Australia gets female as new head of Navy engineering

As the enthusiastic new Head of Navy Engineering, Rear Admiral Rachel Durbin wants to dismantle barriers and promote a culture of learning as well as development.

Our people’s perseverance, talent, passion, and commitment “inspire me to accomplish better with them and for them every day,” she said.

Rear Admiral Durbin wants to inspire and equip her staff to take the initiative, take on leadership roles, and contribute in ways they would not have imagined.

She added that every person could perform significantly better than they anticipate, and I am proof of that.

Rear Admiral Durbin firmly believes in the significance of leadership at all levels and asserts that soft skills like effective communication and knowing your people are essential.

It’s essential, she continued, to engage with, listen to, and motivate our employees so that they genuinely grasp the significance of their contributions.

She emphasized the value of people working hard at their passions to develop and thrive because she was up in the small rural town of Tumut.

“I’ve never considered or aspired to a profession like this. She remarked, “I assumed that was for someone bigger and better than me.

“I wanted to pursue engineering science because I loved it in high school. I merely desired to become an engineer.

Rear Admiral Durbin claimed that the mentoring culture of the Navy welcomed her early in her career.

She recalled working with our technical sailors and engineers to address issues as one of her most unforgettable experiences.

“When we combine various ideas and individuals with different methods, we function best as a team.”

Vice Admiral Durbin considered the evolution of the vast field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and the current appeal of engineering.

She remarked, “What I admire about STEM nowadays is that it gives a mixed approach.

“It’s incredibly wonderful to see how multidisciplinary teams may produce new concepts and methods of doing things or how the imaginative mind can use a piece of technology in a different context in various ways.

“I believe that our people and today’s kids have a lot of imagination and inventiveness.

“I wasn’t ever the math class leader; I’m not that guy. But if you have a creative mind, are tenacious, and have enough information, you can accomplish anything you’re passionate about,” the speaker said.