Women are not inferior to men, get to know these UOW goddess alumni in the STEM field!

In the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), there is a stereotype that it is a domain dominated by 'science and engineering men'. However, in reality, more and more women are entering the STEM field and making outstanding contributions.

The University of Wollongong (UOW) has long enjoyed an international reputation in STEM-related disciplines. Among its many outstanding STEM graduates, there are numerous distinguished female alumni. Let's get to know these excellent women.

Tanya de Hoong

TanyaOriginally dreamed of becoming a physiotherapist. But her high school chemistry teacher told herUOWoffered generous scholarships for engineering students, so she resolutely chose to enroll inUOW's engineering program.

She recalls that from the first day of her studies at UOW, she felt a supportive and encouraging learning atmosphere, which inspired her to make the most of the scholarship she received to study hard and determined to use her knowledge to make the world a better place in the future.

Become a leader in the engineering field

Tanya graduated from UOW in 1997 and was one of the few women to earn a Bachelor of Engineering degree. Shortly after graduation, Tanya moved to Perth and made a name for herself working on Australian and Dubai projects for the international engineering giant BG&E. At the age of 25, she became a Chartered Engineer with Engineers Australia and accumulated extensive expertise in sports venue engineering, participating in projects such as the Ascot Racecourse, Wembley Stadium, and the roof renovation of the 2004 Athens Olympic venues.

For the past 18 years, Tanya has served as a principal at Thornton Tomasetti, a global engineering firm with offices in the US, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia, and relocated to New York in 2019.

With decades of experience, Tanya has also taken on her most significant role yet, newly elected as the President of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), arguably the most coveted position in the field. She is the fourth woman to hold this title in the institution's 116-year history and the second Australian to receive this honor.

Her remarkable achievements are inseparable from her love and pursuit of engineering. She said, 'Obtaining my engineering degree from the University of Wollongong and being able to work elsewhere in the world undoubtedly fueled my passion for engineering. I was particularly excited to travel around Europe,'seeing the ancient engineering wonders of the world, seeing the actual structures, how they are put together, how they create amazing spaces and places, which are breathtaking. Moreover, in many cases, the changes brought about by engineering have indeed made the world a better place.'

Tanya has spent nearly three decades dedicated to becoming a leader in the engineering field. She said, 'I have witnessed the evolution of the engineering field. It has become more humane, more diverse. It has become more focused on climate change and its impact on humans and the planet. Additionally, I see how engineering today attracts a broader range of people.'

Dr. Sheridan Gho

Sheridan grew up in Fiji, then moved to Sydney to complete her 12th grade, after which she moved to Wollongong to start her Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree, eventually earning a PhD in Biomechanics, specializing in designing sports bras for women undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Now, she is the CEO and co-founder of Cenofex, a biotechnology company located in Wollongong that produces medical devices for measuring and managing lymphedema. For women undergoing breast cancer treatment, lymphedema is always a concern.

In the second year of her PhD, Sheridan completed a Graduate Certificate in Research Commercialization, focusing on turning her previous research into reality. She said, 'That graduate certificate experience showed me how to turn the amazing discoveries we make through research at university into products that produce real results in the world and are adopted by ordinary people.'

It was during her postgraduate studies at UOW that she met her classmate Michael Weaver, and both were selected for a two-year scholar research at the Rosenman Institute in San Francisco, where they learned the details of starting a startup company.

The two were placed in a 'startup space' at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), equipped with professional equipment, office space, and support from other entrepreneurs, where Cenofex was born. Cenofex is currently located in the University of Wollongong Innovation Campus, and its developed devices are about to enter clinical research stages.

Sheridan recalls her time at the University of Wollongong, saying that although her focus was on scientific research, she was satisfied with the overall experience she gained at the university, which also prepared her for setting up her business in the future.

Additionally, she said, 'I started as a person in the STEM field and ended up taking on this business role, but a lot of the useful knowledge I learned in STEM, as well as the methodologies in the discipline, are very systematic and highly applicable. The things I learned have unexpectedly benefited my business career greatly.'

Erica D'Silva

From an intern at the Port Kembla steelworks to an elite at the Empire State Building, Erica's expertise has helped her read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles since she studied engineering at the University of Wollongong, and her career has taken her around the world.

After holding various operational and development positions at Uber, she now serves as the Global Supplier Strategy Director at LinkedIn, headquartered in New York City, and recently started an EMBA program at the University of Oxford.

During her undergraduate studies, Erica chose to study at the University of Wollongong because of the reputation of its Faculty of Engineering and its industry connections with BlueScope Steel.

More than a decade later, Erica still applies the knowledge she gained at the University of Wollongong to her position at LinkedIn. She said, 'STEM provides you with a lot of raw skills - for example, anyone who has studied STEM is likely to be very good at problem-solving. They are likely to be very analytical and put a lot of effort into making things work smoothly.'

In addition to allowing students to learn rich professional knowledge, the methodologies and problem-solving logic inherent in STEM knowledge are also greatly beneficial for students' future career development, even if they do not engage in related industries in their later careers. Therefore, female students, when choosing a major, might also consider STEM majors!