Goran is an Associate Director and the Market Sector Leader Residential & Hotels in our Sydney office.
He’s a hydraulic and fire services consultant with a proven track record of delivering complex projects under budget and ahead of schedule. Goran possesses a substantial body of knowledge as subject matter expert in hydraulic and fire services with extensive experience in commercial, rail, retail, education, research facilities, health and accommodation projects.
Here, Goran reflects on innovative hydraulics engineering, the professional legacy he wants to leave and one of his career highlights, delivering hydraulics engineering on one of Australia’s most significant projects, the Australian War Memorial redevelopment in Canberra.
What inspired you to become an engineer?
I was always curious about how things work underneath the surface, and I was interested in buildings and construction from an early age.
Why hydraulics engineering?
Because it involves the design of vital building services and is associated with the safety, health and amenity of the occupants.
What’s your career highlight project?
The Australian War Memorial Redevelopment is one of my career highlight projects.
Tell us about the hydraulics engineering on this project.
This project involved some challenging and very interesting infrastructure solutions, including some high efficiency roof drainage systems.
What innovative new approaches are you seeing when it comes to hydraulics engineering?
An increased focus on the use of more sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems, such as air-to-water heat pumps for hot water generation, along with preventative maintenance systems, is among the innovative approaches that have been broadly taken up by the industry in recent times.
If you’ve worked across regions or countries, and/or across Tetra Tech operating units, can you tell us about the key similarities and differences you’ve encountered when it comes to hydraulics engineering and your projects?
With regards to working across different regions, performance, safety in design, maintenance and sustainability are the common main drivers. Local authority and code compliance requirements vary; however, the main objectives are very similar.
Where do you see the future of hydraulics engineering heading?
I see hydraulic engineering being integrated in smart building systems for better monitoring, performance tuning and maintenance.
What legacy do you want to leave, when it comes to your career?
Hydraulic services engineering, similar to any other building services discipline, is about the people more than the buildings. I would like to believe that I have made a lasting, positive impact on the career development of young engineers who followed in my footsteps.
For young engineers: What is it like to be a young engineer in hydraulics engineering?
It is a dynamic and rewarding career path, with exposure to a wide variety of projects.
If you feel comfortable to do so, tell us a bit about your background (culturally).
I was born and raised in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is a small country in southeastern Europe, and I am a first-generation immigrant in Australia.
How does diversity of background and thought influence how you deliver your projects?
I thoroughly enjoy working with professionals from different backgrounds. As for my own background, Bosnians commonly feel compelled to lend a hand and help others, which, I believe, has given me a good predisposition for teamwork and a successful career path in engineering consulting.
Tell us a bit about good hydraulics design for a high rise development. What are the key considerations?
The key consideration for a good hydraulic design is efficiency. A good hydraulic design will be optimised in terms of materials, space, energy and water usage, while achieving optimal performance for best possible amenity and longevity of the system. Integration with architectural design and interface with other engineering disciplines are also crucial, in addition to compliance with regulatory requirements.
