NOT FOR PUBLICATION - Nadine to make corrections

Maria Koutsimpiris shares her experience across engineering, strategic planning and management as a member of our Advisory Committee. We asked her why she chose to volunteer with us.

Can you tell us about yourself?

I’m the Victorian Manager for the Industrial division of ALS , which focuses on asset reliability and integrity services. Prior to that I worked for GM Holden for many years. I have a mechanical engineering and science (Maths) background and completed my MBA while working full time. I have had a generalist career which has included operations, project and product management, strategic planning, manufacturing, finance and engineering. During my career, I have worked with and in a range of countries and cultures. A highlight was living in Singapore for three years leading portfolio planning for the region. I love photography, entertaining and travelling.

WHY did you volunteer for the Power of Engineering Advisory Committee?

In 2019, I read an article about the declining numbers of women in Engineering which mentioned the Power of Engineering. I reached out to Power of Engineering founder Felicity Furey, and we met and got talking. It was clear I could add value given my engineering and strategic planning background, and the fact that I’m a mum to two teenage daughters. I had also recently completed the AICD Company Directors Course and was wanted to assist a not-for-profit organisation which aligned with my values and interests. The Power of Engineering ticked all those boxes. I feel a moral obligation to help improve the number of female engineers – it staggers me that the numbers are basically unchanged from when I was at university. There is no silver bullet, it will require a multi-pronged approach. While I have assisted with leading workplace initiatives, I wanted to work at the front end to grow the feeder pool of qualified candidates and learn more about the barriers at high school.

WHY is it important for Power of Engineering volunteers to have access to experienced mentors and advisors?

The Power of Engineering is a fabulous organisation which helps connect female high school students with recent graduates to improve their understanding of what a career in engineering can bring. It also provides a platform to grow young professionals’ leadership, collaboration and governance skills through the Executive Committee. With these governance responsibilities come significant responsibilities that aren’t taught in an engineering degree. Access to experienced mentors and advisors allows volunteers to ask a broader range of questions in all areas including strategy, marketing, processes, financials and execution. Most importantly, it provides a safe, supportive environment for this learning to occur.

WHY would you recommend an Advisory Committee role to others?

It’s a fabulous grassroots organisation with a solid track record, longevity and a focussed direction to engage with female high school students and help them to consider engineering careers. It’s great to be able to mentor younger professionals to achieve the goals they have set. Everyone is genuinely interested and invested in growing the Power of Engineering. The workshops are awesome – the looks on the girls’ faces when they have worked together to complete an engineering challenge are gold!