IPS and Helix Legal came together to celebrate IWD, championing diversity and inclusion in engineering and law. With this year’s theme – March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls – the event centred around creating lasting change, breaking barriers and supporting women from various backgrounds in STEM.
This month IPS joined forces with Helix Legal, a leading female-owned construction law firm, for a third consecutive year to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025. Held at Fortitude Valley’s Rosmarino Italian restaurant helmed by Lauren Smith and partner Andrea Gatti, the gathering brought together industry professionals to honour the achievements of women in engineering and beyond.
The event also spotlighted local female entrepreneurs, with florals, gifts and photography sourced from talented female-owned businesses. With this year’s theme of ‘March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls’, the event focused on the importance of driving meaningful and permanent progress towards gender equality in our respective, traditionally male-dominated, industries.
Out of the event, IPS and Helix have committed to two key actions: reviewing each business’s respective vendor networks for opportunities to support female-led businesses, and working towards the development of standardised terminology for publicly displaying businesses as being female-led, increasing their visibility.
The state of females in engineering in Australia
While progress is being made, the engineering sector still has a long way to go.
Here’s a pulse check on women in engineering in Australia today:
- Women make up only about 14% of Australia’s engineering workforce (Engineers Australia, 2022)
- 55% of female engineers report having fewer professional opportunities than men (Engineers Australia, 2022)
- Countries like India and Pakistan have already reached gender parity in engineering (ABC News, 2024)
- Many young women do not consider engineering as a career due to persistent stereotypes and a lack of visible role models (Engineers Australia, 2022)
- 1 in 3 female engineers feel they must act like “one of the boys” to fit in (Engineers Australia, 2022)
- About 20% of female engineers have experienced workplace bullying or exclusion (Engineers Australia, 2022)
In good news, momentum for change is growing, with programs designed to boost STEM engagement among young women, alongside workplace initiatives that support female engineers.
IPS is proud to be part of this movement, advocating for diversity and creating a supportive environment where all professionals can receive mentorship and support to thrive.
IPS Managing Director Sascha Kurz shared her passion for supporting women to enter the industry.
“Women remain underrepresented in engineering due to limited exposure, STEM engagement gaps, and workplace challenges. ‘You can’t be what you can’t see,’ and visibility is key,” she said.
“Closing the gap at a more rapid rate requires a multi-focused approach including improvements in STEM opportunities presented earlier in schooling, advocating for our industry and the incredible careers available, enabling greater flexibility in work environments, and more work being done to bring women from other industries into ours.”
“Diversity in engineering isn’t just about fairness – it leads to better ideas, stronger teams and more innovative solutions. A workforce that reflects our society’s diversity is essential for designing and building a future that benefits everyone.”
“At IPS, we’re proud to have a team of dedicated and talented women who lead with purpose and passion. Everyone has a role to play in advancing equality.”
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