Veolia Australia and New Zealand, a provider of environmental solutions across water and wastewater services, has unveiled a scholarship initiative aimed at bolstering female representation in the field of electrical engineering.
The $40,000 scholarship fund over four years seeks to pave the way for more women to pursue careers in STEM, aligning with Veolia’s commitment to driving sustainable solutions and achieving net-zero targets, the company said in a news release.
The Veolia Women in Electrical Engineering Scholarship, set to commence in 2025, will provide support to two deserving female students embarking on their undergraduate journey in Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical & Electronic) (Honours) program at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC).
Each scholarship, valued at $20,000, underscores the joint efforts of Veolia and UniSC in nurturing innovative sustainability outcomes.
Christophe Maquet, Veolia’s senior executive vice president for Asia Pacific, expressed his enthusiasm for this initiative during his inaugural visit to UniSC, emphasising the immense career opportunities that STEM degrees offer.
“From having a science degree myself, I have seen enormous workforce opportunities that these degrees present, and am very pleased to announce assistance for female students to reach their dream job,” said Maquet, underscoring Veolia’s commitment to ecological transformation.
Grant Winn, chief operating officer – Industrial & Energy at Veolia ANZ, stressed the importance of increasing female representation in STEM disciplines.
“Veolia is one of the largest employers across waste, water and energy and is continuing to grow, and the demand for these roles will only accelerate in the immediate future. We hope to help more female engineers and other STEM-qualified graduates and experienced professionals join our team,” Winn remarked.
UniSC’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Helen Bartlett, hailed the scholarships as a crucial step towards attracting women to the field of engineering.
“Electrical engineering degrees offer enormous career opportunities and Veolia sets high targets for employing female engineers, so it’s important we make those pathways clear for women as they consider their study options,” remarked Professor Bartlett, emphasising the collaborative efforts to create clear pathways for women in engineering.
Furthermore, the ongoing collaboration between Veolia and UniSC has yielded remarkable results, including the development of the water battery project, which significantly reduces energy consumption on the Sunshine Coast campus.
Professor Bartlett lauded Veolia’s commitment to gender diversity, noting their ambitious target of achieving a 50 per cent female workforce in engineering roles, setting a promising precedent for the industry.
Despite the challenges posed by underrepresentation, Veolia’s 2024 graduate campaign witnessed a commendable uptake with 5 out of 12 female engineers joining the workforce.
While the company aspired for a 50 per cent female representation, the high demand for female engineers underscores their value in the industry.
