Sinewadaeia Ovens

Born in Papua New Guinea, Sine moved to Australia alone at just 14 to live with her grandparents in Mandurah, driven by her family’s belief in the power of education. Inspired by her mother’s community’s struggle with clean water access, she pursued a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering at Murdoch University. 

After beginning her career as a data analyst at Water Corporation, Sine made a bold switch to hands-on operations, joining Alcoa in 2021 as a Powerhouse Controller Trainee. Completing the two-year traineeship in just 12 months, she quickly rose to Senior Power Station Controller at Kwinana, earning multiple high-risk licences and recognition for her leadership and initiative. In 2025 she was selected as one of only a few controllers to relocate to Wagerup, a reflection of her technical capability and leadership. Now based at Wagerup, Sine leads improvement projects that enhance safety and efficiency, from redesigning oil-storage systems to digitising manual data processes. 

A passionate advocate for safety, inclusion and continuous learning, Sine champions practical innovation through initiatives like the GOODWORK Design Powerhouse program, implementing solutions that reduce risk and streamline work. As a mentor in Alcoa’s Trainee Development Program, she supports new operators to build confidence and technical capability. Her journey from trainee to leader reflects excellence and a commitment to lifting others.