Female engineers might become a trend in the future, with the exemplary role of two outstanding female alumni from UOW!

Engineering has always been a field dominated by men due to its characteristics. Although women are a minority in the engineering industry, they still play an important role, continuously bringing changes to the industry.Last month was the annual 'International Women in Engineering Day', aimed at recognizing the achievements of women in the field and encouraging more women to join the industry.

Here, we share the stories of two outstanding female graduates from the University of Wollongong (UOW), who entered the engineering field in different ways but have both achieved commendable success in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Story One: Following in Father's Footsteps

From a Sri Lankan family,Indeewari Rathnayake (hereinafter referred to asIndee)could have chosen between a career in medicine or engineering. She said she has always been a fan of science subjects. However, because her father was an engineer, she chose to follow in his footsteps.

Indee started her Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at UOW in 2014. It wasn't until her second year of study that she became aware of the gender disparity in her course. She recalls sitting in a mechanical design lecture where only 5 out of 92 students were female. During her internship, Indee was the only woman among 1,000 employees. Despite this, Indee believes: 'The more I realized I was in the minority, the more I saw it as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.'

Indeewari Rathnayake

Perspectives on Women's Prospects in Engineering

Indeehas been working as a mechanical engineer in underground coal mines for over five years.She started as a trainee engineer, worked her way up to shift maintenance supervisor, and is now a Rubber-Tired Vehicle (RTV)maintenance coordinator.This position is responsible for coordinating the maintenance team for rubber-tired vehicles, with the team maintaining 95 underground diesel engines.Throughout her career, she has witnessed changes in the industry, but she believes more can be done to retain female engineers in the long term. She thinks: 'Despite our great efforts to attract women, it's not enough to help women continue their careers. There's still a long way to go.'95underground diesel engines are maintained by this team.

In her career, she has seen changes in the industry, but she believes more can be done to retain female engineers in the long term. She thinks: 'Despite our great efforts to attract women, it's not enough to help women continue their careers. There's still a long way to go.'

Gratitude to UOW and Advice

Indeebelieves thatUOWprovided her with the skills needed to succeed and overcome challenges in the engineering field.She saidUOWnot only gave me book knowledge;it cultivated my entire personality.

Her advice to young women considering a career in engineering is to always be open to new opportunities, even if you're the only woman in the engineering workshop.

'Actively try different things. Always stay curious, and don't be afraid because you're the only one. Sometimes, being the only woman in the workshop means you can set the standard.'

Story Two: From Fashion to Engineering

ForUOWgraduateRebecca Pink, her path to engineering began with a pursuit of creativity.She initially studied fashion design because she enjoyed creative hands-on work, but quickly realized it wasn't for her.

Rebecca said: 'I've always liked math and science, but still wanted to do something practical and hands-on, so I started exploring engineering as an option.'

Rebecca Pink

Early Influence

Rebecca's grandfather was an engineer who always encouraged her to understand how the world works, giving her mechanical LEGO, National Geographic magazines, and handmade toys.And this was her early introduction to the field of engineering.

When Rebecca first started her Bachelor of Engineering (Civil/Environmental) at UOW, she initially felt uneasy. She thought: 'At that time, I didn't know any female engineers, and being in a class with hundreds of men and only a few women made me feel uneasy.'

Rebecca's first job after graduation was in construction, where there were only 3 women out of 60 employees, which was both a challenge and an opportunity for growth.

She believes that there are more and more women in the engineering industry now, including women in leadership positions who are role models for the younger generation, and that there should be even more such women.

Currently, Rebecca works as a project engineer at Ekistica in Alice Springs, focusing on infrastructure projects for remote communities. She hopes to grow more through this project.

Reasons for Choosing to Study Engineering at UOW

Rebecca initially choseUOWbecause of its warm learning atmosphere and beautiful location, but now she appreciates the university's emphasis on practical experience and environmental sustainability even more.

'UOW has done a great job in focusing on gaining practical experience. From interactive labs to mandatory industry experience, UOW teaches us to go beyond our roles and labels, and to approach the complexity of work and the environment with a calm attitude.'

Her Advice

She advises women aspiring to become engineers to seize the flexibility and diverse opportunities that an engineering career offers.

She said:'Engineering is a rewarding career that can open doors you never knew existed.'

'Don't be afraid to change the status quo, try different roles and work environments. All experiences are great life lessons, even if they don't exactly align with the 'traditional' career path.'

As a university known for engineering,UOW's various engineering disciplines are among the top in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject. To learn more about engineering programs, please contact our China team!QSWorld University Rankings by Subject. To learn more about engineering programs, please contact our China team!