Laura Miranda is on a mission to improve the world for others and activate real change in the industry along the way. Winner of Engineers Australia Emerging Engineering Associate of the Year in 2023, she is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusivity, ‘aspiring to transform the engineering industry through empowerment.’
She was the Lead Designer for the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) 22AFI and NSW Severe Weather and Flooding events from 2022 to 2024 where she helped to restore roads damaged by floods and bushfires. It is one of several roles Laura has committed to as a true champion of industry. Her innovative approach to 3D modelling and detailed treatment strategies for road rehabilitation have highlighted her ability to lead complex projects that enhance community safety, resilience and connectivity. Laura's work not only aided in disaster recovery but has left a lasting legacy on the region's infrastructure.
A female ally within her organisation, she has become a leader for representing women and minority groups in the male dominated STEM industry. Currently, she is a member of the diversity, equity and inclusion committee at BG&E and a Women in Engineering Committee QLD member for Engineers Australia. She regularly contributes to initiatives promoting equal opportunities and empowering underrepresented individuals. She was also a member of the Latin American Delegation of Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business, and a Civil Engineering Industry Panel for TAFE.
Laura’s unique approach challenges gender bias, fosters inclusivity and encourages people of all genders and backgrounds to engage in conversations about creating a safe and equitable industry. In 2024, she helped organise the first-ever panel for International Women's Day at BG&E Brisbane.
Laura on the BG&E International Women's Day 2024 panel.
“We need different perspectives, cultures, skills, and genders to create real change in society. We must break the stereotypes of what engineers should look like. We all are responsible for building a more accessible path for everyone to feel supported, heard and understood,” Laura affirms.
Always leading the conversation, Laura has been co-hosting and producing her own podcast with fellow engineer Sohan Roopra, titled You don’t look like an engineer. The show addresses the current gender imbalance in the engineering workforce and seeks to humanise what many envisage as a robotic industry. Its purpose is also to provide a different and broader perspective of what STEM is about, and the diverse types of people that work in it. The show interviews a variety of guests including CEOs, rising stars, women in leadership roles and more to explore opportunities, challenges, successes and career longevity.
Obviously, she has never held back when it comes to enthusiasm and tenacity. Born in Pasto, Colombia, she was inspired by her father, a process engineer, to answer the STEM calling. She travelled to Australia and enrolled in an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering in 2016, even though English was her second language at the time.
Laura wasted no time in kickstarting her career, joining Arup’s Water team in Brisbane in 2017 as a CAD Technician. Here, she assisted with the construction drawings for the water team and civil works, including the Bruce Highway Upgrade with the implementation of a Diverging Diamond Interchange – the first of its kind in Australia.
We need different perspectives, cultures, skills, and genders to create real change in society. We must break the stereotypes of what engineers should look like. We all are responsible for building a more accessible path for everyone to feel supported, heard and understood.
She contributed to the groundbreaking Cross River Rail project, a 10.2 kilometre rail line including twin tunnels under Brisbane River and CBD. This project promised to alleviate congestion in Southeast Queensland and transform the way people travel. Here, Laura worked with the client directly, helping with the drafting of environmental impact plans. This highlighted her adaptability and commitment to environmental sustainability.
Laura continues to influence and inspire the wider community and next generation, not just through her podcast and committee work, but also by passionately advocating for alternative education pathways into the industry.
In 2018, she launched her first international student campaign, promoting the Associate Degree in Civil Engineering. Her story is an inspiration for both international and domestic students, demonstrating that the industry can be accessed through non-conventional pathways such as TAFE. Laura emphasises the practical approach of the Associate degree, highlighting the value of digital skills and a comprehensive understanding of various project phases. She also facilitates student workshops to provide students with diverse information and insights into the engineering field, offering an immersive learning environment with hands-on activities.
Laura at the Engineers Australia Excellence Awards 2023.
Laura continues to inspire future engineers by emphasising that the industry values a wide range of talents and experiences, not just numerical proficiency. This is helping to debunk the notion that engineering is exclusively for those with strong mathematical abilities. Instead, she highlights that the industry provides ample opportunities for people from all backgrounds to contribute their unique perspectives.
In 2021, the same year she completed her degree in Associate Engineering, Laura began her new chapter as Lead Designer for the TMR DRFA Project. Her innovative approach to 3D modelling and detailed treatment strategies for road rehabilitation have highlighted her ability to lead complex projects that enhance community safety, resilience and connectivity. Laura's work not only aids in disaster recovery but leaves a lasting legacy on the region's infrastructure.
Always leading, but still dedicated to learning, Laura is currently completing her Bachelor of Business at the University of Southern Queensland.