Get to Know our Alumni: Belinda Teh

Bachelor of Computer Science 2013

Belinda was involved in almost every activity or society you could imagine during her time studying Engineering at UNSW. As a member of the Robocup team and rUNSWift, Belinda competed in the world championships in Turkey, Mexico and Brazil, where her team won first place.

Immersed in robotics during her degree, Belinda now works with them in her role at X, the Moonshot Factory in Silicon Valley. She’s part of a collective of entrepreneurs and inventors who create technology designed to improve the lives of people across the world.

We spoke to Belinda about her time at UNSW Engineering and her advice to future Engineers.

Where has your career taken you?

I've worked for start-ups and big companies across the world, but now I've found myself in Silicon Valley working in robotics at X, the Moonshot Factory. It's exciting to be on the cutting-edge, knowing your work is going to make a big impact on society.

I work in a startup-like group within X with audacious goals. It's inspiring to work in this environment with dedicated colleagues and cool robots.

Why did you choose to study a Bachelor of Computer Science at UNSW?  

I wanted work in a field that’s practical and related to maths and science and I enjoyed computers. As the top university for computer science and with scholarships to support me, UNSW made sense. Visiting UNSW Computer Science Engineering's exciting robotics exhibits sealed the deal. I knew robotics was what I wanted to work on.

What is the most valuable thing you took away from your time at UNSW?

Studying computing at UNSW offered countless opportunities. I gained industry experience at Atlassian, Fairfax Digital, Shoes of Prey and Microsoft and built up leadership skills on the executive committees of student societies including CSESoc, CSE Revue & Robogals.

I travelled to Turkey, Mexico and Brazil as part of my RoboCup research and to America for summer interning and international exchange. This widened my view of the global nature of our industry and how to work across different cultures and extended my network across the world.

How has the hands-on experience you received at UNSW helped in your current role?

Joining the Robocup team, I got to work on several robotics areas, such as motion and behaviour. It helped set me up to work in the robotics industry by giving me a taste of research and what it's like to work among unknowns. Being part of the team taught me how people can succeed together, which has been useful throughout my career.

What advice would you give someone considering an Engineering degree at UNSW?

Go and get the hands-on experience UNSW offers. Be open to opportunities and try as many different things as possible. Don’t worry about figuring out what you want straight away - narrowing out the things you don’t like is still a step in the right direction.

How will the engineers of tomorrow be able to shape the industry?

Engineering is more than just logical thinking or building something, it stems from innovation. Diversity and inclusion are crucial to filling that idea pool and creating solutions that benefit everyone. New engineers can help us by championing diversity from the start.