Leading the way for Deakin female engineering students

LEAD offers female engineering students at Deakin the opportunity to become part of a supportive, fun network during their studies. Events and mentoring opportunities will be offered to LEAD members in 2019.

There was an excellent turnout of Deakin engineering students and staff for the launch, held at the Centre for Advanced Design in Engineering Training (CADET) at the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, with civil engineering lecturer Dr Estela Oliari Garcez the MC.

Professor Aman Maung Than Oo, Head of the School of Engineering, told the audience the school was committed to increase the number of female engineering students at Deakin and was looking to provide support in as many ways as possible.

Dr Ellen Moon, lecturer in environmental engineering and one of the current Superstars of STEM, spoke about the value of mentoring and the opportunities and growth – personal and professional – it can provide. She also shared her experiences of being a member of the Homeward Bound 2017 – 18 program which took her to Antarctica in 2018. Dr Moon also encouraged students to make the most of the opportunity LEAD offers.

LEAD President Azalea Chui introduced herself and shared some of her experiences as an engineering student and the value of LEAD.

The final speakers at the launch were sisters Ana, Antonia and Paulina Erceg. Ana is a Deakin engineering graduate, currently working with AusNet Services, while Antonia and Paulina are respectively in their final and second year of engineering studies at Deakin. They spoke about their passion for engineering and pursuing studies in a field where most of their fellow students are male.

The School of Engineering is looking forward to continuing to provide a good learning experience to all our female students, including the introduction of a mentoring program, with the aim they become the ambassadors of the future and encourage more women to pursue engineering studies.

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