We need a bigger workforce and smart, imaginative and passionate people in the manufacturing and engineering sector, from trades people to technicians to engineers. We need more diversity in the sector – women’s participation has been steady at around 28% for years.
That’s why we were so excited to ask our members and supporters to invite their daughters to hear from two very smart, imaginative and passionate women – Miranda George, Lead Maintenance Engineer at Shell, and Sally McArthur Director at Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University and biomedical engineer – about the huge breadth of interesting and rewarding careers the sector and STEAM roles in particular offers. Our young audience left inspired and we’re sure we’ll see some of them following in Miranda’s and Sally’s footsteps in years to come.
Our workforce of the future programs Geelong Future Leaders of Industry (GFLOI) and Girls Leading Advanced Manufacturing (GLAM) 2022 cohorts are at the halfway mark with recent visits to Ford, Air Radiators, Hanlon Industries, Austeng, Thornton Engineering, Viva Energy, Godfrey Hirst (North and South Geelong) Incitec Pivot and Geelong Tech School.
Students have been exposed to an impressive range of careers, inspired by industry experts and excited by what they see on site tours. With a high level of engagement, thoughtful questions and positive feedback, it’s clear the students are enjoying their taste of a possible future in manufacturing. The feedback from participating organisations also shows the students are making an impression. More to come in the remainder of the year’s calendar!
GFLOI & GLAM are delivered with the support of The Gordon Skilling the Bay