Are there any particular challenges you see in getting fire safety engineering out there as a possible career option, particularly for women? One of the biggest issues is the lack of awareness of the industry. People don’t know it’s a thing that exists, nor that it’s a possible career path. Indeed, many of the people I work with in the industry never planned on working in fire safety, even though it’s such a rewarding career. Equally, fire safety engineering isn’t something you can study at an undergraduate level in Australia and that makes it difficult to share the profession with future engineers. This means there is a whole host of young female engineers that can potentially get overlooked. However, Warringtonfire (formerly known as Defire) attends university career days to expose and encourage students into the industry, and I am a big supporter of programmes which raise awareness about fire safety engineering. However, more can be done to bring about change from an industry level. What has your own experience been like as a woman in the industry, and what does the future look like for women in fire engineering and yourself? Whereas other industries are aiming to achieve an even gender split, the construction industry is setting its targets closer to 25% female representation. Albeit challenging, this is something that’s important to me. When I started as an engineer, I’d often be the only woman in stakeholder consultation meetings. On top of that, I’d find that I’d be at least ten years younger than everyone else, so I initially found it daunting to have to assert myself in such an environment. However, it makes such a difference, in my experience, when you are not the only woman in the room. This is why I try and be proactive. For example, I joined the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), and through the association, I’ve contributed to organising many different events and supporting the local community. Warringtonfire also sponsors the Canberra chapter, which makes me feel very much supported. Looking to the future, I think things are certainly heading in the right direction and you can definitely feel the cultural shift taking place across the country. It’s a bit slower in this industry, but I’m optimistic. I want people to know that there are multiple ways of being an engineer - it doesn’t have to be very masculine. As for me? I’ll hopefully have completed my master’s by the end of next year and by the time this interview comes out, I’ll be figuring out life as a new mother and working out when I’ll be returning to work. It’s an aspect of inclusivity I hadn’t considered before finding myself in the position I am in now. Fortunately, the company I work for provides generous maternity support, which gives me peace of mind and allows me to think about how and when I’ll return. In the meantime, though, I am looking to keep involved with the industry and there are still a few work-social opportunities that I’ve got to look forward to while I’m off. For more information about fire engineering and Warringtonfire, please visit www.warringtonfire.com/fire-engineering Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk THE door industry journal winter 2022 117 Fire Doors, Safety & Security Interested in appearing in the Spring Edition? SAVE THESE DEADLINE DATES: Features Editorial Advertorials 15th February 25th February 5th March
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