Guest Blog by Olivia Blight

“Hi girledworld!

My name is Olivia Blight and I am a Design Engineer at Rheinmetall Defence Australia. I attended the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane where I completed my Honours Bachelor Degree in Medical Engineering. At Rheinmetall, I’m part of the LYNX engineering team that is developing an Infantry Fighting Vehicle. I love my job as tasks vary from day to day, I get to meet and learn from highly specialised teams plus I work on material I could only have dreamed of a few years ago!”

MY IMPACT-DRIVEN CAREER PATHWAY IN ENGINEERING

“I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was 9 years old which completely changed my perspective on health.

Suddenly, I was exposed to medical equipment that I had to use several times a day. As I got older, I started to identify improvements for insulin delivery and blood sugar level monitoring, and wondered: Who designed these machines? Is there a job for this?

Olivia Blight - Patrol Captain at Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club

Other than my Type 1 Diabetes, I have been heavily involved with surf lifesaving while growing up, which exposed me to all types of emergency medical equipment. I found the design crucial as it directly affects the process and timeframe of rescuing someone. As lifesavers, we rely on this kit to work effectively when we’re trying to save someone’s life.

But while working in this area, the questions started brewing in me again: Could an oxygen tank be replaced by an open-air filter? Could a drone deliver this to the rescuer and patient in the open water?

Even though some of my ideas over the years have been farfetched, it was fun and challenging to question how and why things existed around me, which is something that I still do every day!

In high school, I entered into an engineering design competition with the Queensland University of Technology. I was able to talk to professionals about a career in engineering, which initiated my professional network and solidified my degree decision. I enrolled at the Queensland University of Technology and spent several years completing my degree in medical engineering. I became an academic tutor, joined social clubs and invested my time in fuelling my curiosity about the world.

Slowly, I began to grow my current motto;

“I want to help as many people as possible in the most efficient and effective way.”

TAPPING RESILIENCE TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION

“I have always been a motivated individual.

My mum always reminds me that when I was little, I wanted to do everything myself! But with self-motivation also comes with self-doubt. I had a few experiences where people told me I would never be an engineer, or I would be better off doing something else (usually in a female-dominated field).

Until now, I never realised this criticism and external questioning is not commonly experienced by males - it turns out none of my male friends were questioned about why they were doing an engineering degree. But these instances have allowed me to decide for myself what I really wanted, and have pushed me to build greater inner resilience and confidence.

I use my personal success, my motto and my curiosity as my ongoing motivation, every single day.”

A PASSION FOR PROBLEM-SOLVING

“I can confidently say I would have never imagined myself in my current job when I first began my undergraduate degree. If I can give one piece of advice it would be this:

Never doubt yourself or an opportunity, take them all in your stride!

What I love most about my career is that there is always a problem to be fixed or something new to be made. In design engineering, you utilise your problem-solving skillset and engineering fundamentals you developed in university every single day.

What I also love is that it is creative! People tend to box engineering into an analytical and mathematical type of job, but this is not the case with design - physics and imagination have no limits!.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Another aspect I really enjoy about engineering is the teamwork mentality.

No vehicle is made by a single person. The complex integration of systems means you are constantly working with your teammates but also consulting contractors, project managers, machining specialists and welders (to name just a few).

Over my short time in my current graduate job, I have found that the more I learn, the more I fathom how much more there is to learn! I am expecting to never truly become an expert in engineering as technology will continually improve, which will require the flexibility of understanding and an eagerness to constantly upskill.

CURRENT ISSUES IN A MALE-DOMINATED FIELD

The positive and negative biases associated with being a female engineer comes down to the values of individuals and company culture. Issues that I have identified through my own and peer experiences are:

1. People understanding meritocracy

The first issue is one I care strongly for; I believe that one’s merit and value in a team should not be based upon who they are, where they come from or what they look like. Merit is merit. The opinion that if a woman gets a job, opportunity or scholarship because they are a female demeans their ability as an engineer.

2. Having your voice and opinion ignored or others taking credit for your idea

The second raises the importance of believing in what you know and what you make. I have realised that confidence and assertiveness develops over time and through experience. Most people are not 100% sure about their decisions, which is why we work in teams. From this, it is important that you have effective and open communication channels with your colleagues, which will reduce the possibility of being dismissed.

3. Defining who you are without worrying about ‘fitting in’

The third issue refers to being true to yourself in a foreign environment. For example, entering into a lecture theatre where you are one of two women can be daunting. Just remember why you are there! This acts in parallel with a job, as you have been chosen because you provide new skills and perspective to the current team - so just be yourself.