Civil Engineering July 2021 | Vol 29 No 6

From the Pres ident ’ s desk Civil Engineering July 2021 1 A major part of my presidential theme for 2021 is gender inclusivity, and how we as professionals in the industry can advocate for ensuring that we work towards creating a more gender inclusive environment. Engineering contributes to shaping the world and making our planet a much better, safer, more innovative and, if done correctly, healthier place to live. However, engineering is perhaps the most male-dominated field in STEM. It may even be the most male- dominated profession globally, with women making up only a fraction of the engineering workforce. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN ENGINEERING DAY Working to address this imbalance and celebrate the strides that women engineers have made in this male-dominated profession, engineers around the world celebrated International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) on 23 June 2021. National Women in Engineering Day was launched in the UK on 23 June 2014 by the Women’s Engineering Society and has since grown to a point where it received UNESCO patronage in 2016. After gaining international traction in 2017, INWED was formed to allow the celebration of women in engineering on a global scale. It has grown to such an extent that in 2020 the potential global audience reach was estimated as more than 100 million people. The most encouraging aspect of INWED is that it has become an international awareness campaign to advance the profile of women in engineering and focus attention on the remarkable career opportunities available to women in the engineering pro- fession. It also celebrates the outstanding achievements of women engineers throughout the world. ENCOURAGING GIRLS INTO ENGINEERING CAREERS The purpose of INWED is to focus attention on the numerous opportunities available to women who want to pursue a career in engineering or are already working in engineering. This is important as we are currently not only addressing the skills shortages in engineering, but we are also focused on achieving gender inclusivity and equality within our profession. It is im- perative that public and private enterprises as well as advocacy groups affiliate themselves with INWED as it celebrates female engineers from around the world at a time when they are still immensely under-represented in their professions. It is also a vital tool to encourage more young women to take up careers in engineering. 2021 THEME: #EngineeringHeroes The INWED theme for 2021 is ‘Engineering Heroes’. The theme was based on the role played by engineers in response to the Covid-19 pandemic: delivering and maintaining critical services and infrastructure, keeping civil society functioning at every level, supporting lives and livelihoods as well as tackling climate change. INWED in many ways assists in supporting women to achieve their potential while providing a clear call to women to shape the world we live in. It has become evident that, since recognising women in engineering, the field is growing in popularity. More women are drawn to the engineering profession as they have found inspiration from those who have made great strides before them. Ultimately, there must be equal representation of people from all walks of life working in engineering and STEM roles. It must be acknowledged that throughout the course of his- tory, women have showcased their skills and broken stereotypes to make ground-breaking discoveries in their fields. It is evident that women of today are inspired by those who have broken the glass ceiling and it is therefore important for today’s women to inspire the women of tomorrow. The United Nation’s International Labour Organisation has for a long time emphasised the urgent need for countries to address gender inequality in the scien- tific and technological fields and to alter the outdated at- titudes that exist in these sec- tors, pointing out that failing to do so will create an obstacle to the progress of the country. Gender disparity undoubtably plays a role in South Africa’s scarcity of competent engineers and this is perhaps restricting infrastructure Gender inclusivity and equality – celebrating women engineers around the world “One-quarter isn’t equality. Equality is one-half.” – Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women It must be acknowledged that throughout the course of history, women have showcased their skills and broken stereotypes to make ground-breaking discoveries in their fields