The first week of March 2019 was arguably Engineers Australia’s largest from a diversity and gender equality in engineering perspective.
In Queensland, the celebrations spanned the entire week and covered female engineers and future engineers from high school, right through to the very top – all the way from the city to the surf.
To recap, here’s what the Queensland Women’s Week run sheet entailed:
Tuesday, March 5th - EngConnect: Culturally Diverse Female Engineers
Currently, 13% of Australia’s engineering workforce are women. Women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are even less prevalent.
A panel featuring industry-leading female engineers from various communities shared their experiences in overcoming the barriers still present in the modern-day workplace.
Jane Zeng (Senior Structural Engineer, Energex), Burcin Ozturk (Principal Global Asset Management and Planning, BHP), Josiane Machado (Structural Engineer, Aurecon) and Jemila Darr (Environmental Engineer, GHD) headlined a morning of celebration of achievements, inspiring the room full of Queensland’s Generation Next.
Wednesday, March 6th - International Women's Day Lunch, Brisbane
Combine 477 passionate leaders from the engineering sector and beyond, a decorated panel, and a keynote speech from the ever-inspiring Turia Pitt, and you’ve got yourself the formula for IWD Brisbane 2019.
Selling out two weeks in advance, the room was buzzing with energy and topical conversation as professionals from all stages of development gathered in the name of gender equality.
Engineers Australia’s National President, Trish White, and Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Hon Di Farmer provided opening addresses and a panel of industry leaders and Queenslanders Kathleen Boseley (representing QUT), Lydia Gentle (BHP) and Evelyn Story (Aurecon) tackled the big questions of the day.
‘Balance for Better’ was truly represented across the board, with a promising number of men also turning out in droves to support the cause.
View photos of this event here.
Thursday, March 7th - International Women's Day Breakfast, Sunshine Coast
Making their way to the shores of Maroochy Surf Club were over four-dozen professionals eager to continue the festivities from IWD Brisbane less than 24 hours earlier.
The panel, chaired by Helen Fairweather from University of Sunshine Coast (USC), included Barbara Van Heerden (Department of Transport and Main Roads), George Theo (Unity Water) and Brooke Veliscek (Meinhardt Group) and tackled important topics throughout the morning.
Attendees ranged from university students (we were pleased to invite 2 first year engineering students from USC to join us) through to high level executives, and everyone in between.
View photos of this event here.
Thursday, March 7th - Speed Mentoring, Brisbane Wheel
To close out the week, 70-plus female students met with 37 established female engineers for a meeting of the minds: A chance for the current generation to inspire the next.
Taking turns in swapping mentors throughout the exercise at the iconic Brisbane Wheel, the young Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths students were given the opportunity to pick the brains of the mentors as to what life is like as an engineer.
One mentor present on the day was Design Engineer Caitlin Thomas, who couldn’t help but notice how supportive the current curriculum was for students looking to pursue STEM-based careers.
“Ten years ago when I was in Year 10 at school, this sort of thing just didn’t happen,” said Caitlin.
“It’s so cool to see the change in 10 years, this cultural shift that encourages young women into careers in STEM.
“I sat on the wheel and got to meet Year 9 students. It was an opportunity just to talk to them about what my experience has been as an engineering student, and then moving into the workforce.”
It wasn’t just a learning experience for the young students though, said Caitlin.
“They’re telling me about the engineering subjects they’re doing (at school). They have Mathematics that is specified to engineering. I couldn’t have even dreamed about that. They’re telling me about these subjects that have been tailor-made to prepare them for a career in STEM and that is so cool.
“It doesn’t matter if they’re boys or girls, everyone has an equal opportunity there to pursue that career in STEM (and is encouraged to do so).”
We thank QUT for inviting Engineers Australia to participate in this event.