1. An Opportunity for Change
A Look at changing leadership opportunities for
young women in Engineering.
Angela Hili

2. Introduction
 Disparity in number of female
Engineers in senior position
 Ingrained male culture
“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you
want to go far, go together”

3. Looking Back
 Australian legislation
◦ 1950 – basic female wage 75% of the
basic male wage
◦ Until 1966 married women couldn’t be a
permanent employee of the federal public
service
◦ 1986 – Affirmative Action Act was passed
◦ 1996 – Federal Workplace Relations Act
was passed

4. Looking Back
 Career Review of Engineering Women
(CREW) survey – 2002
◦ 36% women experienced discrimination
◦ 25% were sexually harassed
◦ Altogether 50% of the female respondents
had experienced sexual harassment
and/or discrimination

5. 1943 Transportation
Magazine
1. Pick young married women
2. When using older women, use ones
that have previously worked outside
the home
3. Husky girls are more even tempered
and efficient
4. Give each girl a “special women's
physical examination”
5. Stress that a minute here or there
adds up

6. 1943 Transportation
Magazine
6. Give women a day long schedule of
duties
7. Let them change tasks
8. Give girls an adequate number of rest
periods to fix their hair and reapply
lipstick
9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or
making criticism
10. Be tactful about strong language
11. Get enough size variety in uniforms

7. The Society of Women
Engineers (SWE) in the US
 Conducted profiles of women
engineers between 1963 and 1981
“The beginner of today faces an
exceptionally bright future, and we believe
with certainty, that there is every reason to
encourage her in the preparation for and
pursuit of a career in engineering or the
related sciences”

8. The Society of Women
Engineers (SWE) in the US
 Advice for encouraging young female
Engineers:
◦ Never cease to challenge yourself to
greater knowledge and competences.
Join the pursuit of excellence!
◦ Most women engineers marry and raise
happy active families
◦ The friendship of other professional
women contemporaries are the most
valuable

9. Engineers Australia Membership
Statistics
18%
16%
14%
12%
% Female Engineers
10%
Fellow (FIEAust)
Member (MIEAust)
8%
Graduate (GradIEAust)
Student Engineers
6%
4%
2%
0%
1980 1990 2000 2009
Year

10. Women are different from
Men
Woman: Honey, why don’t we stop and
ask for directions?
Man: I don’t need to ask for
directions! I know exactly
where I am going...

11. The Problems
 Discrimination and Harassment
 Equal pay for equal work
 Engineering is a “boys club”
 Women need to assimilate into the
male culture to succeed
 Lack of opportunities for interesting
work and promotion
 Losing women from the industry!

12. The Solutions
 Change organisational culture
 Flexible family friendly work
arrangements
 Transparency and communication
 The 30% solution
 A woman in every pool
 Role Models

13. Recommendations
 Loyalty and trust
 Corporate environment
 Find qualified women
 Introduce “a woman in every pool”
 Flexible work conditions
 Maternity/Paternity Strategies
 Role Models, Mentors and Coaches

14. Conclusion
“Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it is the only thing that
ever has.”
Margeret Mead