In just a decade, Marita Cheng has gone from school to being the face of modern engineering in Australia.
She says, back in 2007 when she first started studying engineering at the University of Melbourne, she was shocked at the low number of women in the course.
At school, she was conscious that few girls shared her interest in maths, science and solving problems in general, but she expected there would be more girls like herself from smaller towns and cities making their way to the big smoke to study their passion
"Engineering is all around us so it's important that the engineers who create our world are as diverse as the people who are in it," Cheng says.
The idea for Robogals was born and, in just her second year at university, it became a reality as Cheng and other students started running robotics workshops in schools to encourage more girls interested in engineering and technology careers.
Since then, the organisation has conducted thousands of workshops in schools and established chapters around the world. She still talks to students at school when she can.
"I tell them about cool technology projects around the world and I show them projects that I've been working on," she says. "I share my story of how I started it all up and they can see that if I can do it then they can do it."
Cheng has started two companies, 2 Mar, which makes robotics for people with disabilities, and Aipoly, a smartphone app which enables blind people to be able to identify objects.
She will bring her experience, both with Robogals and in business, to the Australian Engineering Conference 2016 where she will take part in a panel discussion on 'The Business Imperative for Diversity in Your Engineering Team'.
"An engineering career is one that is rich with opportunities and fulfilling. It allows us to create the world around us and impact the lives of billions," she says.
"We need to increase diversity at the very beginning of the funnel and encourage more women and minorities to participate, and change our business cultures so that women and minorities feel included and rise to the top of this industry."
She says it is an important subject, because if Australia wants to have the best engineers in the world, we cannot neglect half our population.
"We must bring them to the table and hear their voices," Cheng says.
To learn more, secure your spot at the Australian Engineering Conference where Marita Cheng will discuss the Business Imperative for Diversity in Your Engineering Team.