In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day, we asked the women of WGA to share how their role models have shaped them to be who they are today.
They say you can’t be what you can’t see, and the numbers agree. As of 2024, only 14% of engineers in Australia were women. In fact, Engineering sees the lowest female representation across all STEM professions, with many women and young girls avoiding the field due to a lack of awareness and familiarity with the profession.
Across our industry, visibility remains a challenge, making mentorship, advocacy, and representation more important than ever. This year, we’re celebrating the day by sharing inspiring origin stories from the women of WGA and LDE about how their female role models have shaped their engineering journeys.
Through these stories, we hope to inspire the next generation to imagine what’s possible💡
Leenah Ali-Lavroff — Principal Traffic Engineer | Hobart
Tell us about a woman who inspires you, and how
My mum has had the biggest influence on my journey. She taught me from a young age that being a girl should never limit what I can achieve. She encouraged me to back myself, stand my ground and pursue opportunities without letting gender define what I could or couldn’t achieve. Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my engineering career and continue to shape how I approach challenges and leadership opportunities today.
What do you love about your role?
My favourite part of engineering is that it has given me the opportunity to be curious for a living. I get to ask questions, learn something new every day and work on projects that have a lasting impact on communities. I also love that there is no single path through engineering – the profession has opened doors to technical leadership, project management, stakeholder engagement and business development, all while still solving interesting problems.
Nassim Barazesh — Senior Structural Engineer | Adelaide
Tell us about a woman who inspires you, and how
I draw great inspiration from Maryam Mirzakhani, a brilliant Iranian mathematician and the first woman to win the Fields Medal in 2014. Her work in geometry and dynamical systems has had a significant impact on mathematics and broader STEM disciplines. What inspires me most about her is not only her exceptional intelligence but also her perseverance and passion for solving complex problems. She broke barriers in a field traditionally dominated by men and became a global role model for women in STEM.
What do you love about your role?
My favourite part of working in engineering is turning complex concepts into practical, buildable solutions. I enjoy the challenge of analysing structures, solving technical problems, and seeing designs come to life on site. Being involved from design through to construction, and contributing to safe, functional buildings, is particularly rewarding.
Tara McCoy— Process Engineer | Perth
Tell us about a woman who inspires you, and how
My math teacher at school was so confident in expressing her passion for the subject and encouraged me to explore my own passion for problem-solving. She inspired me to pursue this passion further at university and become an engineer.
What do you love about your role?
My favourite part about my job is exploring how to achieve a desired process outcome using instrumentation and control loops.
Amy Hsu—Principal Drainage Engineer | Melbourne
Tell us about a woman who inspires you, and how
Monique Foletta, my mentor, has been a key influence in my journey into engineering. She consistently encouraged me to push beyond my perceived limits and supported my professional growth at a crucial stage in my career. After my maternity leave, she provided me with the opportunity to return to full-time work and continue developing my skills and expertise in stormwater drainage engineering. With her guidance and trust, I was able to build my confidence and rediscover my passion for engineering design. Her support played a significant role in shaping both my technical capability and my confidence as an engineer.
What do you love about your role?
My favourite part of working in engineering is seeing a design progress from concept to construction and ultimately performing successfully in the real world. There is a strong sense of accomplishment in knowing that the solutions I’ve developed are not only functional, but also contribute positively to the community. I also find great fulfilment in supporting and mentoring young engineers. Being able to share my experience, guide their development, and inspire them to grow in confidence and capability is incredibly rewarding. It adds another dimension to my role beyond technical delivery, making the work both meaningful and impactful.
Catherine Howell — Senior Hydrogeologist | Hamilton
Tell us about a woman who inspires you, and how
My mother has been my biggest inspiration. As a chemist who collected water samples from the River Thames in London and implemented policies to improve river health in the UK, she showed me what a difference STEM roles can make to the environment.
What do you love about your role?
My favourite part is being a catalyst for development and change in New Zealand and helping our clients do it in the best ways possible
Reiley Harle — Undergraduate Mechanical Engineer| Newcastle
Tell us about a woman who inspires you, and how
Lara Harle—my mum constantly encourages me and cheers me on, no matter what I pursue. Having that kind of unwavering support has made such a difference in my life!
What do you love about your role?
My favourite part of working in engineering is going on site to see our work — Sydney Opera House, Patrick Terminal Port Botany are my favourites so far!
Amy Hsu—Principal Drainage Engineer | Melbourne
Tell us about a woman who inspires you, and how | What do you love about your role?
Working with other women, like Kruti Patel, Olivia Oliver, and Ella Leonhardt, has been a constant source of inspiration, enhancing my experience as well as my enjoyment of the field.
Tamlyn Hay Hsu—National Structural Engineering Manager | Melbourne
Tell us about a woman who inspires you, and how
My mum, Debbie Wiggett, has always been my greatest role model. She balanced her career alongside running our household. An electrical draftsman, she introduced me to the world of engineering through her work.
Most of my family, including my mother, lean more toward the arts and creative pursuits. That creative streak is part of what drew me to structural engineering — I found beauty in the structures themselves. My mother was also the one who supported me throughout my studies, believing in me more than I did.
What do you love about your role?
I work mostly in maritime engineering, the design of wharves and maritime structures. I love the complexity of it, the fact that it is not black and white, and you have to create solutions that others might not think of, especially with existing structures. I also love being by the ocean, so it helps when your site is at it.