Connexis CEO Helmut Modlik says: "Women represent more than 50 per cent of the population, but are under-represented in roles within our industry, so there's a huge potential employment pool for us to tap into. Our objective is to open doors to women in these industry sectors and put in front of them careers that they may not have otherwise considered."
The high point of Girls' Hi-Vis month, held in June, was a Celebration of Women in Infrastructure lunch at Te Papa, where Nasa astronaut Captain Wendy Lawrence was the key speaker. She was in the second class of women to attend the Naval Academy and on graduation only 10 per cent of the students were female. At Nasa about 30 per cent of astronauts were women.
She had wanted to be an astronaut from the age of 10 when she watched the Apollo 11 moon landing. She's now a veteran of four space shuttle flights, including the first post-Columbia accident space shuttle mission. She says her personal attributes of being a very focused and determined person served her well in her 25-year pursuit to fulfil her dream.
"Most people don't realise Nasa astronauts spend most of their time doing technical assignments in support of the human spaceflight programme, rather than flying in space," says Lawrence. "But all of us wish it were the other way around!"
Her advice to young girls looking for a more technical-oriented career is just to believe in themselves, be willing to work hard to become very competent at their job and to seek out a mentor who can guide them through their career progression.
"Along these lines, you also need a support system. Getting to where you want to be requires hard work and a sustained effort. You will get tired along the way and you will need encouragement," says Lawrence. "So, surround yourself with people who believe in you and support you."
She says being in the minority in the workplace doesn't mean your male colleagues aren't willing to help you be successful, especially if you show the desire to learn and become very good at your job.
"Don't be afraid to ask for help. It isn't a sign of weakness if you aren't able to do everything on your own. In fact, it's a sign of strength when you realise you don't have all the answers and can learn a great deal from those around you."
In the audience at the lunch was Laisa Pickering, 35, of Henderson. She has been a trainee line mechanic for the past two years after working in earth moving and civil construction.
"I used to lay the cables for line mechanics when they came to the subdivisions where I worked. They'd brag about how good their work was, so I asked them to put in a good word in for me," says Pickering, who loved technical drawing, physics and science at school growing up in Fiji and once dreamed of becoming an astronaut like Captain Lawrence.
In Pickering's whole depot of 150 males, there are only three females on the team. She says it's not a hindrance and she's been surprised by the amount of support she gets from her male colleagues.
"I came from a family of six girls and one boy," says Pickering. "The physical side is a bit of a struggle, but the guys can help and if you put it out there that you're not interested in any shenanigans, they leave you alone in that respect."
She says her family were "amazed and in awe of the 'weakling' in the family" heading down this path. They're very proud she chose a non-traditional career and is thriving in the environment.
Her advice to other women wanting to follow her lead is: "Just go for it, give it a go, you don't realise how enjoyable it is until you try it. I'm so lucky. I get paid to come to work and study for a qualification. I'm an apprentice, but I'm already on a reasonable wage; it's pretty cool."
As New Zealand looks to overseas workers to fill the trades gap, now's a great time for women interested in the more male-dominated industries to follow Lawrence and Pickering and get a foot in the door to a rewarding career.
