Mary Stewart has an undergrad degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and a PhD from University of Cape Town. Mary was a research fellow in chemical engineering at the University of Sydney and joined Energetics around 12 years ago.
Today Mary leads a team of energy and climate change experts who develop solutions for governments and large businesses to deliver the reductions in greenhouse emissions we need to achieve our international obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement.
Hi Mary! What is your current job title and function?
I am the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Energetics, Australia’s largest, specialist consultancy helping Australia’s biggest companies to address the challenges of climate change. As COO I have oversight of all consulting projects with respect to quality and profitability; I also carry pastoral care obligations for all consultants. As Executive Director I have typical board responsibilities.
Why did you pursue a career in engineering?
When I was in my last year of school I looked at the board composition of the largest companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. They were comprised of lawyers, accountants and engineers. Engineering looked the most interesting of those degrees!
What is the most challenging or interesting project you’ve ever worked on?
I am the first Australian BINGO (Business and Industry Non-Governmental Organisation) Observer to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). Not only is this the coolest title I have ever had, the work is fascinating. I am on the task force which focuses on Innovation, Research, Development and Deployment.
The Taskforce recently released a paper focused on how policy can support innovation to address the challenges of climate change[1].
I was lucky enough to attend the pre-COP in Bonn in May this year which was the first meeting of the party at which all sessions were open to observers. It is a daunting environment for an engineer as the diplomats and negotiators are intensely verbal: there was not a picture, graph or flowsheet to be seen for the entire five days I was there! I sat in the UN Chamber for a number of sessions and watched negotiations happen.
Being able to watch the process and the people behind it gives me great faith that humanity will address the climate change imperative and deliver what we need to constrain global warming to a 2-degree Celsius increase on pre-industrial temperature levels.
What does winning the Women’s Agenda Emerging Leader in the Private Sector Award mean to you?
I graduated from engineering in the early 90s in a class which had around 10% women. I always thought I would make engineering look really fun and rewarding, and that by the time I had been an engineer for two or three decades, this ratio would have been corrected and engineering courses would be graduating 40% or 50% women. This has obviously not happened. I am passionate about the work I do, and proud of the work that I, and other female engineers at Energetics, have delivered over the years.
In winning this award I am hoping that other women in engineering will see that we can reach the top.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you like to have with you?
Coffee, my family and an iPad (for the shorter members of the family and some music).
What do you see as one of the biggest issues facing the engineering profession?
The increasing need to deliver project outcomes that are fit for an unpredictable future; the variance tolerant engineer who is able to design and deliver robust outcomes which remain the preferred outcome, independent of changing conditions.
If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpower to be?
The ability to turn CO2 into water
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Playing with my kids. They are 5 and 7 and very funny little reflections of their mum and dad.
Who is your hero?
My partner. Without Nathan I would not even appear marginally competent. He is a mechanical engineer with a PhD in chemical engineering. He works full time, one day a week from home, does more housework than me (he actually cares when the bathrooms are dirty), cooks amazingly, does school drop off daily and represents Australia in canoe polo (which is a real thing - google it!).
Energetics works with Australia’s governments and ASX200 businesses on strategies to address climate change and achieve significant improvements in energy management
Consulting across all sectors of the economy, Energetics provide advice on emissions reduction opportunities, risk-managed energy contracting, clean energy technology investments, and the growing scrutiny of investors into climate-related risk management and reporting.
[1] Reference for policy paper