Spotlight: Muhammad Bin Zia

Meet Muhammad Bin Zia, our Centre’s new Project Officer.  Muhammad coordinates projects for the Centre Operations team and supports the Centre’s Centre Chief Operating Officer, Jane Su.

Tell us something about yourself that you think few, if any, people know.

I originally trained as a food engineer and recently finished a PhD in chemical engineering. I worked on how to convert coffee waste into valuable food ingredients.

What do you love about your role with COECSI?

I love that there is always something new to deal with. I love that it helps me connect with people, support them, and help things move forward. Working with Jane, our Centre COO, makes the job even more enjoyable.

Insights into your career aspirations?

I would love to continue down this path of empowering people to do their best, whether that is in academia, research, or industry. I wouldn’t mind running an organisation one day.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Not knowing what the day might bring and where it might lead.

Favourite thing(s) to do on the weekend?

I am really into hiking or chilling at the beach with my friends – not to swim but just to watch the seagulls do their thing. Weekends are also a good opportunity for me to discover all the food that Sydney has to offer. I have never lived in a city with this much vibrancy. Lately, I have also been trying to catch up on open-world, story-rich role-playing games on my PC.

Cultural insights and what they mean to you?

Religion, rather than culture plays a big role in how I perceive myself. It helps me centre my life around principles and gives me a grounding that I can apply to many parts of my life, whether that is how I treat people or approach work.