Engineers Australia and the NT’s largest electricity producer, government-owned corporation Territory Generation, plan to increase the number of Indigenous and female engineers through a new $10,000 diversity scholarship program.
Mark Monaghan, General Manager Engineers Australia, Northern said that partnering with Territory Generation will help foster Indigenous and gender diversity in the engineering sector.
“Territory Generation is a highly skilled and valued energy generation company in the Territory and their values closely align to Engineers Australia’s,” said Mr Monaghan.
“Partnering with Territory Generation will further strengthen Engineers Australia, Northern’s voice going forward.
“The diversity scholarship program will help build critical capability in the industry, while supporting Indigenous and female students who are working towards a career in engineering.”
The scholarship program forms part of a new sponsorship agreement between Engineers Australia and Territory Generation.
Territory Generation Chief Executive Officer Tim Duignan AFIEAust said that Territory Generation is proud to sponsor Engineers Australia, is committed to workplace diversity and recognises the need to encourage more women and Indigenous people into engineering careers.
“The partnership with Engineers Australia aligns with Territory Generation’s values of focus, integrity, respect, safety and teamwork,” said Mr Duignan.
“The scholarship program represents an excellent opportunity for Indigenous and female engineering students to be supported into an engineering career in the Northern Territory.
“We believe the organisation’s workforce should reflect the community it serves.”
General Manager Major Projects and member of Territory Generation’s Women’s Leaders Forum Rebecca Mills MIEAust said that the engineering industry’s outcomes benefit from cultural and gender diversity.
“It is important for any profession to encourage diversity in thought, and this is achieved through the different experiences and values which people with different cultural and gender backgrounds can offer,” said Ms Mills.
“The engineering profession provides innovation and solutions to benefit the community in general, however the profession traditionally is not always representative of society and the perspectives which we are providing solutions for.
“Increasing diversity will certainly improve innovation and outcomes.”
Engineers Australia is the peak representative body for the engineering profession, representing more than 100,000 members from all disciplines of engineering, and maintains representation in every state and territory.
Engineers Australia is also represented internationally, including in countries like Timor-Leste and Indonesia which form part of Engineers Australia, Northern.
Territory Generation owns and operates power stations at Channel Island, Weddell, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Yulara, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs, employing over 200 people.
For more information on the scholarship and the partnership between Territory Generation and Engineers Australia, please contact Mark Monaghan, General Manager, Engineers Australia, Northern via email or call 0457 551 106.
Image: Rebecca Mills MIEAust, General Manager Major Projects Territory Generation.