From smart devices to smart decisions: Hengameh’s global journey to the Port of Brisbane
When Hengameh Zabihi moved to Australia in 2019, she was exploring a new country, a new culture, and new possibilities. Two years later, she landed at the Port of Brisbane as an Information Analyst. Since then, she’s become an integral member of the Technology team, helping shape how the Port uses data to make smarter, more informed decisions.
Hengameh's role is all about understanding how the data the Port collects is managed and how it can be leveraged to support better business outcomes. From building dashboards to turning raw data into insights, she’s at the core of the Port’s digital transformation.
A global path to data
Hengameh grew up in Iran, where she completed her Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Information Technology Engineering. Her curiosity about people and technology led her to South Korea, where she began a PhD in Human Computer Interaction. She also spent time studying in Japan, diving deeper into how human behaviour can be influenced by smart device use.
“I was researching how students’ quality of life could be interpreted through their interaction with technology and how things like sleep patterns, app usage and movement data could help us understand a person’s stress and wellbeing,” she explains.
This wasn’t just academic theory; it was applied research, using real-world data to uncover meaningful patterns. That same mindset – curious, analytical and human-centred – is what Hengameh brings to her work at the Port today.
“The role aligned perfectly with my skills,” she says. “It felt like a natural next step.”
Bringing research into practice
Since joining us in 2021, Hengameh has been a driving force in the Port’s digital evolution – building dashboards, cleansing data and transforming information into smarter, more data informed solutions.
According to her Manager, Enterprise Architect, Irving van der Merwe, Hengameh is a quiet achiever who has produced high-quality data-driven outcomes across various areas of the business.
“These outcomes have had a significant impact on how these business units value data and use it to make informed decisions,” says Irving.
One of Hengameh’s proudest achievements is the creation of the Sustainability Dashboard, an internal platform used to track data.
The dashboard provides real-time visibility on sustainability data, tracking air quality, water, power and solar, and is an invaluable tool for the wider team to track consumption and sustainability targets.
“It was part of a broader initiative to build a modern data platform,” says Hengameh. “The dashboard helps us monitor our environmental impact and has even received industry recognition.”
Hengameh also helped replace the Port’s trade system, ensuring a smooth transition for users and maintaining the integrity of reporting and analytics.
“It was a big project,” she says. “I’m proud that we made it seamless for the business.”
Growing with the Port
For Hengameh, the Port of Brisbane has been more than just a workplace; it’s been a place of growth.
“This is my second job in Australia, but it’s the one that’s shaped me the most,” she says. “Here, I’ve grown both personally and professionally.”
She’s mastered new tools, pushed her technical skills to a whole new level and is now exploring AI models, bringing her back full circle to her research roots in machine learning and behavioural analytics.
But it’s not just the work that’s made a difference. It’s the people.
“Our team is incredibly supportive,” she says. “We help each other, learn from each other, and genuinely care.”
That culture of care extends beyond the office. Hengameh speaks warmly about how colleagues have supported her through personal challenges, checking in and offering help when she needed it most.
“It feels like a family,” she says. “People are interested in who you are, not just what you do.”
Looking ahead
As the Port continues to evolve, Hengameh is excited to keep growing with it. She’s particularly keen to explore the emerging AI space and find ways to turn data into even smarter, more sustainable solutions for the Port and its customers.
When asked to sum up her experience at the Port, Hengameh doesn’t hesitate.
“It’s been rewarding,” she says. “I’ve learned so much, and I’ve felt supported every step of the way.”
From Iran to Brisbane, from academia to industry, Hengameh’s story is one of courage, curiosity and connection. And at the Port of Brisbane, she’s found a place where her skills and her story aren’t just valued – they’re helping to shape the Port’s future.