Meet Pia Nithi
What led you to a career at Duratec/ATEC?
“I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of traditional construction and its digital twin; specifically how we can bridge the gap between abstract design and physical delivery. My career has evolved from managing manual workflows to championing a data-driven approach. Currently, as a Digital Engineering Analyst within the Façade division at Atec, I lead the digitisation of our systems. A key highlight has been overseeing the digital engineering and information management for the Curtin B316 project, ensuring our technical execution is as seamless as the design intent.”
How does your role safeguard and extend asset and infrastructure?
“My work is essentially about creating a Single Source of Truth. By implementing rigorous data orchestration and clash mitigation within our Common Data Environment, I help catch discrepancies long before they reach the site. This precision doesn’t just reduce rework, it enhances the safety of the teams installing the façades and extends the long-term integrity of the building fabric. Ultimately, it’s about delivering more resilient and reliable infrastructure for the community to rely on.”
What’s your biggest professional achievement and why?
“My most significant achievement has been the development of our centralized project tracking and information management systems. Moving the team away from fragmented spreadsheets and into a transparent environment using PowerBI Dashboard has been a game-changer. It gives our leadership visibility into timelines and asset status, allowing us to proactively manage risks rather than just reacting to them. Providing that level of clarity on complex scopes like Curtin B316 has been incredibly rewarding.”
What do you enjoy most about working at ATEC?
“I love the opportunity to challenge the status quo. At Atec, there’s a real appetite for fostering lean, collaborative teams that aren’t afraid to break down departmental silos. There is a specific kind of satisfaction in taking a manual, repetitive task and using technology to automate it, freeing everyone up to focus on the work where they can add real value.”
What have you learned during your time at ATEC / what has inspired you?
“I’ve realised that true digital transformation is as much about people and culture as it is about the software we use. It’s been inspiring to watch the team embrace new tools and learn how different roles intersect across a project. Seeing a colleague grow through technical mentorship or watching a team thrive under standardised systems is easily the most motivating part.”
What advice would you give to someone starting out in their career?
“Focus on the “why” behind the process. It’s easy to learn how to use a tool, but the real value lies in understanding how that tool serves the project’s data and its real-world impact. Stay curious, learn what your teammates need, and advocate for workflows that benefit the whole group, not just your own desk. If you can find the repetitive task that no one else wants to touch and find a way to automate it, you’ll quickly become an invaluable asset.”
