What fuels women in engineering?

 International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), brings attention to an underrepresented industry, encouraging more women and girls to pursue engineering careers.

We asked some of our amazing engineers what keeps them motivated to push boundaries in an industry where women represent less than 15% of the workforce.

Who influenced your career most?

Joanne Ferry
My brother encouraged me to study Engineering Geology at university because the field trips were so much fun! He was right, and he continues to motivate me the entire way!

Jo O’Brien
My dad was an engineer and was the greatest influence on my career – growing up and seeing how he approached problems logically and with determination really inspired me towards a career in the same field.

Liseli Musokotwane
The senior engineers who believed in my potential before I fully did. They took the time to guide me through some of the complex jobs I’ve worked on, encouraged me to ask questions without hesitation, and showed me what it looks like to lead with both technical experience and humility.

Shilpa Bitla
My mentors. Their influence has helped me to make challenging decisions and has shaped my career. For instance, stepping up into a new role or working with challenging clients. They also provided me with feedback on the traits I stand out among my peers, which guided me to self-reflect, choose my learning activities, and develop professionally.

Tica Can Ge
My mum inspired me to become an engineer. She’s a mechanical engineer, and growing up, I watched her be independent, strong, and rational both at work and in everyday life. She never made a big deal about being a woman in a male-dominated field—she just got on with it, and that quiet confidence left a mark on me.

Zuza Stone
Two people. My grandmother, who was an engineer in Poland and my first line manager in Wales. The former modelled the idea that engineering was the career for me. The latter gave me the confidence to jump into the deep end, challenge myself professionally and learn a tremendous amount in the process.

What do you love most about your job?

Joanne Ferry, Senior Hydrogeologist, New Zealand
No two days are ever the same; finding new ways to solve problems and efficiently work with different teams. Throughout my entire career, this has kept me excited to come to work each day.

Jo O’Brien, Principal Civil Engineer, Queensland
The diversity it brings to your day – one moment you’re wrangling stakeholders, the next you’re walking a remote site trying to determine a drainage line.  It’s a team effort where you get to lead great people, solve real problems, support communities and perfect the skill of muting yourself just when your dog starts barking in a Zoom meeting.

Liseli Musokotwane, Graduate Structural Engineer, New South Wales
What I love most about my job is the opportunity to design practical solutions and keeping infrastructure safe and operational. It’s extremely rewarding to see projects I’ve worked on come to life on-site!

Shilpa Bitla, Senior Electrical Engineer, Northern Territory
I love that, as an engineer, I can make a positive impact on the community through my designs and solutions, considering both economic and sustainability factors.

Tica Can Ge, Senior Structural Engineer, Victoria
What I enjoy most is the balance between technical problem-solving and real-life impact. As a bridge structural engineer, my work directly supports our transport networks. I also love my new role leadership role, helping young engineers grow.

Zuza Stone, Senior Civil Engineer, South Australia
I love how technical and engineering-focused my job is. No two projects are the same. We are constantly challenged to draw on our knowledge base and expand on it. I love learning, and I’m fortunate enough to have a job where I can apply that knowledge immediately to real-life problems. It’s incredibly rewarding.

What is your best advice for women considering engineering as a career?

Joanne Ferry
Engineering can take you to some amazing places, and there are so many opportunities to grasp. Especially during those Graduate years, encourage your employer to assign you challenging work that will benefit from your keen innovation.

Jo O’Brien
Don’t feel like you have to fit into some old blueprint of what the industry thinks an engineer should be – be yourself with your own style.

Liseli Musokotwane
The best advice I would give to young women considering engineering is to believe that you belong in every room you step into – your perspective and ideas are valuable even if you’re the only woman in the room. It might take a while to feel completely comfortable, but be resilient.

Shilpa Bitla
Go for it! There is a unique set of skills that female engineers bring to the field of engineering. We need to be resilient, have a growth mindset, and never give up!

Tica Can Ge
Don’t underestimate the value of your perspective and strength. Surround yourself with people who support your growth, and don’t be afraid to step into roles that feel slightly out of your depth—you’ll grow into them. If you’re someone who enjoys asking ‘why’ and ‘how’ and who wants to make a tangible difference, engineering is a space where you can thrive.

Zuza Stone
You will love it! There is no reason not to do it. It is greatly rewarding to be in a profession where you get to see tangible outputs of your work in public spaces and say “I did that”.