* CSU Women in Engineering Network to support regional female engineers

* Network is open to all female engineers

* Engineering an industry lacking in gender equality

Female engineers in regional NSW will benefit from the launch of the CSU Women In Engineering Network at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 7 March.

CSU Engineering program Engineer-in-Residence Mrs Shara Cameron said, “There are no female engineering groups in regional NSW, and female engineering professionals often face work environments where they are the only female engineer.

“A 2019 Engineers Australia report indicates that just 12 per cent of engineers working in Australia are female.

“CSU Engineering recognises the disparity within the engineering sector and is focussed on building a positive and engaging culture within the school to support its current students, and,

in the long run, attract more female applicants.

“It’s important for us to lead change in the industry in which our female cadets and graduates will work.”

Mrs Cameron said the aim of the network is to support CSU’s female student engineers and the female engineers in the region.

“We want to create a platform where professionals and students take the opportunity to learn from each other’s experience, industry contacts, and personal perspectives,” she said.

“In the future we plan to involve all our students, male and female, and also the engineering organisations we partner with to increase awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding gender inequality in the industry.

“We plan to host educational and networking events throughout the year, not only at CSU Engineering in Bathurst, but also in online virtual meetings that will extend the reach and impact of the network.

“We welcome suggestions from engineers on the issues, training, or content that they would like covered in future events.”

Mrs Cameron said the network launch is exclusively for student, cadet and professional female engineers.

“The network is open to all female engineers, and attendance is free,” she said.

The guest speaker at the CSU Women in Engineering Network launch is Ms Julie Mikhail, the outgoing President of the Sydney Division of Engineers Australia.

Ms Mikhail will share her views on the valuable contribution that women bring to engineering, an industry historically lacking in gender equality.

In 2018, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA named CSU Engineering as one of the top four emerging engineering schools in the world.

The CSU Women in Engineering Network event is from 5pm to 7pm on Thursday 7 March at CSU Engineering (building 1305, Village Drive) at CSU in Bathurst.

Please contact Ms Lisa Ditchfield via lditchfield@csu.edu.au for more information about the network or to attend the event.

To attend the CSU Women In Engineering Network launch please RSVP to engineering@csu.edu.au by Friday 1 March.