Young South Australians are building careers while having fun – and there’s an open invitation for likeminded young people to join in the action this month.
This August, Adelaide will once again host the finish line for one of the nation’s greatest races – the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC) – which has inspired a generation of South Australians to pursue meaningful careers close to home in the defence industry.
The BWSC, renowned as the world’s greatest solar endurance race, will see 35 teams from 17 countries, regions, and economies, aiming to successfully navigate the 3,000-kilometre journey from Darwin to Adelaide powered by the sun in cutting edge, team-built vehicles.
The BWSC serves as a bridge between education and a high-tech industry, equipping participants with the experience, leadership and transferrable skills that can’t always be taught in the classroom.
Here are three South Australian graduates whose life-changing BWSC experiences have set them in good stead in their future defence industry careers.
For Nicholas Calvo, Systems Engineer at Raytheon Australia, taking part in the 2023 BWSC as the Lead Mechanical Design Engineer for the Adelaide University Solar Racing Team (AUSRT) offered a real-world problem to solve.
“Being part of the team taught me more than I could possibly learn in the classroom,” he said.
“It gets you involved in all aspects of the engineering lifecycle, whilst giving you the opportunity to work with some of the best solar racers from around the world.
“The opportunity to work with suppliers and manufacturers directly is incredibly valuable and skills I’ve already applied extensively in my job since graduating.
“Being involved in the technical side of solar racing doesn’t just make you a better engineer, but it instils a new mindset in you that makes any challenge feel like something that can be accomplished.”
At the time of the event, Nichloas was studying Mechanical Engineering with a major in Defence Systems. According to Nicholas, a proud moment was seeing the AUSRT’s car first successful test run.
“It was a surreal moment to see the team’s hard work had paid off, and I was incredibly grateful to have witnessed this moment with the team that made it happen,” he says.
Today, Spencer Olds is a Safety Engineer at Lockheed Martin Australia whose BWSC experience in 2017 took him on an adventure of a lifetime.
In the role of co-manager for the Adelaide University Solar Racing Team (AUSRT) while also studying Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Spencer credits the BWSC adventure with helping to shape his career path.
“I’ve gone from working on solar cars to integrated command and control systems key to Australia’s defence program,” he said.
“The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is unique – it brings together an international cohort and unites them through shared passion for innovation and for building a better future and takes them on a journey that pushes their limits and tests their endurance.
One of his highlights? “The Solar Challenge builds teamwork and resilience,” says Spencer. “The journey builds a set of transferable skills to take into future careers.”
As the 2023 Adelaide University Solar Racing Team’s Team Leader, Christian Sanderson credits the BWSC experience with helping his transition from university into work life.
Today as a Hardware Engineer Associate at Lockheed Martin Australia, he looks back fondly on his off-road experience through the Australian outback.
“From departing Adelaide, to arriving back one month later, to meeting so many people from around the world, learning to work in high pressure environments with a large team and pushing through one of the hardest challenges I have ever endured, it was one of the most incredible things I have ever participated in, and I will never forget the memories,” he said.
For those considering how joining in the BWSC can make a difference to a future career, Christian’s advice is not to hesitate.
“The BWSC helped me enjoy taking on new challenges and pushing myself as hard as I can go,” he said.
“The experience helped me build upon many skills and made me enjoy taking risks and never be afraid of failure, which are all skills that have helped me while transitioning from university into the workforce and are skills and values that I will continue to use.”
If you’re feeling inspired to see how real-world challenges can jumpstart your career in South Australia’s defence industry, visit the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Village at Tartanyangga/Victoria Square between 9.00am and 5.00pm from Thursday 28 August until Sunday 31 August 2025.
Get a taste of the experience had by Nicholas, Spencer, and Christian – celebrate as teams from across the world complete their remarkable 3,000 kilometre adventure, connect with teams and volunteers, hear about the adventures, get up close to the cars, test drive an EV and more!
Visit Adelaide Program | Bridgestone World Solar Challenge for more information.
Published 20 August 2025
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