Cheese and Chats: Women Engineering Work-Life Balance

​ What does it really take to build a successful engineering career while navigating life's many challenges? Join us for a candid conversation with women at different stages of their engineering careers as they share their personal stories of ambition, resilience, caregiving, leadership and legacy.

Reflecting on their own experiences, our panel will explore how expectations have evolved, the realities of balancing career and family, the barriers that still exist and the changes needed to ensure future generations of women can thrive in engineering without compromise.

Whether you're just starting your career, leading teams, considering your next chapter or simply passionate about creating more inclusive workplaces, this discussion offers valuable insights and wisdom from those who have lived it.

Come and be part of the conversation as we celebrate the women who have shaped engineering and those who will shape its future.  

Panellists  

Kathy Hirschfeld AM (Bachelor of Engineering ’82)
Experienced chair and company director in energy, manufacturing and utilities, executive coach and philanthropist Kathy Hirschfeld AM is passionate about improving the representation of women in leadership and in engineering. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019 for significant service to engineering and women and received an Honorary Doctorate in engineering from UQ in 2023.

Leeanne Bond (Bachelor of Engineering ’87, Master of Business Administration ’08)
Non-executive director, board chair, advisor, mentor Leeanne Bond is a qualified engineer with more than 30 years’ experience in general management, projects and business development across a broad range of industrial sectors, making her a leader in the field.

Zoee Shelley
Senior Environmental Specialist at Hatch Zoee Shelley is an environmental engineering professional with 19 years of industry experience across Australian and international sites on significant projects in industrial facilities, mining, oil and gas, construction and consulting industries. She is passionate about embedding environmental considerations into engineering and the overarching project decision-making process.

Imelda Verawati

Moderator

Loren Ager (Bachelor of Engineering ‘14)
Deputy Chair, Women in Engineering Alumni Ambassador Council Loren Ager is a Director and Principal Consultant at Effective Control Partners – a specialist consulting company focused on vehicle interaction safety and risk management. Ager brings over 15 years of experience across contractor, consulting and owner-operator environments and remains an active contributor to the industry through various industry working groups and mentoring programs. ​