Sunday June 23rd, marks International Women in Engineering Day (INWED).
In 2024, the event celebrates 11 years in action, recognising the significant contributions made by women engineers throughout history, as they continue to fuel innovation and inspire future generations.
This year’s theme #EnhancedByEngineering, places a spotlight on the positive impact engineering makes in day-to-day life; in particular, the positive impact women engineers continue to make to the profession globally.
Ahead of this year’s event, we connected with Ceery Ye, NSW based Project Manager for Airmaster, who in the lead up to #INWED24, reflects on her Mechanical Engineering journey, sharing with us her experience as a woman in STEM.
Can you share a bit about your journey and what inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?
I applied to study engineering on a whim, and on a friend’s recommendation.
He was studying mechanical engineering at the time and suggested it as a potential career path given my keen interest in maths and understanding the intricacies of the world.
I’ve always felt very connected to applied mathematics. With only one right answer, it differs from alternate areas of study which can be a vague interpretation based on people’s emotions and experiences – this then led me to engineering!
Unlike theoretical mathematics, engineering combines complex theories and applies them to everyday life. The ability to create a tangible difference to the world we live in is a noble pursuit in my opinion. This led me to pursue a career in which I was able to apply myself from a theoretical and practical point of view, enhancing the life of others and the world we live in.
What aspects of engineering do you find most exciting or rewarding?
Understanding the elaborate nature of how things work and the amount of planning that’s required to bring such complex system together. The inter-dependency of trade, supplier and end-user demands, makes for a uniquely interesting synergy. Connecting the dots between multiple parities can make the job extremely demanding, yet consecutively rewarding.
Every task is unique in nature due to its building orientation, configuration and location, providing a particular complexity to every job. No day is ever boring or monotonous, as I work with different people from different trades, backgrounds and experiences, affording me a sense of gratitude and accomplishment, both personally and professionally.
As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, what challenges or obstacles have you faced? How did you overcome them?
I’ve generally felt very welcome in the industry, acknowledging however that gender bias is still present in the field. Overcoming perceived stereotypes can be difficult as people can have pre-conceived notions that a woman is the “diversity” hire, as opposed to the correct hire. Despite these assumptions, the simple fact that we all work as equals, and alongside one another, serves as an opportunity to change preconceived notions of women in the field.
What advice would you give to young girls or women considering a career in engineering or other STEM fields?
It’s definitely a field worth pursuing if you have an interest in applying theoretical knowledge to real world practices. Women provide a good balance and broader perspective to tasks and the work force. Many companies are actively working to enhance women's participation in the field, so there are ample opportunities to succeed if you leverage opportunities presented.
What are your future career goals or aspirations within the engineering field?
I aim to continue learning, harnessing opportunities to further develop my skillset and career within Project Management.
I’d like to build more technical knowledge around the various aspects involved in HVAC; including the refrigeration cycle, communications protocol for BMS and understanding the electrical circuit.
Increasing technical knowledge will never be detrimental to career aspirations, and it gives you the ability to stand your ground within the industry.
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