Alumni Spotlight: Thurston Bandala

Curiosity as a starting point

For Thurston, the path to engineering didn’t begin with a single defining moment, but with years of curiosity. Raised in an environment that encouraged asking questions and seeking answers, he spent a lot of his childhood watching documentaries from National Geographic, Discovery, and CNN Travel. 

These experiences helped shape a fascination with how the world works, eventually leading him toward engineering. “Engineering was the field that allowed me to answer many questions I had growing up”, he says.

A World Beyond the Classroom

Thurston studied at UBC’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna, BC, where the smaller campus made it easy to walk between classes and to his apartment on top of Academy Hill. When he wasn’t hitting the books, he took full advantage of the Okanagan lifestyle by skiing at Big White.

He had many great memories from his time at university. But the most memorable and unforgettable, which he jokingly calls his “Roman Empire”, was his Go Global exchange semester.

Thurston attended classes at the Technical University of Berlin, an opportunity that allowed him to combine academics with extensive travel across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. “I got to live out all the CNN Travel documentaries in person!” The exchange proved to be a formative experience, shaping not only his worldview but also how he approaches his career.

Preparing for a Multidisciplinary Career

He credits UBC’s diverse learning and educational programs, specifically the co-op program and Go Global, in helping him build a toolkit that prepared him to excel in the world of professional engineering. 

I have been well-equipped to address some of the biggest challenges the energy industry encounters in the face of geopolitical and economic changes.

Today, he works at Lauren Services as a Mechanical Engineer-in-Training (EIT) and a Project EIT, contributing to projects that encompass mechanical, electrical, civil, and instrumentation scopes.

The Power of Communication

While technical skills are essential, Thurston emphasizes that communication has been the most valuable skill in his career. “Being clear, direct, and respectful, with a cheerful tone, has helped ideas flow more efficiently,” he explains. This approach has allowed him to create an inclusive environment for discussions, agreements, and disagreements.

His global travel experiences have further strengthened this ability. Working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, he has found that understanding different perspectives leads to clearer communication, more effective collaboration, and stronger teams.  

Wearing Many Hats at Lauren

What Thurston enjoys most about working at Lauren is the opportunity to learn across disciplines. Despite having a mechanical background, he’s been trusted with responsibilities that extend beyond traditional role boundaries. 

He’s led technical evaluations on different instrumentations, completed cost estimates, and procurement lead times, letting him explore areas spanning mechatronics, electrical engineering, and project management. 

Given the opportunity to wear many hats and learn from the diverse range of roles and tasks in my early career has been the best part about working at Lauren.

Advice for Students

For current students, Thurston encourages making full use of the opportunities available at UBC.

“Attend the co-op info session and the exchange program info session. Go do that thing that you find value in – for yourself and for your potential career.” 

He cites UBC's Motto, Tuum Est – It is yours – as a reminder that students should take ownership of their education and experiences. “It is yours to go do and live out the experiences you want to live out and learn from.”