Inspiring the next generation of women in engineering

As part of the CSIRO “Professionals in Schools Program”, students at Korowa Anglican Girls'​ School recently had a glimpse into the fascinating world of aerospace engineering.

Dr Katherine Grigoriou from Monash Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering talked with Year 7 to 12 students, highlighting the wide range of roles and opportunities available to women in the field.

Sharing her personal journey from secondary school to university, Dr Grigoriou explained how her interests and passions shaped her career path.

"We highlighted the amazing women in our local engineering community, women doing impactful work and genuinely succeeding in their careers. And we also acknowledged something many of us have heard at some point: that if you go into engineering, there will be moments where your success is reduced to, 'you only got that because you’re a girl'," Dr Grigoriou said.

She continued "And honestly, my response to that is...yes. Because the industry is finally recognising how important women are to engineering. Diverse teams don’t just look better on paper, they think better, design better and innovate better. They create stronger outcomes, both technically and professionally. So yes, I am absolutely succeeding in my career as a woman, not in spite of it, but because of it."

The session is part of a collaborative program to encourage more girls to explore careers in engineering - building confidence, broadening horizons and helping to shape a more inclusive future for Australia’s STEM workforce.