Eager to advocate for women in engineering, PBC sat down with Svetlana Joao, structural engineer, TYPSA, and ICE President’s Future Leader, to talk about her career as a female engineer and encouraging more diversity in the sector
I love my job. As a civil engineer and specifically as a structural engineer, I envisage things that others may not dream possible.
But, if you asked me one thing I’d like to change about my sector – I’d tell you, I wish I could see more people who look like me.
I wish I saw more women in similar roles, and I wish I saw more people of colour. Sure, we are here, but we are the minority. And, in a job that is about transforming the lives of communities and society, surely it’s important we are as diverse as those we make decisions for.
Tell us a little about how you got started in the engineering industry.
The great thing about engineers, is we all got into it from different places, through different routes – but ultimately, I think, we all got here for the same reason: to make a difference and improve our communities.
What inspired me to become an engineer, was the realisation of the significant contribution I could make to society.
I was born and grew up in Angola, a developing country with multiple social issues, where the lack of well-designed and executed infrastructure projects is very evident.
This realisation sparked a desire within me to become a civil engineer and make a positive impact by creating sustainable solutions to improve people’s life while addressing all those challenges.
It wasn’t a specific project, but rather the absence of impactful projects that motivated me to pursue a career in engineering.
Then, when I moved to Europe, I had the opportunity to witness the complexity and ingenuity of construction projects firsthand. One project that particularly inspired me was “The Vasco da Gama” Bridge in Lisbon.
As the second-longest bridge in Europe, it fascinated me with its remarkable structural design and the engineering feats required to bring it to life. Witnessing such impressive projects further fuelled my passion for engineering and reinforced my commitment to contribute to the field.
After completing my master’s degree in Structural Engineering in Lisbon, I moved to London to explore new opportunities.
I began my career in June 2019, and it has been a fulfilling journey of four years so far. It was during this time that I was fortunate enough to secure a position with TYPSA, working on the structural team of the HS2 Project.
Why is diversity important in industries like construction?
As a black girl with limited experience in the construction industry, I have encountered a few challenges along the way.
Stereotypes and biases are still present in the construction industry and this prevents women from being given equal opportunities within the sector.
The absence of diverse role models and mentors within the industry has also been a challenge.
It can be discouraging to not see many people who look like me or share similar experiences in leadership positions. This lack of representation makes it harder to find guidance, advice, and support as I navigate my career path.
Despite these challenges, I am eager to learn and grow within the construction industry. I believe that with determination, resilience, and access to supportive networks, I can overcome these obstacles. It is my hope that more opportunities and efforts towards diversity and inclusion will emerge, enabling individuals like myself to thrive and contribute to the construction industry.
I hope that in a few years’ time, when those young girls studying STEM subjects now enter the workforce as graduate engineers, I can be there as an example of someone like them that they can look up to.
What can be done to encourage more women into engineering?
It’s encouraging to see that the number of female members for the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is increasing.
Over the last 15 years, the number of female members has almost doubled – from 8.4% to 16.3%. That’s good progress, and I hope that those numbers continue to increase.
However, while the numbers are increasing – and the ICE membership is in line with industry standards – we have a long way to go. According to recent Engineering UK figures, women in engineering make up 16.5% of the workforce, compared to 47.7% of the general workforce. Women are still vastly underrepresented in our sector.
To encourage more women into engineering careers, engineering organisations, employers, schools, government bodies, and society can take several key steps.
These include promoting STEM education and engaging girls at a young age, challenging gender stereotypes associated with engineering, and increasing the visibility of women engineers as role models.
They can also work harder to create supportive work environments that value diversity, provide scholarships and financial support, and foster collaboration and partnerships.
There needs to be more work done to address unconscious bias in hiring and promotion processes, and to actively engage with communities to promote engineering as a viable career choice for women.
Civil engineering is such a rewarding career. I get to work on projects that help build a better world for everyone. I think back to the young girl I was, who didn’t see good infrastructure around her and dreamed of making a difference. I think she’d be very proud of where I am now – working to make sure other little girls can achieve their dreams too.
