Celebrating a gender diverse workforce

Our Design and Construction Gender Equity Action Plan commits to the future development of our female talent and acknowledges the potential for better outcomes that having diverse perspectives brings.  Currently only 12% of the engineering workforce in Australia are women.

To celebrate International Women in Engineering Day (June 23) Charlene Lu, Fire and Hydraulic Engineer shared her story.

Charlene had been studying Engineering for almost five years before she joined Scentre Group’s Engineering Services team as an Engineering Technician in 2015.  Passionate about building services, Charlene was promoted to be a Fire and Hydraulic Engineer in 2021.

Charlene said: “I found Engineering as a profession creates so many pathways to shape not only a career for myself, but also allows us to use our innovations to create a better world and future for all people.

“The Engineering Services team are like my second family.  I have received a lot of help and support from my team which has seen my professional skills develop and grow, and I feel supported and uplifted about the development opportunities and investment in my future career.

“The engagement with NAWIC (The National Association of Women in Construction), and the mentoring program I have participated in as a mentee, has given me an even greater opportunity to meet different talented female engineers in this industry, expand my network, exchange information, ideas and solutions.

“I believe women bring diversity of thinking and passion into the engineering industry.  I hope that the advances, recognition, and achievements we are making inspires more talented women to consider engineering as a career.

“By growing our voice and representation in the industry, we can influence future talent and attract more women to engineering roles.”

National Engineering Services Manager, Kevin Clark said: “Engineering provides a career for both women and men to be innovative and inventive.  Through engineering, women can have a significant impact on the industry they work in.

“Days of recognition provide a platform to spotlight our talent and support their achievements.  We want to tap into the potential for better outcomes that having diverse perspectives brings, encouraging more women to consider engineering as a career.”

At Scentre Group our gender equity strategy is to ensure gender equity across our business and to achieve 40:40:20 at all levels by 2025. The 40% male, 40% female and 20% either gender framework supports the attraction, development and ability to retain, a gender diverse workforce.