“Engineering Heroes” is the theme for International Women in Engineering Day 2021.
Held on 23 June, the day is an opportunity to celebrate the “heroics” — both exceptional and everyday — of women in engineering. They not only tackle complex challenges but do so while being in a professional minority, which brings extra challenges.
In this special feature of create, you’ll meet four of the 45,000 women qualified as engineers in Australia — 13.6 per cent of the total — of which 25,000 work in the profession. As the saying goes, you can’t be what you can’t see, and features like this one help to shine a light on engineering role models.
However, visibility alone isn’t enough. Everyone has a role to play in creating workplaces that are free of sexual discrimination and harassment, and where women are not just recruited but included, supported and promoted.
Engineers Australia’s work to promote greater gender diversity includes events, targeted engagement in schools, research, groups, collaborations, women as event speakers and panelists, and our Gender Diversity Awards (nominations are currently open).
Cultural change takes work but it’s worth the effort! It is the smart thing to do, it is the right thing to do and it is the fair thing to do. It helps to create better solutions for the community by drawing on diverse perspectives and experiences. And it delivers better business outcomes.
Engineers Australia has long been a vocal advocate for an engineering profession that is as diverse as the community it serves – and we back that aspiration with action.
Dr Bronwyn Evans AM HonFIEAust CPEng
CEO, Engineers Australia
CLICK THE IMAGES BELOW TO MEET THE HEROES 
