
Changing the future of engineering: WGA advocates for more women in the engineering industry.
“We are our people” is a fundamental principle deeply embedded in the core values of WGA.
As an award-winning engineering and project management business with over 40 years of experience, the company strives to create a workplace that values and supports individuals from all walks of life. No matter whether they are recent graduates eager to advance their careers or experienced professionals in search of their next adventure. The biggest challenge facing WGA and the industry is attracting and retaining women in engineering.
According to a recent study by Engineers Australia, women account for only 13% of the engineering workforce in Australia. The statistics highlight a looming challenge, one that the engineering industry must address as the largest employer of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) professions.
WGA recognises the urgency of this matter and regularly seek paths to encourage more women to pursue engineering careers. In doing so, the company has taken the reigns to carry out several initiatives that cement the commitment to changing this trend. Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is essential to WGA. As International Women in Engineering Day approaches on the 23rd of June, the company is proud that 28% of its employees are women, and women hold 23% of its leadership positions.
As Kirsten Molloy, a non-executive director of WGA, shares, “Being a part of WGA allows me to actively contribute to the positive change we aspire to see in the industry and beyond.”
“As a woman with a background in STEM, my career has been interesting, challenging and very diverse. The training I received in STEM disciplines has not only equipped me with invaluable problem-solving and collaboration skills, but it has also fostered in me a deep appreciation for technology and innovation, qualities that are indispensable in today’s dynamic workplace.”
WGA has established a strategy reflecting their commitment to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion. This commitment is exemplified through their proactive approach of inviting female non-executive directors to join their Board. This intentional effort demonstrates their genuine desire to create a more diverse and inclusive leadership team”.
To ensure fair compensation for all employees, WGA conducts annual gender pay equity audits. Performance and talent reviews are conducted through a gender bias lens to eliminate unconscious bias. It also uses a gendered-language decoder tool to screen job advertisements and identify and remove any gender bias. The company continuously reviews and updates its flexible work policies and inclusion and diversity policies to promote inclusivity.
Andrew Mosdell, NSW Regional Lead comments, “The underrepresentation of women in engineering careers persists, albeit with some progress. As leaders in engineering firms, we have a responsibility to provide adequate support to our female graduates as they enter the workforce. Eliminating the need for women engineers to constantly prove their right to be there should be a priority. Through our sphere of influence, we strive” for an inclusive environment where gender diversity flourishes, allowing talented individuals to contribute their skills and expertise without unnecessary obstacles.”
While WGA is working to improve gender balance across all aspects of the company, one area of focus is higher education and early careers. Targeted at University graduates, WGA’s graduate development program, Elevate, supports budding engineers with a well-structured, three-year program to advance their professional and personal skills for their next career step.
It includes buddy and mentor pairing, cross-sector project exposure, and professional accreditation support. Creating more opportunities for graduate engineers is paramount to increasing women’s participation in STEM professions. The program allows WGA to foster the skills of young professionals like Liseli from the University of Newcastle to achieve their career goals while ensuring its commitment to the future of the engineering industry in Australia.
Through the lens of an Undergraduate:
Liseli Musokotwane, WGA Undergraduate Engineer (University of Newcastle)
“I am from Zambia, and in my country, we mainly have a wet and dry season. It rains a lot and there has been a struggle to manage stormwater. Drainage is a big issue, and we get cholera outbreaks almost every year because of the deficiency in stormwater management. So, one thing that motivated me to get into civil engineering is being able to help with that problem. It’s just very humbling to see how the experienced engineers go out of their way to help us grow in our careers. I mean I wasn’t expecting that at all and it’s so good to see that they are very interested in growing their undergraduate and graduate engineers. That was very important for me. It helps me to keep going and keeps me motivated and engaged while at work. One thing I have realised is it’s one thing to have a degree, and another to actually have the work experience. I’ve learnt to communicate better with peers and ask questions whenever I’m unsure of something. Working at WGA – actually helped me perfect my problem-solving abilities and understanding why certain things are the way they are. I think this was one of the most important things for me.”
Read more about the stories and efforts of WGA’s skilled engineers who are determined to transform the industry.
Liseli Musokotwane, Undergraduate Structural Engineer
Isabella Newman, Graduate Engineer
Sheryll Duguran, Principal Civil Engineer