For the first time, female participation in Hatch’s STEM summer vacation program has hit 52%, setting a benchmark for gender diversity.
The fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) have traditionally been male-dominated sectors, but global consulting company Hatch have been working hard to attract and recruit women to drive diversity and inclusion in the arena with excellent results.
Their annual program saw 44 students, over 50% who were female, from New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria gain practical industry experience across a range of roles and industries in the STEM space, under the guidance of some of the sector’s most revered experts.
Students like Gabrielle Clark, who was studying a double degree of Chemical Engineering and Business at the University of Newcastle where she heard about the program.
“Participating in the program was an invaluable experience. It allowed me to apply and develop the knowledge and tools gained from uni in an industrial setting. During the program, my focus was in the coal industry working on a flotation circuit upgrade study for a coal handling preparation plant, an opportunity I would never have had without the program,” Gabrielle told us.
Now Gabrielle is a graduate and has experience working in multiple teams and on projects and has seen firsthand why it is so important that we have a gender diversity.
“It is great that companies like Hatch are leading the way in promoting a diverse and gender balanced workforce as it provides diversity of thought and further encourages collaboration. I believe diversity provides greater innovation and creativity which leads to better solutions for clients and our communities,” Gabrielle said.
“I believe it is important to support young women interested in a career in the STEM field, providing them with opportunity to follow their passion. I would encourage any young ladies interested in exploring their interests in the STEM field to embrace all opportunities and experiences that may come their way. If you want to be in a rewarding, challenging industry and make a difference in our community, have a crack at engineering!” she added.Its initiatives like this that have seen Hatch achieve WGEA’s Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation this year — a voluntary accreditation program that recognises organisations’ active commitment to achieving gender equality in the workplace.