A Beginning Without a Blueprint
Mary Hadjiangeli, Team Leader for Structures and Rail, was the first in her family to attend university. Structurally minded from a young age, her love of ancient history, art and problem-solving led her to engineering, the perfect intersection of her analytical and creative sides.
Day in the Life
Mary leads end-to-end delivery across complex rail infrastructure on the Sydney Metro SSTOM project. As CPS Lead for the Stabling and Maintenance Facility, she manages a team of 18 engineers, fostering strong capability and consistently high-quality outcomes.
Leadership Through People and Purpose
Her strength as a "people person," once seen as secondary, is now central to her leadership. She creates an environment where everyone can thrive, built on relatability. Early in her career, feedback felt personal and expectations were sky-high. Instead of letting these challenges harden her, Mary chose to grow through them.
Turning Setbacks Into Strength
Being underestimated as a young leader taught Mary to build credibility intentionally, through results, clarity and calm confidence. Mentors helped her refine her instincts and challenge self-doubt.
"I learned to focus on what I can control. Leadership means making tough decisions. Not everyone will agree, and that's okay."
Discipline, Strategy, Resilience
A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner of over two years, Mary credits the sport with sharpening her decision-making under pressure and embracing continuous improvement, traits that mirror leading major rail design packages.
Finding Balance
Her passion for hyper-realistic portrait drawing honed her appreciation for patience and deliberate craft.
"Quality takes time, skill and focus, just like engineering."
A Milestone Moment
Mary's leadership, technical excellence and resilience culminated in winning the Emerging Professional Award at the 2025 SJ Impact Awards, a defining moment affirming the impact she continues to make.