Champions of Change has received $1.9 million in funding from the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources through the Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship: Round 5 program.

The grant funding will support the establishment of a new Champions of Change Engineers Group: a three-year national project focused on systemic change to accelerate women’s participation, retention and progression in engineering. The project aims to build on and accelerate progress in lifting women’s representation from 16 per cent to more than 40 per cent over a 10-to-15-year horizon.

The Champions of Change Engineers Group will help develop the engineering workforce needed to deliver national priorities such as the clean energy transformation, new public infrastructure, defence capability, advanced manufacturing and Australia’s broader productivity and skills agenda.

The CEO-led strategy will be the first to implement the Gender Segregation Intervention Model co-developed with Engineers Australia and the broader Champions of Change network. Action will focus on five priority areas to drive lasting system change: social and cultural influences; engagement of the next generation; supported and transparent career pathways; safe and respectful workplace cultures and inclusive work design; and leadership accountability.

Delivered in partnership with Engineers Australia and with the support of Consult Australia, including its consulting engineers-focused Champions of Change Group, the project will bring together CEOs, Board members and senior leaders from across engineering employers, education, professional bodies and the broader engineering ecosystem. Key focus areas include attracting more girls and women to study engineering and strengthening the transition from education into employment and through the middle stages of engineering careers.

The project builds on Champions of Change’s 15+ years of experience advancing gender equality and inclusion in traditionally male-dominated sectors. The leadership and the progress already made by Champions of Change Members with engineering-intensive workforces, including through the Consult Australia Group and across the Property, Energy, Fire and Emergency Services, Rail and STEM and Health Groups provides a unique foundation for the initiative to deliver wider system-level impact.

It will adapt tested Champions of Change strategies and resources for the engineering profession, including inclusive work design and AI, leadership accountability, everyday respect, sponsorship and inclusive career pathways.

Comments:

Julie Bissinella Chief Executive Officer, Champions of Change Coalition

“Engineering remains one of the tough spots for workplace gender equality. Women’s talent is still underused and mid-career progression too often stalls. This can contribute to unfilled roles, lost expertise, pressure on delivery, reduced capacity for innovation and persistent gender pay gaps. Without progress, Australia will struggle to achieve the national ambitions that depend on engineering capability.

We’ve demonstrated that our methodology can accelerate change in male-dominated sectors and look forward to working with Engineers Australia, our Consult Australia Champions of Change Group and broader network to support the organisational and national priorities that depend on these essential skills.“

Romilly Madew AO Chief Executive Officer, Engineers Australia

“Women still make up just 16 per cent of the engineering workforce, highlighting the scale of the challenge. While attracting more women into engineering is critical, we must also address the barriers to entry to the profession and workforce hurdles that see many leave mid career. This grant will help propel action to change direction and in doing so, help meet Australia’s future workforce needs.”

Jonathan Cartledge Chief Executive Officer, Consult Australia

“Consult Australia’s member businesses have demonstrated that sustained leadership can deliver real progress on gender balance in engineering. Women make up more of the total workforce (36%) across Consult Australia Champions of Change members compared to the national industry average (29%). The opportunity now is to scale those lessons beyond individual organisations. Addressing Australia’s engineering workforce challenges requires coordinated action across education, professional development, workplaces and government. This partnership brings the right leaders together to tackle the system, not just the symptoms.”

Kristen Hilton Co-Convenor, Champions of Change National Group, and Convenor, Fire and Emergency, STEM and Health and Insurance Groups

“The idea for our WISE Grant proposal would not have been possible without the insights from our STEM/Health Group and the many leaders and organisations across Champions of Change, who increasingly rely on engineering skills to realise their ambitions.

Australia needs more engineering capability and more diverse engineering leadership. If we want to deliver the infrastructure, energy, technology and community outcomes the country needs, we have to remove the barriers that prevent women from entering, contributing to and progressing in engineering.

This work will focus on practical changes: clearer career pathways, more inclusive project and workplace design, stronger sponsorship, safe and respectful cultures, better transition support and leadership accountability.

Thank you to the Australian Government, Engineers Australia, Consult Australia and the leaders who are committing to this national effort.”

Andrew Stevens Chair, Champions of Change Coalition

“We are grateful to the Australian Government for this investment and for its focus on the long-term structural work needed to increase women’s participation in STEM education and careers. Engineering is central to Australia’s future. It is how we build infrastructure, deliver the energy transition, strengthen productivity and solve complex problems. The profession needs the full range of talent available to it. This grant enables leaders across the engineering ecosystem to work together on the conditions that shape who enters, stays and advances in engineering.”

Elizabeth Broderick AO Founder and Convenor, Champions of Change Coalition

“When we established Champions of Change, we began with a simple belief: leaders with the power to shape systems have a responsibility to use that power to make them fairer, more inclusive and more equitable for everyone, especially where women remain under-represented.

One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that lasting change rarely comes from one organisation acting alone. It comes when leaders across a whole ecosystem commit to working together.

That’s why I’m so pleased to see the launch of the new Champions of Change Engineers Group. Despite the commitment of many individuals and organisations, progress on women’s representation in engineering has been far too slow.

The opportunity now is to connect the whole ecosystem – schools, universities, employers, professional bodies and government – to tackle the barriers together. If we align our efforts, we have a real opportunity to build an engineering profession that better reflects the talent, perspectives and potential of our community.

My thanks to the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Engineers Australia as our project partner, Consult Australia and the leaders who will take this work forward. Engineering shapes the world we all live in. The profession should draw on the talent, insight and leadership of everyone.”