Electrical Engineer and recent graduate Rachel Anderson describes her profession as “fun and creative”.

Yet, the numbers tell a different story. According to Engineers Australia, women account for just 19% of engineering graduates nationally, and only 16% of professional engineers[1], highlighting a persistent gender imbalance that continues to shape the profession.

“Engineering degrees don’t necessarily turn into engineering careers,” Anderson says, observing that women entering the workforce can sometimes feel isolated or undervalued. “Engineering has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, which can make women feel like outsiders once they enter the profession.”

Her colleague, Hydraulic Engineer Isabella Schettino suggests that women need visible role models and strong support networks. Without these, “it can be easier to pivot into adjacent industries within the built environment, where perhaps your skills may feel more transferable and environments more inclusive,” she says.

At national engineering firm Ashburner Francis, where both Anderson and Schettino work, change began with the appointment of Lara Harris, a mechanical engineer and Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) expert, as a Director in 2024. Since then, the number of female applicants for undergraduate and postgraduate roles has more than doubled.

“I believe having more diverse viewpoints around any design discussion can only lead to better outcomes,” Harris says.

She credits her own upbringing for shaping her confidence. “My mother showed me you don’t have to decide between a career and a family – and that nothing was off-limits to me as a woman. It never occurred to me not to pursue engineering on the basis of any kind of real or imagined gender inequality.”

As a mother of two young children, Harris supports flexible work arrangements for parents and caregivers at Ashburner Francis – policies that colleagues like Samar Desouky, a mother of three, say make a tangible difference.

“Engineering is a demanding profession but it is possible to balance this career with other life commitments,” Desouky explains. “Eradicating any unconscious bias in hiring and promotions will guarantee women equal opportunities to advance to top-tier roles in engineering.”

For Schettino, part of the solution lies in challenging outdated stereotypes. “We need to dispel the myth that engineering is purely technical or solitary,” she says. “In reality, it’s collaborative, creative and people-focused.”

Anderson, whose career has just begun, believes all engineers have a part to play in promoting the profession. “I don’t see myself as a role model in any grand sense but I do think visibility matters. I’m happy to share my experiences and I’ll be delighted if that helps even one young woman consider engineering as an achievable and worthwhile career.”

[1] https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/news-and-media/2025/07/engineering-has-evolved-so-must-way-we-talk-about-it

Image: (L to R) Engineers Rachel Anderson, Isabella Schettino, Lara Harris (Director) and Samar Desouky (Photography © Leoni Bolt)

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