From Medellin to Brisbane: Embracing Opportunity Across Continents
An Interview with Natalia Vasquez, Project Controller at Hatch
Brought to you by the AACE Women in Project Controls Committee
For Natalia Vasquez, engineering was never just about numbers—it was about building connections, solving challenges, and forging new paths. Born and raised in Medellin, Colombia, Natalia’s professional journey has already spanned three countries and 16,900 kilometers (or 10,500 miles), reflecting the quiet determination and curiosity that have shaped her life from the beginning.
Early Roots and Formative Lessons
Natalia credits much of her collaborative mindset to growing up alongside her younger sister, Elizabeth. Just a year apart, the two learned to navigate life together, supporting one another through challenges, celebrating small victories, and building the trust that now defines Natalia’s leadership style.
“My sister and I always had a strong bond,” Natalia shares. “That sense of teamwork taught me to stay steady under pressure and always work toward solutions together.”
Her early interest in business was influenced by her mother, a business manager, whose work inspired Natalia to pursue a degree that combines organizational strategy with technical depth. While exploring post-secondary options, an aunt introduced her to a specialized program in productivity and quality engineering. This discipline blends engineering production methods and continuous improvement with business administration and project management. It felt like the perfect degree.
Her formal education immediately resonated. Natalia says, “It combined everything I was interested in engineering, systems, and business logic.” She enrolled at Politecnico Colombiano Jaime Isaza Cadavid, the only university in Colombia that offers this unique degree.
A Career Built on Curiosity and Courage
Natalia’s professional path in project controls began on the other side of the world in New Caledonia. This is where she started her career in document control before advancing into project controls and commissioning coordination. “I found that tracking progress, analyzing performance, and seeing how all the parts of a project fit together was the work I enjoyed most,” she says.
Following her international assignment, Natalia returned to Colombia to work in cost control before seizing an opportunity again, this time across the Pacific Ocean. In 2023, she relocated to Australia, where she currently works as a project controller for Hatch in Brisbane.
The AACE Community and Professional Growth
Although Natalia is a new member of AACE, she is an active and enthusiastic learner. “I haven’t yet attended the annual conference due to distance, but I greatly appreciate the organization’s support systems, especially the member assistance program,” she says. “I’d love to see more engagement and regional opportunities in the South Pacific. I’d be happy to support that effort here in Brisbane.”
In the meantime, Natalia actively taps into AACE’s digital resources. “The virtual library, technical resources, job descriptions, and AACE community offer so much value,” she explains. With a strong drive for self-learning and initiative, she encourages other professionals, especially those early in their careers, to explore the wide range of AACE tools to stay current, develop new skills, and deepen their expertise.
Words to Work and Live By
One piece of advice has stuck with Natalia throughout her career: “The best path to success is to avoid saying no to opportunities that align with your goals.” It’s a mindset that has led her from Medellin to New Caledonia, to Perth, and now to Brisbane—saying yes has consistently opened new doors to fresh challenges, new experiences, and growth.
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