Meet the newest addition to our team: Fiona Wu

1. What has your career journey looked like so far, and what experiences have shaped you along the way?

I’ve always been interested in data, so during my Master’s in Computer Science I took pretty much every data, AI and machine learning course I could get into. While I was still studying, I started working at a mining technology company, doing a mix of software development and data science work. The software side helped me strengthen my engineering foundation, and the data projects showed me where my real curiosity lies. I stayed on for another year after graduating, then decided to go after a role that was more data-focused. And here I am!
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2. What interested you most about joining VAPAR, and what are you hoping to achieve in your new role?

What interested me the most was VAPAR's mission. To be honest, I’d never thought much about what’s happening underground, but the more I learnt, the more interesting it got. Our pipe networks carry stormwater and wastewater for entire cities, yet they’re out of mind for most of us until something goes wrong. VAPAR is applying AI to a very real and physical problem, and the work has a tangible impact beyond a screen. I love that VAPAR was using AI to solve real challenges long before the current AI hype. In my role, I’m hoping to keep growing my technical skills and help build a more data-driven environment.
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3. What’s one thing you love about the work you do?

I’m learning something new every day from a really talented team. Everyone is passionate about solving problems and excited by new technology, and I can really feel that fast-moving tech company energy. There’s also so much variety in the data work we do, and it’s really rewarding to see my contributions start showing up across different parts of the system.
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4. If you weren’t working in your current field, what do you think you’d be doing instead?

Probably a chemist! When I applied for uni, I filled my top preferences with chemistry degrees and put one IT option last… and of course IT was the one I got into. Some would say it was destiny! I loved chemistry back in school, but I think that curiosity about how things work just found a different outlet in tech. No regrets :)
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5. What’s something outside of work that brings you joy or that you could talk about for hours?

Travelling with family or friends, for sure! I’m not really the solo traveller type. I love exploring new places with my loved ones, leaving worries behind and just focusing on the scenery and new experiences. I also love planning trips, but some of the best moments are the ones that weren’t planned at all. I’d really love to explore Europe one day!

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