What’s it like to spend a few months working with colleagues halfway across the world? Hear from Peiqi Yeo, Senior Coastal Engineer, who recently returned after a Global Mobility Scholarship at DHI’s office in Italy.

What was your Global Mobility experience like, and what were you most looking forward to before heading to Italy?

The exchange was memorable, offering the opportunity to live and work abroad for a few months while learning from talented experts in our Italy office. What I was most looking forward to was finally meeting in person the colleagues I had been working with remotely. I was also eager to immerse myself in the local culture, from enjoying authentic Italian food (and wine!).

Adding an unexpected twist to the journey, the conflict in the Middle East escalated just before my departure, causing significant flight disruptions. Navigating the uncertainty, exploring alternative routes and adapting plans at short notice was unforgettable.

How has the experience helped you grow, both professionally and personally?  .

It was eye-opening to learn about the hydrodynamic conditions in another part of the world. Compared to the Mediterranean Sea and many other regions, Singapore generally experiences more sheltered wave conditions, which can lead to different engineering considerations and design assumptions.

I enjoyed learning from our colleague about the various names and directions of the local winds in Italy. Another fun fact I learned during the exchange was that the deepest part of Lake Como is actually deeper than the Singapore Strait!

Experiences like these broadened my perspective on both the technical and environmental diversity of water systems around the world, while reinforcing the importance of understanding local conditions in our works.

Was there a moment during your time in Italy where you felt particularly proud of your work or contribution?

Working on climate adaptation projects in Singapore, I had always wanted to visit Venice, a world-renowned example of coastal resilience. And I finally did!

During the trip, a local asked me, ‘What do you do?’ I felt proud to share that I work for a company that contributed to the MOSE flood barrier system, including providing 24/7 operational forecasting support.

It was especially meaningful because I just had lunch with the lead modeller behind the system not long ago! A reminder of how closely connected we can be and how our projects that make real-world impacts over the world.

Beyond the technical side of things, what was one of your fondest memories from your time in Italy?

One of my favourite memories came from a simple informal exchange. I brought kaya, Singapore’s traditional coconut jam, for my Italian colleagues and shared how it is typically eaten on toast for breakfast. The next day, one colleague tried it with Greek yogurt, and it worked surprisingly well.

A familiar Singaporean flavour met an Italian breakfast staple, creating something neither side had considered before.

This experience reinforced the value of international collaboration, not only in complementing skillsets for project delivery, but also in broadening perspectives, encouraging openness to new ideas, and enabling innovation. Through discussions on assessment methodologies and the ways we apply our software in different contexts, we identified differences in practice and explored new possibilities.