Women in engineering group launched

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The group, which welcomes engineers of all gender identities and backgrounds, aims to support women, pre- and post-graduation, including those returning from a career break, who have chosen to pursue a career in engineering, “so as to develop their skills and competences and fully realise their potential in and out of the workplace”. The group held its first meeting in January 2021 with over 30 engineers from junior to senior level in attendance.

Chair of the Women in Engineering group, Georgina Molloy of Scaffold Design Ireland, commented: “The enthusiasm we saw in the first meeting in January really highlighted how necessary a group like this is. Providing quality networking and mentoring opportunities for women in the industry will help ensure a steady pipeline of female engineers and hopefully lead to an increase in women in senior management positions in the coming years.”

Currently 32 per cent of council members within Engineers Ireland are women. Addressing the formal launch of the new group via webinar on International Women’s Day, Engineers Ireland president Maurice Buckley challenged the sectors within the organisation to, “address the issue of diversity and inclusion within their committees”.

Susan McGarry, managing director of Ecocem Ireland, chaired an online discussion at the event to highlight the vital role of women in engineering. The lively discussion focused on the gender pay gap and how the lack of women in senior management roles perpetuates this gap.

The next Women in Engineering group event will take place on International Women in Engineering Day on 23 June.