Life impact

Matthias Dengler

Program Manager, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Alumni mentoring made MBA Matthias call Australia home

When German-born Matthias Dengler chose to enrol in the University of Adelaide’s MBA (Advanced) program in 2002, little did he realise how that one decision would change the course of his life.

After all, Matthias initially had no intention of remaining in Australia once his studies were completed.

Fast forward to 2010, and not only is Matthias still living in Adelaide, but he is married to an Australian, has become a father, is Program Manager of a national research flagship with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and now proudly calls Australia home.

“I came to Adelaide with one suitcase and my hand luggage – never did I expect to be living and working here eight years later,” said Matthias.

Matthias’s destiny first changed direction in 2001 when he graduated with a degree in International Business Management - East Asia from the Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences in Germany. He was awarded an MBA scholarship to study at a university abroad, as part of the German National Academic Foundation’s Haniel scholarship program.

Although he was keen to pursue his MBA in the Asia Pacific region, Matthias initially did not consider Australia on his list of preferred locations.

“I chose the University of Adelaide based on its reputation, history and comparatively good value for money, and the valuable insights I had from a friend’s friend who was studying a law degree at the University,” he said.

“The course for me was extremely positive and I thoroughly enjoyed the networking and drawing on the experience of local and international students.”

One of the conditions of Matthias’ MBA scholarship was to pursue an internship with an Australian company. Through the Business School’s Alumni Association he made contact with CSIRO Land and Water’s (CLW) Business Development Manager who, as a graduate of the Adelaide MBA program herself, was looking for a student to conduct a market research project.

Matthias conducted the supervised project on the commercialisation of a chemical developed by CLW for wastewater treatment purposes, from March to December 2003 in conjunction with the University of Adelaide’s Business School, as part of his MBA studies.

Having fallen in love with the Australian way of life, Matthias successfully applied for an Adelaide-based position as a Commercial Marketing Officer with CLW’s Business Development Unit before moving up to take on a business planning and strategic positioning role.