International Women in Engineering Day 2026
Every year, International Women in Engineering Day recognises the women helping shape the infrastructure, communities and industries that keep Australia moving.
This year’s theme, Engineering Intelligence, celebrates the creativity, insight and courage engineers bring to solving complex challenges, and the diverse perspectives that strengthen our profession.
As Australia invests in the infrastructure that will support future generations, engineering has never been more important. Behind every successful project are people applying technical expertise, innovation and collaboration to deliver lasting outcomes for communities across the country.
Engineering’s Untapped Workforce
While progress continues, engineering remains one of Australia’s least gender-diverse professions. At a time when infrastructure investment is accelerating and demand for skilled engineers continues to grow, increasing participation isn’t simply about representation—it is about strengthening the industry’s ability to deliver.
Released this month, Engineers Australia and WSP’s Australia’s Untapped Workforce report highlights a significant cohort of experienced engineering talent that remains underutilised despite growing demand.
Key Findings:
- Australia has more than 69,000 qualified female engineers, yet only around 34,000 are working directly in engineering roles
- If women were employed at the same rate as men, 13,000 more would be in the profession today
- 75% of Australia’s qualified female engineers were born overseas
- Female representation declines by around one percentage point every year through the mid-career stage
- Twenty percent of mid-career women in engineering work part time, compared to just eight percent of men
In Conversation with Two of our Civil Engineers
Statistics help tell the story, but they’re only part of it. Behind every number is a person whose career has been shaped by curiosity, opportunity and a passion for solving complex problems.
To mark International Women in Engineering Day, we spoke with two members of our engineering team about the journeys that brought them to Multiworks, the projects that have challenged and inspired them, and what continues to drive their passion for civil engineering.
Both Yolanda and Eve began their engineering careers overseas before bringing their expertise to Australia, a reflection of the diverse talent helping deliver the country’s growing infrastructure pipeline today.
Meet our Senior Estimating Engineer
Yolanda began her career in project delivery and construction in the Philippines. That foundation is what drew her into estimating.
“Early in my career I began work as a civil engineer involved in project delivery and construction activities in the Philippines, giving me a solid understanding of how projects are built from the ground up. Estimating lets me leverage that engineering background in a fast-paced environment where every project is a different challenge.”
Fast-forward to today, Yolanda is one of Multiworks’ most senior estimating professionals. She credits the company’s founders with shaping her expertise.
“Having spent 13 years at Multiworks, I’ve grown with the company. Richard Crosby built my estimating foundations, teaching me what it takes to prepare accurate and competitive tenders. Alan Psaila broadened my perspective on the construction side, allowing me to see how estimates translate into real outcomes on site.”
And outside of work? Her interests are a long way from a construction site.
“Fashion is my creative outlet. It might sound like the antithesis of estimating, but both require attention to detail and careful planning. It’s the perfect balance to the analytical side of my job.”
Meet our Project Engineer
Having grown up in Ireland, Eve found herself drawn early on toward problem solving and construction. Civil engineering, she says, felt like the obvious fit.
“I always enjoyed problem solving and was always interested in construction, so civil engineering felt like the best fit for me. I like that it combines technical thinking with real world application.”
For Eve, the decision to move to Australia was as much about career opportunity as it was about the move itself.
“Civil engineering opens doors globally. Moving from Ireland to Australia gave me the chance to work on complex projects, build my skills quickly, and gain a real understanding of how construction is delivered across different environments. It’s a career that gives you real responsibility and room to grow.”
Eve is currently working on the Sydenham Terminal Station Upgrade, one of the largest projects in her career to date, spanning both Earthworks and Structures packages.
“Working as part of a team is probably what I enjoy most. Since joining, I’ve learned a huge amount from the site teams, which has been invaluable. It’s also really rewarding reaching the end of a project and being able to physically see the progress and what’s been achieved.”
Building a Career in Civil Construction
Whether your path leads to site-based delivery, commercial management or estimating, civil engineering as a discipline offers genuine breadth across roles, sectors and geographies.
At Multiworks, we are committed to building an environment where people at every stage of their career can thrive. We are particularly passionate about female representation as a NAWIC member and EWIT partner.
As part of our 30 by 30 commitment, we have set a goal to reach 30 percent female representation across our workforce by 2030. It means creating visible pathways, supporting progression and ensuring women choose to stay and grow with us.
As we continue to grow and contribute to infrastructure projects across the country, we are always looking for driven engineers to join us. Whether you are early in your career or bringing years of industry experience, we would love to hear from you.
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