Women share insights
ENGINEERING, architecture and construction service provider GHD (Fiji) hosted its annual Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM) panel event in Suva on March 6 in celebration of International Women’s Day.
The event had over 50 attendees, from various sectors within the construction and engineering industry, research institutes, private business and the public sector, as well as students from the Fiji National University and University of the South Pacific. The panel included five distinguished women, each representing different disciplines within the STEM fields.
They were general manager Land and Housing Development at Housing Authority of Fiji Renee Duguivalu, TotalEnergies engineering manager Retail – Central & Eastern Division Fiji and Tonga Safaira Veitomiyaki, KPMG functional consultant Prathna Nikansha Lal, GHD Fiji civil/structural engineer Shayal Priyanka and senior marketing officer at the Ministry of Lands & Mineral Resources and chair of the Pacific Islands GIS and Remote Sensing Salote Viti.
The women shared their insights and experiences based on the UN theme for IWD 2024 “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress”.
Throughout the event, the focus was on celebrating the unique strengths and positive experiences of women in STEM.
The unwavering support from mentors, colleagues, and family emerged as a recurring theme throughout the talanoa, with panelists emphasising its critical role in personal and professional growth.
“We are very lucky to have the expertise that these women hold, in researching, designing and delivering the many projects and initiatives occurring in Fiji,” GHD (Fiji)’s environment team leader, Emma Newland said.
“The diverse perspective and approach that women bring, creates solutions and advances that is unique. I’m also excited at the contribution our young women are bringing into the STEM field”
Another notable takeaway was the recognition of women in STEM as risk-takers — how can one know if they’re good at something if they do not try? Women’s readiness to embrace challenges, overcome uncertainty, and take on new opportunities is a driving force for their successes.
While career paths may not always follow a linear trajectory or personal expectations, the panelists, through their reflections, demonstrated how perseverance and a strong support system leads to boundless opportunities and eventual success.
The event concluded with a networking session, providing attendees with an opportunity to connect and share insights gained from the discussions.