Miriam Bergqvist in Australia
We’re featuring alumni around the world from A-Z and, for our first stop, we’re in Australia with Miriam Bergqvist, an environmental engineer.
Hi Miriam! What country are you currently living in, and what motivated your decision to move there?
I currently live in Brisbane, on the stunning eastern coast of Australia. I love travelling and always dreamt of living abroad; so, when my partner was offered a research position overseas, we decided to take a thrilling leap of faith and dive into the adventure of experiencing life in a different country.
I haven’t looked back once! Australians are unbelievably friendly, and the work-life balance here is nice.
Can you describe a typical day in your life?
On a typical workday, I start my morning with a refreshing bike ride along the Brisbane River to the centre of Brisbane where my office is located. After arriving at work, I dive into meetings where we discuss the progress of our projects. Some days, I get to drive to one of the sites I helped design for a site inspection. The current sites are about an hour’s drive away, but the journey is absolutely beautiful! They’re located in a region aptly named the Scenic Rim, and it truly lives up to its name.
In the evenings, I usually go rock climbing with my friends, which is always a blast. On the weekends, I often go camping, surfing, mountain biking, or "bushwalking" (as hiking is called here). I generally spend a lot of time outdoors - the weather in Brisbane is fantastic and allows for outdoor activities all year round.
How has Australia influenced your daily life?
I find that Australians get things done while not taking themselves too seriously, which creates a more relaxed work environment. I especially love the light-hearted atmosphere at my workplace, where there’s always plenty of banter and joking around. More broadly, the concept of "mateship" is something I deeply appreciate in Australia. People genuinely look out for each other, which has allowed me to relax and enjoy my work even more, despite the occasional stressful periods.
Tell us more about your current job! What does your typical workday look like?
I am an environmental engineer with WSP Brisbane’s Water Utilities Civil Team. In a nutshell, I design water and wastewater infrastructure. Recently, I completed the design of a sewer rising main and the refurbishment of a pump station, which are currently under construction. I collaborate closely with civil drafters and colleagues from various disciplines (structural, electrical, mechanical and urban planning) to provide sustainable solutions for conveying wastewater and distributing drinking water.
Were there specific courses or activities during your time at ETH that have proven to be particularly valuable for you?
More than any specific course, it’s the problem-solving approach that has stuck with me. Although I studied Urban Water Management, I’m able to work on civil engineering projects and communicate effectively with different disciplines, as well as use critical thinking.
Additionally, the emphasis on sustainability awareness that ETH instilled in me has shaped my approach to creating environmentally responsible solutions. And last but not least, the attention to detail that ETH taught me has been invaluable.
Has networking with fellow alumni played a role in your life in Australia?
Not so far, although I am eager to explore more opportunities to connect with alumni in the future. I would be delighted to connect with ETH alumni considering a move to Australia and can only encourage them to pursue this exciting opportunity!
Have you faced any challenges since living in Australia, and how have you addressed them?
Adjusting to the Australian engineering standards was challenging at first. On a completely different note, I found it difficult to adapt to the prevalence of large cars here. I’m a cyclist at heart, and urban planning in Australia prioritises cars, which is quite different from what I was used to. Due to Australia’s vast and spread-out geography, cars are unfortunately a more dominant form of transport.
How do you stay connected with ETH and your university friends?
The distance can be challenging, but I stay connected through social media and occasional calls with my friends. Meeting people from all over the world at ETH has been a wonderful experience. For instance, I was invited to an ETH friend’s wedding in India last year. The friendships I formed at ETH are strong and long-lasting.
Let’s talk favourites – what is your favourite Australian food?
Being a vegetarian in Australia hasn’t exactly enlightened me about the local cuisine, which mostly revolves around barbecues (known as "barbies"), sausage rolls, and meat pies (with extra ketchup on top!). However, I do love the incredible abundance of tasty fruits, such as mangos, pineapples, yellow kiwis, and pomegranates - it pays to live close to the tropics!
Favourite Australian word?
Australians love to shorten words: "brekkie" for breakfast, "arvo" for afternoon, "servo" for service station and they also call themselves "Aussies" who are living in "Oz". But my absolute favourite is "mate", which can be slipped into almost every sentence and, in my opinion, perfectly captures how friendly and welcoming Aussies are!
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Do you want to share your life abroad with fellow ETH Alumni? Get in touch for more information on how to get involved!