Page 29 - EngineerIT April May Issue 2026
P. 29
WOMEN IN STEM
Working in competing realities Elsona highlights the value of support within a planner’s complex
Much of Elsona’s work involves bringing profession; not only in technical terms but also personally.
together stakeholders who do not operate
in the same way. “The ongoing exposure to complexity, and to the limits of what can
be changed quickly, takes its toll,” she says. “Career progression in
She elaborates: “Government departments this industry does not happen in isolation. The work involves travel,
work within policy frameworks and political long hours and high levels of responsibility. For many women, this sits
cycles. Industry works within commercial alongside family commitments and personal responsibilities.
timelines. Communities experience the
impact of both, often without direct “That balance changes over time, but the need for support remains
influence over either. Alignment is never constant. You can’t do this work alone.”
automatic.
Women in a changing field
“It requires evidence, communication and Elsona notes that the gender balance in planning and related disciplines
negotiation. It especially requires patience is shifting. Where cohorts were once predominantly male, they are now
and personal understanding. Outcomes do increasingly balanced, and in some cases more female-led; a change
not appear quickly, and when they do, they that brings new strengths into the space. She explains:
often introduce new pressures, because
growth creates its own challenges, so our “The work we do requires both technical analysis and relational
work is continuous.” awareness. The ability to hold data and context simultaneously, and
to facilitate conversations that are not always easy. While these are
Purpose, with pressure attached not exclusively female traits, they are increasingly evident in the ways
Development planning carries weight women are shaping once-male-dominated fields.”
because it deals with real constraints.
Infrastructure gaps are not abstract. Advice for upcoming professionals
Economic limitations are not theoretical. Elsona emphasises that no one needs to master everything. The
Communities are not case studies. expectation that individuals should cover every capability is misaligned
with how complex work actually gets done.
At the same time, results are not always
visible in a way that individuals can Instead, she says networks, mentorship, learning from others and
immediately point to. Progress unfolds over building capability within your groups should take the lead.
time and is often attributed to systems
rather than people. That can be difficult to “Surround yourself with people you can learn from,” she concludes. “This
navigate. is how careers truly develop over time.”
29 | EngineerIT April/May 2026
