12 March 2026
Meet one of the success stories from Leed’s early career engineering programs.
Seth De Bono has recently been promoted from Leed’s graduate program to become a fully-fledged engineer.
Seth started out as an undergraduate with Leed back in November 2023 and has since moved up the ranks to graduate, most recently being promoted to site engineer.
‘I have been incredibly fortunate to have colleagues around me that have allowed me to take such strides, and I am looking forward to taking this skill set on site,’ Seth says.
At Leed, Seth has had the chance to gain practical experience out on site while working on the Birregurra Water Storage Tank project. The tank helps to build long-term water security for the community in south-western Victoria.
Seth says getting out on site was ‘an immensely special experience’ as up until that point, all of his knowledge stemmed from theory-based work at university.
‘Working on site allowed me to be hands-on at various stages of the job: I got the chance help with earthworks, to tie steel, help with formwork, pour concrete, and even assist with pipelaying,’ he says.
Seth has also fine-tuned his attention to detail by spending time with Leed’s estimating team, helping with the process of pricing tenders for potential future projects.
‘Every person there was helpful and insightful, their collective experience from different projects in the past was also great avenue to learn and a great reason to ask questions,’ he says.
When asked how students and new graduates can make themselves stand out in competitive graduate and undergraduate programs, Seth says curiosity and taking every opportunity to learn are key qualities.
‘Seeking advice is a really great way to start and put your best foot forward,’ Seth says. ‘Every task is an opportunity to learn and show your eagerness to improve. Asking as many questions as possible is a sure way to stand out.’
‘Working on site was a way to meet people from different industries; it was important to ask questions and understand how each process worked to come together and complete a project.’
As for people considering applying to Leed, Seth says: ‘Leed is the perfect company to dip your toe into the world of civil engineering: the work is tangible as you are provided with the chance to see a project from the start to the commissioning phase.’
‘The results are meaningful, as most of the water infrastructure projects are created for the benefit of nearby communities, and opportunities are plenty.’
At Leed we’re committed to nurturing and growing our next generation of engineers. Find out more about Leed’s undergraduate and graduate programs and register your interest at Graduates and undergraduates – Leed