Role: Associate, Structural
Location: Sydney, NSW
Casthuri Kamalaraj understands that great engineering is as much about people as it is about structures. With a rare dual background in architecture and engineering, she has built a career on finding the creative middle ground, turning ambitious design concepts into practical, buildable realities. Since joining Partridge in 2021, she has applied this multidisciplinary lens to everything from high-end residential homes and heritage restorations to the intricate, architecturally driven commercial buildings which push the structural envelope.
Her impact extends far beyond the drawing board, as Casthuri is a dedicated advocate for a more inclusive and human-centric industry. Her journey has been defined by a desire to evolve workplace culture. Having navigated the challenges of being a young female engineer from a diverse background, she is deeply committed to ensuring the industry becomes a welcoming space for all perspectives.
This commitment to paying it forward is the engine behind her extensive mentoring work. As a leader of the Partridge Intern and Graduate program, she helps students bridge the gap between university and the industry with honest insights into the profession. Her reach also extends into the broader community, where she supports women in the early stages of their careers through NAWIC and works with Sydney East Community College to help skilled migrant engineers overcome the barriers of attaining local experience. Drawing on her own family’s history and challenges she faced as a young engineer, she recognises that a small amount of guidance can be life-changing for someone establishing a career fresh from university or in a new country.
Technically, Casthuri is highly distinguished, holding a Master of Engineering Science from UNSW, First Class Honours in Civil Engineering, and a Bachelor of Design in Architecture from the University of Sydney. Casthuri enjoys understanding engineering problems through an architectural lens and finds the collaboration process in design as rewarding as seeing the final structure built. She has years of experience working in multi-discipline teams and has applied her knowledge to the innovative designs that our clients introduce on projects large and small. As a Chartered Professional Engineer, she balances her technical rigor with a focus on healthy work-life integration, believing that the most innovative engineering solutions come from a team that is as diverse and well-rounded as the communities they serve.
