in telecommunications, Ricky was exposed to advanced technology and cutting-edge projects. The telco space, he found, offered a world of innovation far beyond simple Wi-Fi and mobile networks.

"The work they do in telecommunications is so much more than just cell towers. They’re involved in radar technology and defence systems, among other things," Ricky explains, highlighting the vastness of our technological expertise.

Advice for Future Graduates

Looking back on his experiences, Ricky has valuable advice for anyone considering applying for Ventia’s graduate program.

"Just do it," he says without hesitation. "It's an amazing opportunity to explore different parts of the business and figure out what you want to do."

His biggest piece of advice is to not be afraid to reach out and network within the company. Ricky admits that when he first started, he was hesitant to engage with colleagues, but he quickly learned how open and supportive everyone at Ventia is.

"At first, I was nervous, but people at Ventia are incredibly welcoming. Don’t hesitate to reach out to others for help and guidance," he advises.

Memorable Moments and Pride in His Work

One of Ricky’s most significant takeaways from the program is the pride he feels in his accomplishments, particularly when it comes to his involvement with Ventia’s website and social media platforms. As part of his current role, Ricky updates project pages and news articles, helping showcase our work to the world.

"It's a great feeling to know that something I’ve worked on is being seen and appreciated by so many people.”

It’s moments like these that remind him of the meaningful impact he’s having within the company.

Ricky feels that the Ventia graduate program has shaped his early career in powerful ways. While he initially didn’t know exactly what path to follow, the variety of experiences he’s gained has helped him develop valuable skills in marketing, communications, and more.

"I’ve been learning a lot about platforms like Google Analytics and Adobe Experience Manager, which will definitely help me in the future," he says.

As for his future at Ventia, Ricky is optimistic. Although he knows there may be challenges ahead, he believes that Ventia’s diverse environment will continue to offer opportunities for growth, regardless of the specific role.

"I can definitely see myself growing with Ventia. It’s a company that offers so much diversity that even if they don’t have a specific role I want, I know I’ll be able to find another avenue to develop," he says confidently.

Looking Ahead

Ricky’s journey through Ventia’s graduate program has been transformative. From working in infrastructure services to exploring the cutting-edge technology in telecommunications, he’s gained valuable insights into different industries and discovered his true career interests.

With our supportive environment and diverse opportunities, Ricky has taken the first steps toward a promising future, one where he can continue to grow and contribute to a company that’s making a real difference in the world. His story is a testament to the power of stepping outside one’s comfort zone, embracing challenges, and seeking opportunities for growth.

Through the Ventia graduate program, Ricky is building the foundation for a fulfilling and impactful career.

Freya Olsen

Business Graduate
Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Human Resource Management and Psychology in Society

Before coming across the Ventia Graduate Program on Grad Connection, Freya wasn’t familiar with the Ventia brand. But once she saw the program’s offer of three unique rotations over two years she was intrigued, and the opportunity to relocate sealed the deal.

Graduating from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Human Resource Management and Psychology in Society, Freya dove right into her first rotation with the People and Capability team within Ventia’s largest sector, Defence & Social Infrastructure in February 2024.

During this 6-month period, Freya was able to take the lead on improving the onboarding process for our Defence business unit, manage an event for ANZAC day, refresh position descriptions and shadow key team members to enhance her learning overall.

Not only did she work on a Defence base, but she also visited 15 sites in her first year alone!

“It was awesome. I got to witness firsthand how my work was making an impact, and those visits really put everything into perspective.”

A standout moment for Freya was her involvement with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, where she submitted an application for the Veteran Employment Commitment. Thanks in part to her hard work, Ventia was awarded ‘Employer of Choice’, shining a light on the company’s dedication to supporting Veterans.

The real adventure, though, came when Freya had the opportunity to relocate from Perth to Sydney. “It was a huge decision; moving away from family was hard,” she admits.

“The support I received from Ventia was amazing, they provided me with so much help throughout the entire relocation process and checked in regularly to make sure I was settling in alright.”

Freya is currently undergoing her third and final rotation as part of the program, working within the People Services team. This team is responsible for pre-employment and onboarding, contract mobilisations, employee movements, right to work and visa compliance, global mobility and administering the Apprenticeship and Traineeship program.

Freya's manager, Programs & Governance Team Lead Jennifer Almelor highlights how the diverse rotations Freya has undertaken are setting her up for future success.

Freya has been encouraged to continually grow and share her ideas. “Freya brings with her a keen appetite to learn and grow, providing a fresh and innovative perspective to the work landscape,” says Jennifer.

“With lots more to learn about and gain exposure to within the People Services portfolio, this rotation is set to serve as a solid foundation for Freya’s professional growth and development.”

Reflecting on her role as a mentor, Jennifer notes the learnings she has gained through managing a graduate.

“By acknowledging the importance of adapting my leadership and training methods for individuals new to the corporate world, I have found that the program is a great reminder to ensure that their experience is inclusive and supporting, fostering growth and development.”

Freya says her experience in the graduate program has been a whirlwind of learning and growth. With three different rotations under her belt, she has had the opportunity to test out different areas of HR and learn how Ventia operates across a range of sectors.

“I feel like I have learned something valuable in each rotation and it’s helping me become a more effective part of my current team.”

Her advice for future graduates?

“Say yes to everything, jump in and take the opportunities and make as many connections as possible. Ventia really encourages you to get involved, take on training and step outside of your comfort zone.”

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Videos

Our Ventia Grads | 2025

Meet Hannah from Ventia's Graduate Program

Meet Zoe from Ventia's Graduate Program

Meet Kristian from Ventia's Graduate Program

Learn about past Ventia Graduate, Anastasia and her career journey

Celebrating diversity at Ventia