International Conference for Women Engineers and ScientistsAdelaide 2011

Being a Female Engineer and Role Model – A Personal Perspective

Who am I

Shyamali Jackson (nee Goonasekera)

• B. E (Chem) 1991 University of Adelaide

• BHP Steel/OneSteel Whyalla Integrated Steelworks 1991 – 2004

• Parsons Brinckerhoff : 2005 – present

• part – time manager of a team of 13 professional engineers and scientists working in Contaminated Land Management

• 15 schools by aged 14 UK, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong & Australia

• Mother of 2 daughters aged 10 & 11

Mentors – Parents Role Model

When you were no more than knee high to a grasshopper, you said to your Teacher in reply “I would like to be a Marie Curie when I grow up”

Now that you are more than a knee high to a grasshopper, we commend this book to you.

And, we like to believe that you, the daughter of an educated man and educated woman and the sister of an educated brother (who did not have an AEF of his own) were never made to feel like those daughters of educated men who did not have “a room of one’s own”.

For you always had a room of your own and made good use of it.

Virginia Woolf – A Room of One’s OwnEducation, Independence, Career and Income

Mentors – Early Career

• 1st Manager – I will always back you up, even if I think you are wrong I will always have your back. However, if I think you are wrong then we will discuss it - in private

• Work through the new BHP Teleworking Policy to make it a practical and viable opportunity return to work after maternity leave

• Acceptance of the people around you and their values

• Be Yourself

Take the Opportunity

• Self confidence

• Seek the positive

• Always work at the level you want to get to

• Form networks

• Observe, understand, adapt and apply

• Know when to walk away

 

                                                                                  

The Stupid Curve

Organisations select nearly 90% of their leaders from just 50% of that pool - the male 50% (The Stupid Curve, former Deloitte's Chairman Mike Cook). 

Timing is Everything

• 70,000 engineering professionals will retire by 2011. The expected 45,000 graduates over this time will not cover the losses. With shortages of skilled labour expected to continue, women's participation will be more heavily relied upon in the future (Consult Australia, 2009)

• Companies with the most gender diverse management teams have an average EBIT 48% higher than their industry norms (McKinsey & Company, 2008)

• Parsons Brinckerhoff Women’s Network

Parsons Brinckerhoff Women’s Network

Strong Role Models

• Engagement of both key men and women in an organisation

• Presenting your story – making it real

• Providing visible role models

• Inspirational Leadership Series– Anne Howe (CEO SA Water)– Miriam Silva (General Manager Commercial Operations –

Elders)

Key Attributes

• Education

• Observe, Adopt and Adapt

• Visibility

• Humour