News Archive

Women are in a unique position to be able to bring exceptional life skills to the workplace, according to one of The University of Western Australia’s first female engineering graduates, Sue Murphy.

Ms Murphy, who was also the first female engineer employed by Western Australian construction firm Clough Engineering, will be the guest speaker at a cocktail party to honour women in engineering at The University of Western Australia’s Watersports Complex, from 6.30pm-8.30pm next Friday, October 26, 2007.

Speaking at an International Women’s Day celebration at UWA earlier this year, Ms Murphy urged women to bring their life skills to work with them. These included negotiation skills, political strategic positioning and communication skills.

“All of us juggle lives and work, yet most of us draw a line between the two. We can achieve significant diversity by simply merging our work selves with our out-of-work selves. If we can bring whole people to work instead of just a part of them, we can harness unbelievable skills.”

UWA Vice-Chancellor Alan Robson said female engineering graduates had made a significant contribution to the state’s development. “I’m delighted that their achievements are being recognised at this event,” Professor Robson said.

“The University of Western Australia has produced some outstanding graduates, including Kirsty Newton, a mechanical engineering graduate who was one of this year’s recipients of the General Sir John Monash Award.”

Ms Murphy, who now works as General Manager of Planning and Infrastructure at the Water Corporation, graduated in civil engineering in 1979 from The University of Western Australia.

Engineers Australia has named 2007 the Year of Women in Engineering in a bid to educate people about engineering, the role of women in engineering and to showcase the successes and achievements of female engineers.

The University of Western Australia has had 875 women graduate with Bachelors of Engineering since 1973. This event is hosted by UWA’s Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, as part of The Year of Women in Engineering.

Media references

Simone Hewett / Sally-Ann Jones 61 8 6488 7977
(UWA Public Affairs) 0420 790 097 / 0420 790 098