Sam Rowen – Associate, Civil Engineer

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

My primary inspiration is my Dad. He is a structural engineer with a deep passion for engineering and construction. One of my earliest memories is helping Dad water the newly poured concrete slab, for the family shed, to help with the concrete curing. So, I was indoctrinated from an early age. I love the built environment and the thousands of years of human knowledge that has led to the intricate and complex cities that we live in. I also spend my childhood fascinated with science and mathematics. Engineering seemed like the logical choice to apply the things I enjoyed.

Have you faced any challenges as a woman in the engineering space, and how did you overcome them?

I have never considered that my opportunities in the industry will be any different because of my gender. Having said that the industry has changed over the last 20 years. I feel like the team on jobs sites are used to seeing more women in construction settings. When I first started going to site, I felt like the site teams would be unsure of how they should act when I was there. These days it generally feels more comfortable and I’m no different to anyone else that visits.

Working in a male-dominated field, what advice would you give to other women wanting to begin a career in engineering?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about things you don’t know. Admitting that there are things you don’t know is a great strength to be admired.

Everyone you come in contact with has some knowledge you don’t. Assume that there is something big or small to learn from everyone.

 How has ARIS Engineers supported your professional growth and development?

ARIS has always provided an open environment that fosters curiosity. I’ve found that the team enjoy sharing their knowledge and experience. We are also encouraged to follow our curiosities in formal training courses that are supported by the business.

Jessica Zollner – Structural Engineer

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

I’ve been inspired by buildings/structures since I was 10 years old, and I knew for a long time that I wanted to be part of that design process. The idea of designing complex and interesting structures was always appealing to me. Additionally, Maths was always my favourite subject in school, which naturally led me to pursue a career in engineering.

Have you faced any challenges as a woman in the engineering space, and how did you overcome them?

Personally, I’ve been quite fortunate to have had an overall positive experience being a woman in the industry, which I hope reflects the significant progress that has been made in the industry in the last 20 years or so. Although in saying that, I find there can still be some challenges as a woman. I’m not naturally the loudest person and, particularly in a room full of men, this can lead to my views being overlooked or I get made to feel as though I wasn’t capable by external consultants who assume they know better. Over time, I’ve learned to overcome these challenges by communicating my ideas with confidence, ensuring my work can be backed up by clear analysis and not being afraid to stand by my professional opinions.

Working in a male-dominated field, what advice would you give to other women wanting to begin a career in engineering?

My advice would have to be to have confidence in yourself and your abilities. If you’re not confident in yourself, your client won’t have confidence in you either. When you become a confident communicator, you demonstrate that you are capable, knowledgeable, and committed to delivering value to the team.

 How has ARIS Engineers supported your professional growth and development?

ARIS has given me incredible opportunities to grow my engineering expertise by entrusting me with challenging projects and progressively increasing my level of responsibility. The support and mentorship of my colleagues have also played a significant role in shaping me into a better engineer and fostering my professional growth.

What stands out most is that I’ve found the work environment at ARIS to be very positive, supportive, and inclusive, where people feel comfortable asking questions, seeking guidance, and having open conversations about where they’d like to take their career.

Roné Van Zyl – Civil Engineer

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

From a young age, I was exposed to engineering through my dad, who worked as a civil engineer. Growing up, he encouraged me to be curious and understand how things work rather than simply accepting them at face value. Through this, he helped develop my interest in maths and physics from an early age, which naturally led me towards engineering.

What has inspired me most about civil engineering is the opportunity to contribute to projects that impact people’s lives in one way or another. It is a career that plays a direct role in shaping the environment and developing the infrastructure that people use daily, both now and for future generations. The idea of being able to contribute, even in a small way, is what continues to motivate me to pursue a career in engineering.

Have you faced any challenges as a woman in the engineering space, and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges I have faced has been meeting new clients, consultants, and contractors and being mistaken as not being part of the engineering team. On more than one occasion, I have been asked whether I am there on behalf of an engineer rather than being the engineer myself. Experiences like this can create self-doubt and make you question your abilities. I have been overcoming this by building self-confidence and by working in an environment where I have always been treated as an equal alongside my male counterparts. Having supportive colleagues and management, as well as the opportunity to work under a senior female engineer who has spent many years in the industry, has been incredibly valuable. This has taught me the importance of self-confidence, backing your own knowledge and abilities.

Working in a male-dominated field, what advice would you give to other women wanting to begin a career in engineering?

Engineering is a great industry for women, and I believe women often bring a different perspective and way of thinking that can add real value to a team. My biggest advice would be not to feel discouraged by the fact that it is traditionally a male-dominated field. Build a network of like-minded people, whether that is friends or family who will encourage you to trust your own ambitions and not be influenced by outdated views.

I also think it is very important to find a company where you feel valued and supported. Paying attention to how management treats their female colleagues can give a strong indication of the company culture and whether it is an environment where you will feel respected, supported, and able to grow professionally.

 How has ARIS Engineers supported your professional growth and development?

ARIS Engineers has created a supportive working environment where asking questions and learning from others is always encouraged. The opportunity to attend training courses that support both professional development and the expansion of technical knowledge has always been available. Additionally, learning by example through working alongside experienced colleagues has allowed me to continuously improve and gain confidence in my role. Being exposed to a wide variety of projects has also broadened my experience and helped me develop a well-rounded understanding of the industry.

Penelope Barimis – Revit Modeller

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

I’ve always had an interest in maths & problem solving, so naturally, that led me to pursue a career in engineering.

Have you faced any challenges as a woman in the engineering space, and how did you overcome them?

Early on in my studies, I was often told I would only be given opportunities since I was a women and only to meet “diversity quotas”, so having to hear that often was quite disheartening and led me to feel the need to constantly prove that it was my own abilities that allowed me to finish my studies.

Becoming used to being the only woman, or one of few, in a team, whilst also feeling imposter syndrome led me to learn and grow confidence in myself.

Working in a male-dominated field, what advice would you give to other women wanting to begin a career in engineering?

My advice to other women wanting to start a career in engineering is to not be afraid to ask questions and continue to learn. In my opinion, there’s never a wrong question when it comes to learning.

 How has ARIS Engineers supported your professional growth and development?

ARIS Engineers has given me additional responsibilities and leadership on projects as I’ve progressed in my career over the past decade. This has allowed me to gain experience, knowledge, and confidence from the many complexities and challenges that occur with career development. The constant mentoring and support, project variety, and ability to work alongside like-minded individuals has also been incredibly beneficial to my career since working at ARIS.

Marcela Alves – Civil Drafter

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

I’ve always enjoyed problem-solving and understand how things work. And I’ve always been surrounded by engineering, my father and my uncle are both engineers. Seeing their work and the impact they had through their careers inspired me. I was fascinated by the way engineering combines technical knowledge, problem-solving, and creativity to deliver practical solution. The opportunity to contribute to infrastructure that improves people’s daily lives motivated me to pursue this career path.

Have you faced any challenges as a woman in the engineering space, and how did you overcome them?

Like most women in engineering, I have occasionally found myself as the only woman in meetings, job sites, or project discussions. It was scary to deal in some situations, especially in Brazil. Building confidence through experience and working with supportive team has helped me overcome these challenges and continues growing professionally.

Working in a male-dominated field, what advice would you give to other women wanting to begin a career in engineering?

I think the main advice is believe in yourself. Also be curious, ask questions, and always continue learning. Confidence develops with experience.

 How has ARIS Engineers supported your professional growth and development?

Having a supportive team environment helps a lot, encourages continuous learning, collaboration, and professional development. The opportunity to work on a variety of projects and different people is helping me expand my technical knowledge and practical experience.