My Professional Journey

My professional journey began in Mauritius in 1997, when I entered the engineering industry as an Apprentice Toolmaker at Barry Engineering. That first opportunity did more than introduce me to mechanical engineering—it established the practical mindset that has guided my career for more than two decades.

As an apprentice, I learned that engineering begins with accuracy, patience and respect for the manufacturing process. I developed the ability to interpret technical drawings, manufacture precision tools and fixtures, operate workshop machinery, select suitable materials and inspect finished components against required dimensions and tolerances. I also gained experience in tool assembly, equipment maintenance, fault-finding and practical problem-solving.

Toolmaking taught me to think carefully before acting. Every measurement mattered, every tolerance served a purpose and every design decision affected the manufacturing process that followed. It also taught me the importance of maintaining accurate records, communicating effectively with colleagues and following safe workshop procedures.

Alongside my apprenticeship, I studied through the Industrial and Vocational Training Board of Mauritius at the Surinam Training Centre, where I completed a National Trade Certificate Level 3 in Mechanical Engineering Craft Practice. This qualification strengthened the theoretical knowledge behind the practical work I was performing and gave me a solid foundation in mechanical engineering, machining, fabrication and workshop technology.

I later expanded my technical education by completing a National Trade Certificate Level 2 in Industrial Machine Maintenance through the IVTB. This stage of my development moved my understanding beyond manufacturing individual components and towards maintaining, diagnosing and improving complete mechanical and industrial systems.

My studies covered areas including mechanics, maintenance management, industrial electronics, information technology and machine systems. Together, these subjects strengthened my understanding of equipment reliability, fault diagnosis, preventive maintenance and the relationship between mechanical, electrical and operational systems.

During this period, I was also given the opportunity to undertake maintenance training with Air Mauritius. Working within an aviation environment introduced me to a level of precision, procedural discipline and safety awareness that had a lasting influence on my professional development.

I supported experienced technicians with aircraft inspection, maintenance and component-related work while gaining exposure to aircraft systems, wheel and brake maintenance, non-destructive testing, component repairs, specialised tools and documented maintenance procedures.

Aviation taught me that safety cannot be separated from technical performance. Even a small oversight can have serious consequences, and assumptions have no place in safety-critical work. The experience strengthened my respect for accurate documentation, regulatory compliance, teamwork, tool control and systematic inspection. These principles continue to influence the way I approach engineering, training, safety and risk management today.

In 2002, I moved to Australia and began the next chapter of my career. My first Australian role was as a Respiratory Technician at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. This position gave me a very different perspective on technical responsibility because the equipment I supported was directly connected to patient care.

Working within and around the Intensive Care Unit, I assisted with the checking, maintenance, updating and documentation of respiratory equipment, including ventilators and other essential devices. Daily equipment checks required concentration, accuracy and the ability to identify abnormalities quickly.

I understood that the reliability of each piece of equipment could affect a patient’s wellbeing. I was also involved in the cleaning and maintenance of surgical, respiratory and emergency equipment used within the ICU and operating theatre environment. This required strict attention to hygiene, infection-control procedures, equipment condition and documentation.

The experience reinforced an important principle that has remained with me throughout my career: technical work ultimately serves people. Whether the equipment is used in a hospital, aircraft hangar, manufacturing plant or classroom, engineering quality, safety and reliability have a direct human impact.

In 2003, I joined Accurate Profile in Ringwood, where I worked as a Fitter and Turner and CAD Technician. This role allowed me to combine digital design with hands-on manufacturing. I designed and developed jigs used in robotic welding processes and manufactured components using lathes, milling machines and conventional workshop methods.

This experience helped me understand the complete relationship between design and production. I could develop a concept, consider how it would be positioned and secured during manufacturing, produce the required parts and then evaluate how the finished solution performed in practice.

It strengthened my ability to bridge the gap between what appears possible in a digital model and what can be manufactured accurately, economically and safely in a real workshop.

From 2004, I continued my engineering education at Swinburne University of Technology while also working part-time in security and crowd control across Melbourne. Balancing full-time study with employment required discipline, time management and adaptability.

Although security was outside conventional engineering, it gave me valuable practical experience in public safety, supervision, conflict de-escalation, incident response and emergency awareness. Working across hotels, restaurants, licensed venues, entertainment facilities and nightclubs taught me how quickly risk can develop when people, procedures and environments are not managed effectively.

It also helped me understand the human side of safety. Technical controls and written procedures are important, but successful risk management also depends on communication, judgement, situational awareness and the ability to remain calm under pressure.

During my studies at Swinburne, I contributed to an engineering project associated with Puffing Billy Railway in Victoria. The work involved supporting the development of a hi-rail maintenance vehicle concept and converting original hard-copy engineering drawings into digital two-dimensional and three-dimensional formats.

This project gave me the opportunity to apply modern engineering design methods within a historically significant railway environment. It required respect for existing equipment while considering how contemporary design and documentation practices could support future restoration, maintenance and technical reference.

My formal engineering education eventually included an Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering. I also completed Product Lifecycle Management training using Unigraphics NX5, strengthening my understanding of integrated digital design, product development and engineering documentation.

Throughout my engineering career, I developed strong computer-aided design capabilities using Autodesk Inventor, CATIA and Unigraphics NX5. My experience with these platforms includes three-dimensional modelling, machine and product design, tooling development, technical drawings, assemblies, engineering documentation and the preparation of components for manufacturing and prototyping.

My CAD experience has always been supported by practical workshop knowledge. I do not approach design only from the perspective of how a model appears on screen. I consider how the component will be manufactured, assembled, operated, inspected, maintained and eventually repaired or replaced.

From the late 2000s, I built a diverse portfolio of engineering design and product-development work. My projects involved tooling, jigs, production components, prototypes and specialised machinery for manufacturing clients.

I delivered CAD design and prototype-development support using conventional fabrication, CNC processes and emerging additive-manufacturing technologies. These projects strengthened my ability to interpret client requirements, develop practical concepts and convert those concepts into manufacturable solutions.

From 2014 to 2016, I worked in machine design for stainless-steel tube manufacturing. This role involved designing machine systems, production components and roll-forming tooling while contributing to process improvement and equipment performance.

I used MSC Marc finite element analysis to assess structural behaviour, stress, reliability and the performance of machine components and forming equipment. I also used COPRA roll-forming software to develop tooling, model forming stages and simulate manufacturing processes.

These tools allowed me to investigate potential weaknesses and manufacturing challenges before physical production. Rather than relying solely on visual judgement, I could use engineering analysis to examine how components and systems were likely to behave under real operating conditions.

Operator safety was also an important consideration. I contributed to machine and equipment design by considering guarding, operator access, maintenance requirements and practical safety features. My workshop and maintenance background helped me recognise that machinery must be designed not only to achieve production targets, but also to support the people who operate, clean and maintain it.

During this broader period of design work, I also contributed to specialised automotive and hot-rod components. These projects frequently involved redesigning existing parts, developing customised components and combining traditional manufacturing with 3D-printing techniques.

I began incorporating additive manufacturing into prototyping and product-development work during the early 2010s. From 2017, however, it became a central part of my professional direction.

At KAD3D in Melbourne, I worked as a Mechanical Design Engineer, designing parts and products for industrial, manufacturing and educational applications. I supported projects from initial concept and digital modelling through prototyping, engineering evaluation and production-ready outcomes.

This work gave me a deeper understanding of additive manufacturing as a serious engineering process rather than simply a method for producing visual models. I worked on functional parts, customised products and complex components that required careful consideration of geometry, material selection, printing orientation, manufacturability and final application.

I also applied finite element analysis to support design integrity and performance evaluation. My engineering-analysis experience included the use of ANSYS and ABAQUS to examine structural behaviour, durability and potential design improvement.

Working directly with clients became an important part of my role. I listened to their requirements, helped them understand the realistic capabilities and limitations of additive manufacturing and developed solutions suited to their technical and practical needs.

Between 2020 and 2023, I continued building this expertise through part-time work with 3D Print Gear in Melbourne. I designed precision parts and functional prototypes using Autodesk Inventor, CATIA and additive-manufacturing processes.

I also provided CAD and 3D-printing guidance and training to teachers, technicians, students and clients. This experience broadened my role from engineering designer to consultant and technical educator.

Many people were interested in 3D printing but required support to understand how to use the technology effectively. I helped users improve their designs, select appropriate processes, operate equipment safely and avoid common manufacturing problems.

My interest in additive manufacturing also became an important area of academic research at Deakin University. My thesis focused on the quantitative analysis of 3D-printed personal protective equipment developed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research examined the performance, practicality and engineering value of additive manufacturing during a period of major global supply-chain disruption and urgent demand for protective equipment.

It explored how decentralised and rapid manufacturing could contribute when conventional production and distribution systems were unable to respond quickly enough. The study brought together mechanical engineering, product evaluation, additive manufacturing and quantitative research in response to a real international challenge.

This research strengthened my understanding of evidence-based design, product reliability, data analysis and the broader social responsibility of engineering. It also reinforced my belief that additive manufacturing is much more than a prototyping technology.

When applied responsibly, it can contribute to emergency response, healthcare innovation, local manufacturing, supply-chain resilience, technical education and community-based problem-solving.

My research, industry experience and commitment to advanced-manufacturing education ultimately contributed to the creation of ORIUS3D.

I founded ORIUS3D to provide additive-manufacturing solutions, technical support, training and educational programmes for individuals, educational institutions and industry. In developing the business, I received valuable encouragement and support from a close friend and fellow mechanical engineer associated with 3D Print Gear in Melbourne.

Through ORIUS3D, I have been able to bring together several areas that have defined my career: mechanical engineering, digital design, additive manufacturing, entrepreneurship, technical training and regional development.

My work has taken me across Mauritius, Seychelles, East Africa and the wider Indian Ocean region, where I have delivered technical demonstrations, workshops and practical engineering programmes for students, teachers, professionals and industry participants.

Through ORIUS3D, I have delivered more than 100 technical training sessions and STEM workshops and engaged more than 500 participants in additive manufacturing, CAD and applied engineering activities.

One of the most rewarding parts of this work has been my collaboration with the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre in Mauritius. I designed and delivered practical STEM workshops that introduced secondary-school students to digital design, engineering creativity and 3D printing.

Students were able to move through the complete process of developing an idea, creating a digital model and producing a physical object. Watching learners move from uncertainty to curiosity and then to confidence was deeply rewarding.

For many participants, this was their first opportunity to experience how engineering and digital technology could transform an idea into a tangible result. These workshops confirmed that education and workforce development needed to become central to the mission of ORIUS3D.

My programmes have expanded to include additive manufacturing, Arduino systems, renewable-energy concepts and applied engineering learning. I have worked with schools, universities, technical institutions and industry clients while managing training delivery, client relationships, technical support and multi-location project coordination.

My objective has never been simply to provide or demonstrate machines. I want people to understand the technology, operate it safely and recognise how it can support design, prototyping, maintenance, entrepreneurship, local production and technical education.

I am particularly interested in the potential of additive manufacturing within countries and regions where access to conventional manufacturing infrastructure may be limited. With suitable equipment, technical knowledge and training, communities and institutions can develop local solutions, reduce dependence on complex supply chains and create new opportunities for innovation.

Alongside my engineering and additive-manufacturing career, I have expanded my education into occupational health, safety and environmental management.

I completed a Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management at Australian Catholic University, followed by a Master of Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management.

These qualifications have strengthened my knowledge of hazard identification, risk management, incident investigation, regulatory compliance, safety systems, environmental responsibility, organisational culture and leadership.

My mechanical engineering background allows me to understand machinery, industrial processes and operational hazards from a practical perspective. My OHSE education enables me to examine the wider systems, management decisions and human factors that influence workplace safety.

Together, these capabilities allow me to approach risk as more than a compliance requirement. I view it as an engineering, organisational and leadership responsibility.

I am also completing a Master of Business Administration at Australian Catholic University. The MBA is broadening my capabilities in strategy, governance, markets, organisational decision-making and leadership.

It is helping me connect technical and safety considerations with commercial priorities and understand how engineering, people, risk and business strategy must work together if organisations are to achieve sustainable performance.

Technical education has become another important part of my professional identity. To formalise and strengthen my training experience, I am completing the TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

This qualification is developing my capabilities in vocational education, workplace instruction, learner support, presentation delivery, competency-based training and assessment.

It complements the practical experience I have gained through engineering demonstrations, technical workshops, STEM programmes and additive-manufacturing training. My aim is to make technical information understandable, relevant and practical for learners from different professional, educational and cultural backgrounds.

I am also developing my pathway towards professional certification in ICAM incident investigation and lead auditing.

ICAM training will strengthen my ability to investigate incidents systematically, identify organisational and human contributing factors and develop corrective actions that address underlying causes rather than only immediate failures.

Lead-auditor certification will complement my engineering and OHSE background by developing my ability to evaluate management systems, examine compliance, identify opportunities for improvement and support stronger organisational performance.

These areas align closely with a longstanding interest that has followed me throughout my career: understanding why machines, processes and systems fail and determining what can be done to prevent the failure from happening again.

Looking back, my career may appear to have moved through many different environments—toolmaking, aviation, healthcare, manufacturing, rail engineering, security, machine design, finite element analysis, additive manufacturing, research, education and occupational safety.

However, these experiences are not disconnected. Each one has strengthened the same core qualities: practical problem-solving, precision, adaptability, communication, safety awareness and a commitment to continuous improvement.

I understand engineering from several perspectives: the apprentice manufacturing a component, the technician maintaining critical equipment, the designer developing a machine, the analyst evaluating structural behaviour, the trainer explaining a process, the entrepreneur introducing new technology and the safety professional examining how a system can be improved.

Today, I describe myself as a multidisciplinary mechanical engineer, additive-manufacturing specialist and technical educator with growing capabilities in engineering risk, safety leadership, incident investigation and organisational improvement.

My purpose is to bring these areas together—to use engineering knowledge, practical experience, research, education and leadership to create solutions that are technically sound, safe, reliable and capable of delivering meaningful long-term value.