Women in Engineering

Murdoch University WiE Activities

The Women in Engineering programme at Murdoch University is coordinated by the School Engineering and Energy, and in particular, Dr. Martina Calais.

Dr. Martina Calais

Part of this program are social events and talks by practising female engineers to give us an insight to their experiences and progress in the engineering world.

Martina may be contacted via: E-mail: M.Calais@Murdoch.edu.au,
Phone: (08)9360 7628,
Room: PS2.036

Events are held at specified locations at the South Street Campus.

Upcoming Events....

2009

Semester 2, 2009

Thursday 29th October 2009 11:30pm -12:30pm

A lunch time networking meeting (Science and Computing Building, 2.023) and opportunity to meet Claire Wilhelm the speaker of the presentation following this meeting. This meeting is open to all female engineering students and female staff of the School of Engineering and Energy. Please RSVP to Roselina Stone (Tel. 9360 7536, email: r.stone@murdoch.edu.au) and advise her of any dietary requirements by Friday 23rd October 12pm.

Thursday 29th October 2009, 12:30pm -1:20pm, Robertson Lecture Theatre (Open to all Students and Staff - no RSVP required)

International and Field Experience in the Oil and Gas Industry - a Female Engineer Perspective

Claire Wilhelm, Interface Coordinator, INPEX

Hosted by the Women in Engineering Panel of Engineers Australia - WA Division and Murdoch University, School of Engineering and Energy

Claire graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Resource Engineering (Major in Oil & Gas) degree in 2000, and has had a varied and exciting career in the petroleum industry so far.

After graduation, Claire spent 3 years in Africa working for oilfield service company Schlumberger as a Field Engineer (Drilling and Production). Claire worked both on land rigs and offshore facilities, in the desert (North Africa), jungle (West Africa) and amongst the whales and seals (South Africa). Claire then joined a petroleum engineering consultancy (Advanced Well Technologies, AWT) and worked as a Completions / Well Integrity Engineer, based in both Perth and Malaysia. She was fortunate to work as a consultant on Barrow Island.

Claire has recently joined INPEX (a Japanese Oil & Gas Operator) as Interface Coordinator, with her main focus being Offshore technical interfaces for the Ichthys Project, a role which is giving Claire valuable exposure to the front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase of a new project.

Claire will share her experiences in the oil and gas industry, in particular covering the following:

Being female in a male-dominated industry;
Pros and cons of working for small companies versus big companies
Pros and cons of working for service companies/consultancies versus operators; and
The value of international and field experience

Semester 1, 2009

Wednesday, 13 May 2009, 5pm - 7pm

Women in Engineering Student Networking Evening - A social event for female engineering students with guest speakers Zaneta Mascarenhas, Process Engineer GHD and Kim Axworthy, Engineers without Borders organized by Curtin University in conjunction with Engineers Australia Women in Engineering Panel WA Division - for further details please see the attached flyer.

Wednesday, 8 April 2009 (Week 8) 12:30 - 1:30

A lunchtime networking meeting (Library South Rm 2.007). This meeting is open to all female engineering students and female staff of the School of Engineering and Energy. A time to get to know everyone and have a free lunch! Please RSVP to Roselina Stone (Tel. 9360 7536, email: r.stone@murdoch.edu.au) and advise her of any dietary requirements by Friday 3rd April 12pm.

2008

Semester 2, 2008

Tuesday, 21 October 5:30pm

Women in Engineering Student Networking Dinner - An informal social event for female engineering students

Come and join female engineering students from Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University and the University of WA for an informal dinner and networking evening! Share your study experiences and how to address issues female engineering students face in a male dominated field of study. Hear some inspirational stories of the career path you are embarking on! We will meet at the UWA Club Café at 5:30 pm on Tuesday the 21st of October, drinks and food are at own expense. The café caters for all tastes with a reasonably priced A la Carte and Snack Menu ( meal price range: $8.00-20.00).

Venue: The Café in the UWA Club ( http://www.universityclub.uwa.edu.au/uniclub/the_club/location ) which is located on the north side of the building, overlooking Riley Oval.

Parking: Parking is available free after 5 pm in Carpark #3, immediately south of the UWA Club

RSVP: Ms Jolanta (Yola) Szymakowski, jszymakowski@admin.uwa.edu.au, ph: +61 8 6488 5801 by Tuesday 14th of October.

Cost: free, food and drinks are at your own expense (meal price range: $8.00-20.00).

Friday, 12 September 4-5pm

A afternoon networking meeting (Science and Computing Building, 2.023). This meeting is open to all female engineering students and female staff of the School of Engineering and Energy. A time to get to know everyone and have afternoon tea! Please RSVP to Roselina Stone (Tel. 9360 7536, email: r.stone@murdoch.edu.au) by Wednesday 10 September 12pm.

Semester 1, 2008

Wednesday, 14 May 2008 (Week 13) 12:30-1:30

Engineers Without Borders - Making a difference and helping people use their skills to help others

Kim Axworthy, MIEAust, CPEng

Joint presentation between Engineers Australia - WA Division Women in Engineering and Murdoch University , School of Engineering and Energy

The Murdoch University Tavern Function Room off Bush Court.

Kim Axworthy graduated from university in 2002, with honours in Mechatronics Engineering. In 2004, Kim founded the WA Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB), an organisation that focuses on improving the quality of life of disadvantaged communities.

Kim worked as a Project Manager for WorleyParsons, an engineering consulting company, for three years. She now works full-time for EWB, managing their Indonesia and East Timor programs. Kim is passionate about making a difference in the world, and helping people use their skills to help others. In her presentation Kim will introduce Engineers Without Borders (EWB), the work of this organisation and share some of her career experiences.

Please RSVP to Bronwyn Phua at b.phua@murdoch.edu.au , or phone 9360 7536 by Friday, 9 May 2008.

Wednesday, 2 April 2008 (Week 7) 12:30-1:30

A lunchtime networking meeting (Library South Rm 2.007). This meeting is open to all female engineering students and female staff of the School of Engineering and Energy. A time to get to know everyone and have a free lunch! Please RSVP to Bronwyn Phua Bronwyn Phua (Tel. 9360 7536, email: b.phua@murdoch.edu.au) and advise her of any dietary requirements by Monday 31 March 12pm.

2007

Semester 2, 2007

Joint Event with Engineers Australia "Day in the life of a Graduate Engineer", Nada Dashlooty, Verve Energy,
Nada Dashlooty is a graduate of Engineering and Science at UWA where she majored in Electrical Engineering and Physics. Since graduating she has worked with the Research Institute for Sustainable Energy (RISE) and with Western Power and is currently working as a Graduate Electrical Engineer with Verve Energy.
As well as introducing the Verve Energy Graduate Program and discussing a variety of experiences she has gained during the past eighteen months on the Program, she will also describe her experiences as a female engineer.

2006

Semester 2, 2006

18th September 2006 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Gas and oil production technology ï¿½ challenges and opportunities for Western Australia

A presentation by Professor Beverley F Ronalds - Chief of CSIRO Petroleum

Combined with a Site Visit of ResLab ï¿½ the Test Centre of the Research Institute for Sustainable Energy (RISE)

Time: 5:30 pm for 6.00 pm (site visit), 6:30 pm (presentation), (Light refreshments will be served prior to the site visit and presentation)

Venue: RISE Training Room, Murdoch University, Murdoch Drive Entrance, Venue Map: http://www.rise.org.au/about/

Energy is becoming very topical, through rising petrol prices and increasing recognition of climate variability. The energy future is very uncertain and will be influenced by technology as well as socio-economic factors. Much of the energy industry is ï¿½greyingï¿½ (including the speaker!). Australiaï¿½s unique energy endowment and the resulting opportunities and responsibilities with respect to regional energy security are also being recognised. Within this broad framework, the talk will focus in particular on challenges and opportunities for Western Australia in gas and oil production technology.

Prior to the presentation by Prof. Beverley Ronalds there will be a tour of ResLab, the Research Institute for Sustainable Energy (RISE) Test Centre, accredited for testing renewable energy systems and components. The tour will also include the Renewable Energy Display demonstration site located at the RISE Outdoor Test Area.

About the speaker

Professor Beverley Ronalds is Chief of CSIRO Petroleum and Distinguished Visiting Professor at The University of Western Australia, where she was formerly the Woodside Chair in Oil and Gas Engineering and founding Head of the School of Oil and Gas Engineering (1995-2003).

Beverley has broad offshore industry experience, including involvement in the design, fabrication and installation of fixed and floating platforms for the Australian North West Shelf, the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Her current research interests include offshore production system selection and methodologies for determining safe and cost-effective extreme storm criteria for design.

Beverley is a member of the WA Premierï¿½s Science Council, the Minerals and Energy Research Institute of WA Board of Directors and the Commonwealth Oceans Policy Science Advisory Group. She was inaugural Chair of the WA Energy Research Alliance - a joint venture between CSIRO, The University of WA and Curtin University of Technology.

Beverley has a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Science, Diploma of Imperial College and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of London. She stayed on at Imperial College for two years as a lecturer.

Beverley is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Engineers Australia. In 2003, she was awarded the Prime Ministerï¿½s Centenary Medal ï¿½for service to Australian society in Civil Engineeringï¿½. She was included in Engineers Australiaï¿½s inaugural list of 100 most influential engineers in 2004.

16th August 2006 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm

A start of semester meeting on the South Street Campus (Senate Room). This meeting is open to all female engineering students and female staff of the School of Engineering Science. A time to get to know everyone and have a free afternoon tea!

Guest Speaker: Natalie Power

Natalie Power completed her Bachelor Degree in Engineering (Instrumentation & Control) in 2001 at Murdoch University, Rockingham Campus. Once graduated, gained employment at Woodside Energy working as an Instrument & Control Engineer supporting the offshore facilities. Natalie has recently returned from working in South Korea supervising the design and construction of one of Woodside's newest facilities. At today's event Natalie will share some of her experiences from Uni, the workforce and South Korea.

Semester 1, 2006

23rd May 2006 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Engineering at the Rockingham Campus. The event will start with a tour of the Rockingham Campus laboratory facilities (Meeting Point: Engineering Office, ground level, Engineering South). After the tour there will be a free lunch (12 noon, Rockingham Campus Conference Room (ACL2/31)) with the opportunity to meet female engineering students from different years as well as School and Rockingham Campus staff.

4th April 2006 12:30 - 1:30 pm

Lunch time meeting on the South Street Campus in the Social Sciences Building Room 2.52. This meeting is open to all female engineering students and female staff of the School of Engineering Science. A time to get to know everyone and have a free lunch!

Guest Speaker: Emma Fillery

Emma Fillery completed her Engineering degree (in Chemical and Process Engineering) five years ago at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Once graduated she headed over to Western Australia to find employment in the mining industry. She was employed by Alcoa where she has been working for the past 4 years. Emma is also an active member of the Women in Engineering Panel of Engineers Australia (WA Division), where she holds a position on their committee. At today's event Emma will share some of her experiences of being a women in engineering, both at Uni and within the work force.

2005

Semester 2, 2005

25^th October 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Engineers Australia WIE event to be held in the library Foyer Rockingham Campus. Guest speaker Professor Anne McMurray, Chair of Nursing, Murdoch Uni. Nibbles and drinks provided. Tour of the university will be included.

18^th October 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Lunch time meeting open to all female engineering students and female staff on Rockingham campus. A time to get to know everyone!

2004

Semester 2, 2004

26^th October 5:30-7:30

EA WIE event to be held in the library Foyer Rockingham Campus. Guest speaker Professor Jan Thomas Murdoch Uni. Nibbles and drinks provided. Tour of the university will be included.

Semester 1, 2004

31st May 12.00 - 13.00

Lunch time meeting open to all female engineering students and female staff on Rockingham campus. Guest speaker Susanna Floth, BA from Sky Farming. Her talk will be about setting up wind farms in Australia.

6th May 12.00 - 13.00

Lunch time meeting open to all female engineering students and female staff on Rockingham campus. A time to get to know everyone!

Semester 2, 2003

23rd September, 5.30- 7.00

EA WIE event to be held in the library Foyer Rockingham Campus. Guest speaker Professor Kateryna Longley Pro Vice Chancellor Murdoch Uni. Nibbles and drinks provided. Tour of the university will be included.

Semester 1, 2003

13th March, 12.00

Lunch and Guest speaker Bev Corless from Alcoa, Pinjarra

Semester 2, 2002

15th Oct, 11.30

Networking and Seminar at Motorola, Perth

Meet at Rockingham Campus main entrance at 11.20 for the bus to the city. Lunch at Annalakshmi 12.30. Seminar at Motorola 2.00 - 3.30 at 256 St Georges Terrace. This is a joint event with Curtin Women in Engineering.

17th September, 12.00 noon

Michelle Sang Student Counsellor. Lunch will be provided.

Semester 2, 2001

29th August, 12.00 noon: Helen Makeham and Gerri box to talk on equity issues. Lunch will be provided.

Semester 1, 2001

9th April: Start of semester welcome meeting. Interview with the late Ada Lovelace! Lunch will be served.

Semester 2, 2000

11th September: Sveinbjoerg Sveinsdottir Company: Frankendata Gmbh is an information management and technology service provider. Their clientele includes some of the biggest power companies within the USA and Europe. Lunch provided, start 12.00.

30th August: Steve Messiter, Major Projects manager, Coogee Chemicals. Steve will talk about his career, and Why he is doing an MBA. Coffee and cakes will b provided.

Semester 1, 2000

6th March: Coffee and cakes. Start of semester welcome meeting.

14th March: IEAust visit to Alcoa Refinery, 5 -7pm. Meet by main reception, Rockingham campus.

15th May: Guest speakers will be Sonia Nolan and Pam Crapper from Alcoa speaking on "What they look for when interviewing prospective employees(Engineering Graduates)". All 4th year students are invited (guys included).

6th June: Alcoa Networking Evening - Future Woman of Industry Scholarship Program for year 12 students -Community Library Murdoch University, Rockingham Campus 6.30 - 8.3pm, supper provided..

Semester 1, 1999

1st March - International Women's Day: Guest speaker - Martina Calais. Well attended by most women on Campus.

17th May: Coffee and cakes - End of semester meeting.

Semester 2, 1999

30th August: Afternoon coffee/cakes and general discussion between female students and staff.

20th September: Visit by Su Wu, Telstra Senior Engineer (Internet Products). Su has worked for telstra for 4 1 1/2 years, since graduating from UWA with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

Semester 1, 1998

24th March: General chat to start Murdoch's WiE group and see what support can be given to WiE students.

26th May: Coffee and cakes.

Semester 2, 1998

21st October: Visit by Miriam Everall Women's Officer for Student Guild. Discussion of female student issues and support on Rockingham campus.

16th November: Visit by Kathy Hirschfield, a Senior Business Analyst with BP Refinery, Kwinana Pty Ltd Guild.