From Indonesia to Hong Kong, Young Engineer Finds Her Calling

Compassionate and altruistic, one energetic Indonesian HKUST BEng graduate is using the knowledge and skills she obtained at university to help change the world for the better.

Sustainability is more than a buzz phrase for Cindy Aiko Filbert TANAKA (BEng in Chemical and Environmental Engineering), who is rapidly building a career with one of the world’s leading business consultancies.

The very first year of her four-year Chemical and Environmental Engineering course sparked a passion for sustainability that has led her to advise some of the world’s leading companies as a Senior Consultant, Sustainability and Climate at leading international consultancy Deloitte.
 

“Sustainable Supply Chains: Do We Do Enough for Climate Change?” was the theme of Cindy’s fireside chat at ReThink HK 2023.	Cindy was a worthy Deloitte Hong Kong representative at the One Young World Summit 2023 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She first learnt about the pressing issue of climate change in one of her initial Chemical and Environmental Engineering classes and continued to explore and learn more about the topic, not only by taking related classes but also by joining events and gaining external experience through internships. Already keenly aware of the many ways the engineering field can make a positive impact on the world, Cindy appreciated her strengths in subjects that deal with logic and numbers such as mathematics, physics and chemistry as well as a desire to know how things work. Her long-term goal was to be able to contribute to the world in her own way, and engineering offered an ideal path for her to do so. “Engineers solve problems in the real world and that’s what initially attracted me to the field.”

Cindy concedes engineering is still a male-dominated field but is adamant women can also succeed in solving real-world problems. “Be curious and seize any opportunities offered, they will take you far – I know that from personal experience,” she advises. “Learn as well as unlearn and keep an open mind – that’s particularly important.”

Family support crucial

Determined to succeed, she drew inspiration from her parents: her father studied Electrical Engineering while her mother also considered pursuing chemical engineering before becoming a doctor.

Their example reinforced Cindy’s decision to build on her strengths in chemistry, mathematics and physics and embrace her passion in Chemical Engineering rather than follow societal expectations to take the same path as her mother. “I was lucky to have a family who always supports me and pushes me to become the best version of myself.”

That support included helping select Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in preference to her hometown Jakarta, thanks in large part to the fact that her high school had close collaborations with universities in Hong Kong. “I really wanted to do chemical engineering and HKUST at that time was the only one to offer this course, so it was an easy decision.”

Cindy was confident HKUST offered an excellent quality of education, abundant scholarship opportunities and an international community where she could broaden her horizons, confidence borne out by her first impressions as part of the Class of 2022 in the HKUST Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.

The campus was vibrant, energetic, open-minded and welcoming and she loved the energy. “HKUST students were very active in taking part in competitions and trying new things, even when we were just first-year students still trying to figure out how things worked at university.”

Stimulating, inspiring and encouraging

The academic environment proved equally stimulating and inspiring, her professors’ passion for their work developing her technical and analytical capabilities, strengthening her people skills, and helping her pursue her interests.

“The openness of the HKUST community and the vast number of opportunities that HKUST offered allowed me to engage in meaningful discussions with people with different interests and backgrounds.”

The female science and engineering faculty in HKUST was equally inspiring and encouraging, offering insightful advice and support to aspiring scientists/engineers; a striking contrast to Indonesia where men dominate the engineering field. “For me, studying in Hong Kong offers a unique opportunity to immerse myself in my passion,” Cindy admits. “I thought it would be a lonely journey, but I am glad to have met so many outstanding female scientists and engineers at HKUST.”

Many of these scientists and engineers were members of the Women in Science and Engineering Club, which Cindy joined as she wanted to help raise awareness of the big gender gap in science and engineering. “I also wanted to have a safe space and a supportive community where we could empower each other in these male-dominated fields.”

The club was one of many areas at HKUST where Cindy encountered faculty members and fellow students who were motivated in their pursuits and supported her journey towards self-discovery. “There was always something new to learn every day, not only about our world we live in but also about who I was.”

Exciting extra-curricular activities

But it wasn’t all work and no play as she found time to participate in various HKUST organizations and make lifelong friends with an exhausting array of extra-curricular activities that included becoming part of the Southeast Asian Students’ Association sub-committee and later Internal Vice President; a member of the Women in Science and Engineering Organizing Committee; the Internal Vice President of the Women in Business Society; Engineering Student Ambassador 2020-21 and Head Engineering Student Ambassador 2022-2023.

As a result of this myriad of experiences Cindy finds it difficult to pinpoint one particular thing or person that inspired her most during her time at HKUST. “Every individual I encountered and every experience I had really shaped my university life. I get inspired by my peers’ strong drive and my professors’ passion for their work.”

That said, one of the most influential people in her university life was Professor Frank Lam Leung-Yuk, Assistant Professor of Engineering Education in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, under whom she did her research projects. “He was always a very supportive figure and a great mentor throughout my four years, pushing me to do well and excel in my studies and beyond, and I am grateful to be able to call him a friend too.”

Not surprisingly, her time at HKUST was an eye-opening experience, offering countless opportunities that helped shape her as a person. “On the one hand, my engineering studies taught me about problem-solving and analytical thinking; on the other taking part in various extracurricular activities such as acting as Engineering Student Ambassador, International Student Ambassador and participating in the South-East Asian Student Association played a big role in helping me hone my communication skills that benefit me in my day-to-day work today.”

She is particularly proud of being able to give back to the HKUST community by sharing her knowledge and experience with current students, having been invited as a guest speaker for ENGG2010 Engineering Seminar Series and a panel discussion for a course of the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), which she found very rewarding.

An ideal setting for young professionals 

Staying in Hong Kong after graduation rather than return to Indonesia was an easy decision as she believes the city is a great place for young professionals to kickstart their careers offering a multitude of opportunities and exposure to global markets.

She is living proof of that philosophy, having built a career in sustainability by going with the flow and venturing into new areas. “I did my internship in an environmental think tank in my third year and decided that I would pursue this field,” she explains.

Proud to be able to contribute to society as a sustainability and climate change consultant and help businesses leave a healthy planet for generations to come, Cindy is keen to continue to explore her own areas of interest and grow further. “As I navigate my career path, I’d like to continue to explore my areas of interest and where I can grow further and make a positive impact through my work.”

Cindy spoke in a panel discussion on Youth Climate Leadership at Green Way Macao, which was organized by the EU Office to Hong Kong and Macao in November 2023.

The HKUST AIS Sustainability Seminar Series: Building Sustainability Careers in Emerging Environment Risks in April 2024 gave Cindy an ideal opportunity to share her knowledge and experience.

She is adamant that her HKUST Engineering education and experiences helped guide her career and achieve her goals. “The engineering mindset at HKUST School of Engineering (SENG) provided me with the strong analytical and critical thinking skills that I very much need in my career today,” Cindy insists. “One of the things HKUST SENG also taught me was always to be curious, find your passion and make an impact, and I’ll always hold on to those values wherever life takes me next.”