Female engineering graduate is building the future of Western Sydney
Approaching the end of her high school journey in the Philippines, Heimy Molina, knew she wanted to one day work in a profession that allowed her to create something that impacts the community and be challenged on a day-to-day basis. That is when she landed on Engineering as her future career path.
Fast forward and Heimy secured a position as a Graduate Engineer, and was recently promoted to Site Engineer, at Gamuda, working on the Western Tunnelling package.
A job she was able to unlock due to her time spent studying at Western Sydney University.
“I like being able to have a significant impact on the community. There’s nothing more priceless than pointing out something and saying, ‘I did that’. Especially when you know that it started as an empty plot of land, for example.”
Reflecting on the steps she took to land her dream job, Heimy remembers looking at universities online as she came to the end of high school.
“Western Sydney University stood out due to the presence of an established and accredited engineering program.”
Before long Heimy moved to Australia to begin her Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), major in Civil, at the University.
“I chose Western due to its diverse culture. This made me feel a sense of belonging and support throughout my adjustment period when I arrived in Australia and throughout my university journey.”
“Aside from the diverse environment, the University has campus locations all over the Western Sydney region allowing for easy access to the campuses, regardless of where you reside. It also poses potential employment opportunities due to its proximity to a lot of related industry workplaces as well.”
“Studying at the University has helped me prepare myself for the workforce and the industry that I embarked into – from the academic studies to the soft skills that I have enhanced during my university life.”
Heimy is a passionate advocate for female empowerment and has been invited to many schools and universities to speak about this passion, resulting in a nomination for the 7News Young Achiever Awards for 2023 and 2024.
She also participated in Western Sydney University’s Women in STEM Education (WiSE) program.
This free program supports the career development of identifying women studying in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by reshaping the STEM workforce through building empowering networks and offering a range of activities and initiatives to those who are enrolled at the University, such as employer visits and access to resources.
“It is a supportive community that celebrates the presence of women in STEM fields. The staff and students involved in the program were amazing and very active on engagement, encouraging me to be an active voice in the industry.”
“Having a strong female presence in the field of STEM enables diversity and equity in the workforce, shattering all gender stereotypes.”
“I believe female presence in male-dominated fields will encourage society to be more open-minded towards societal issues that are usually bounded by stereotypes.”
While at University, Heimy was the recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Award for Engagement and Sustainability in 2022 and the University Medal of Outstanding Scholarship during her graduation in 2023.
Very proud moments in her educational journey, which required a lot of hard yet rewarding work, Heimy shares her words of advice for future students considering a STEM related degree.
“It is definitely not an easy feat, but the struggles of today make the triumphs of tomorrow.”
In addition to her full-time work, Heimy continues to run a branding and career coaching business, Build Your Brand.
Recognising that the journey to study in Australia can be daunting for many international students, Heimy recommends taking the leap and not being afraid to try new things.
“This journey of moving to Australia and studying at Western has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Moving into a new country, rediscovering yourself, and building yourself from scratch, has helped me unlock a version of myself that I never thought I’d unlock.”
ENDS
27 August 2024
Lauren Coskerie, Senior Media Officer
Photo credit: Sally Tsoutas
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