Maths and data science have led ECU grads Kira Cooper and Luke Bacich down very different paths
Kira and Luke have both had very interesting (and unique!) career journeys.
When Kira left school, she wasn’t sure what to do next. She started studying business and finance, but decided it wasn’t for her.
Ten years later, Kira returned to study maths and data science at Edith Cowan University. During her studies, she won an award for sharing her passion for STEM with high school students through the uni’s outreach program.
“I could show them that you can do what you enjoy and still find employment,” she says.
Now, Kira is in BHP’s grad program, working in the mining analytics team. Her highlight has been traveling to Singapore for a graduate hackathon.
Luke started out as a boilermaker fabricating equipment for mining companies, but he too wanted to see where maths could take him.
“I went to uni and it all fell into place,” he says.
After graduating, Luke was accepted into Bankwest’s grad program before moving into other roles, using his data and maths skills to supercharge marketing campaigns and build models for responsible money lending.
When Luke’s Bankwest manager moved to the Water Corporation WA, he recruited Luke to help protect customers from data leaks.
Both Kira and Luke say that combining maths and data science gave them a good mix of critical thinking, problem-solving and practical skills. And as we find new ways to use data, opportunities are on the rise in mining and beyond.
Kira’s study + career path
- Bachelor of Science (Applied Mathematics and Data Science), Edith Cowan University
- Vacation student, Rio Tinto
- Graduate data science, BHP
Luke’s study + career path
- Apprentice boilermaker, Aerison
- Bachelor of Science (Applied Mathematics and Data Science), Edith Cowan University
- Graduate, Bankwest
- Data engineer, Bankwest
- Analytics and modelling manager, Bankwest
- Information management analyst, Water Corporation WA
This article was brought to you in partnership with Edith Cowan University and first appeared in Careers with STEM: Maths & Data 2023.
