Organisations have to stop saying this is how we’ve always done it, and start asking how can we do this better, and more reliably?
Joungjan Joungtrakul
Senior Sales Executive
Smart Engineering for a Sustainable Future explores innovation in sustainable engineering and green technology. This article highlights how smart engineering drives sustainability in modern industries.
Engineering is moving from intuition to evidence. Sensors, real-time data and AI-assisted tools are reshaping how teams design, monitor and improve the spaces customers depend on every day. For the engineering function inside facilities management, that shift is not theoretical. It is already changing how decisions are made on the ground.
To mark International Women in Engineering Day, Taya Joungjan Joungtrakul, Senior Sales Executive in the Engineering Solutions OPEX team, shares her perspective on smart engineering, sustainability and the skills the next generation of engineers will need.
Recently named Renewable Energy Prominent Woman 2025 and a speaker at the 4th Solar Energy Storage Future Asia 2025, Taya works at the intersection of customer operations, clean energy and digital tools, a vantage point that gives her a practical view of where the profession is heading.
What has been your proudest achievement in your engineering journey so far?
Being named Renewable Energy Prominent Woman 2025 and speaking at the 4th Solar Energy Storage Future Asia 2025 stand out. Both gave Taya a platform to advocate for women in the green sector, particularly solar.
“It felt like a meaningful affirmation of the journey, and a reminder of why this sector matters. I’m more energised than ever to contribute to the clean energy transition towards Net Zero.”
How has your engineering work created value for customers, your organisation and society?
Taya’s team develops smart IoT sensor solutions and in-house monitoring dashboards, adapted to each customer’s requirements. The same tools are used by the operations team every day, which keeps the solutions grounded in real conditions.
“We don’t guess what customers need. We work through the same pain points ourselves. That’s what keeps the tools practical, not just high-tech.”
How can smart engineering help build a sustainable future, and how should organisations prepare to get there?
For Taya, smart engineering shifts decision-making from intuition to evidence. With IoT sensors and real-time data, resources can be managed with precision, whether water, electricity or waste. The technology is ready; the harder part is cultural.
“Organisations have to stop saying this is how we’ve always done it, and start asking how can we do this better, and more reliably?”
How are innovations such as AI and automation transforming the way engineering teams work?
AI absorbs repetitive work, such as data entry that once took days, and gives engineers their time back. The value isn’t in replacing engineers, but in freeing them to focus on bigger problems, like greener cities and cleaner environments.
What role does engineering play in reducing energy use, lowering carbon emissions and supporting Net Zero goals?
From electric vehicle batteries to wind turbines, solar PV systems and smart monitoring, engineering is what turns climate ambition into measurable outcomes.
“Net Zero won’t be reached through ambition alone. It will be reached through design, data and disciplined execution.”
Can you share an example of a project that improved efficiency or energy savings for a customer?
At Harrow International School, a campus of more than 1,500 students, Taya’s team installed an energy monitoring system with real-time reporting. After an initial analysis, the team focused on five high-consumption areas, including the Sports Hall, and replaced older lighting with LEDs.
The outcomes:
- Electricity consumption in targeted areas reduced by 50%
- Lux levels improved by 50%
- Better visibility and a more comfortable environment for students and staff
In your view, how will smart buildings and smart data centres contribute to a better world in the long term?
Taya sees future buildings behaving more like living systems, capturing rainwater, generating solar power and reusing heat from computers to warm nearby homes.
“They won’t just be places where people work. They’ll be part of a healthy, breathing city that gives back to the environment.”
How do you prepare and develop your team for the era of digital engineering?
Taya’s approach is built on curiosity and psychological safety. Her team is encouraged to try new digital tools, and to make mistakes along the way, because that’s how confidence is built.
“It’s not just about knowing how to code. It’s about being comfortable with technology and staying flexible as it changes.”
Which skills should the next generation of engineers focus on developing over the next five years?
Strong technical foundations are no longer enough. Three areas stand out:
- Data literacy; interpreting, cleaning and applying data with confidence
- Systems thinking; understanding how one component affects the wider ecosystem
- Soft skills and ethics; communicating the ethical implications of AI as clearly as the code behind it
“The future of engineering is technical, but it’s also deeply human. The next generation will need both.”
Taya’s perspective reflects that the engineering profession is heading towards technical depth paired with curiosity, data discipline paired with human judgement, and ambition paired with the operational rigour to deliver it. In addition, smart engineering, in her view, isn’t a destination. Instead, it’s a way of working that keeps customers, communities and the environment at the centre of every decision.
As more women step into engineering and clean energy leadership, voices like Taya’s help shape what the next chapter looks like; practical, evidence-led, and grounded in the belief that better systems build a better world.