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Lunch with Else Shepherd
To celebrate International Women in Engineering Day, IPWEAQ hosted Engineering a Pathway: A Lunch with Else Shepherd to a capacity audience in their facilities at Eagle Farm on 23 June. The event celebrated Else as one of the first women to graduate with a degree in electrical engineering in Queensland.
Following the introduction by Angela Fry, Vice President IPWEAQ, Else took her audience on a journey of her personal and professional endeavours as a female engineer, across many continents. Born in South Africa to Danish parents, Else relocated to Brisbane with her family. Her father, a Professor of Physiology at The University of Queensland motivated her to pursue education, however, Else’s mother and grandmother were her key inspirations, contributing to the strong female legacy Else has continued to share.
When asked about her choice to be an engineer at a time when such a decision was highly unusual, Else shared she had always been fascinated by bridges and satellites and had a profound interest in mathematics and physics. Despite the challenges along the course of her education and professional career, she continued with engineering because “I’ve realised in my life when people say you can’t do that, what they really mean is they feel uncomfortable when you do something out of the norm”. This was not a reason to curb her own plans. She advised those gathered to take advantage of any opportunity, as “you learn fast if you have to”.
Else’s ability to take on pioneering engineering roles across regional and metropolitan Queensland was assisted by her focus on developing a range of interests outside her working life, with a lifelong love and involvement in choirs, music education and hiking.
Even though Else feels the acceptance of women in nonconventional fields such as engineering has improved dramatically over time, she emphasised we are not quite there yet. In honour of her outstanding contribution to the state, Cross River Rail named one of their tunnel boring machines after Else. Apart from receiving
such an esteemed honour, the most rewarding aspect of being a female engineer for Else will be when we omit ‘female’ before the term engineer. Her stories give other women the courage to do what they want to do.
Following the presentation, Else and guests networked and enjoyed a roaming lunch throughout the Public Works Professionals facilities. We would like to thank our principal event sponsor, Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland, and Proterra Group for sponsoring the delegate gift packs.
IPWEAQ members and delegates can view Else’s presentation at http://ow.ly/E07z50FngTR
