Will more women choose a career in engineering, infrastructure, innovation?

Pinpoint Stewards, a 100%-women-owned events company, will once again gather leaders within STEM fields at the 3rd Annual Leadership Conference for Women in Engineering, Infrastructure and Innovation on 28 and 29 February 2024 in Johannesburg.

“Women are gaining ground in these sectors, but to ensure the progress they are making is magnified, Pinpoint Stewards together with their media partners are actively profiling these women pioneers leading up to the conference in Feb,” says, organiser Sudhira Sewsunker. “We believe this conference will identify the future CEOs in these sectors and direct the spotlight on local talent we have right here in South Africa.”

A panel moderated by the chair of WiMSA, Raksha Naidoo on how to approach and drive charters, policies and frameworks to support equal opportunities for women will be a central focus on the day to ensure that women collaborate, and that outcomes are reached during the two-day conference.

Thabile Nkomo, MD, Tshepa Basadi meaning “trust women” in Setswana, will form part of the panel and will be exhibiting as a project management, operational ready and engineering consulting organisation in the mining industry with a footprint in southern Africa. The company is a 100%-black-female owned and 49%-youth-owned operated organisation.

Honourable deputy minister of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Bernice Swarts will deliver the keynote address. Charvinia Naidu, head of Sustainability Strategy at Sasol, will share a private sector perspective on attracting and retaining women in the workforce and remaining the employer of choice. Tshegofatso Sibambato, a civil engineer at Zutari, will discuss the barriers to entry for women into STEM and will present a case study on what organisations are doing to empower women in STEM.

Dr Adwoa Boaduo Issaka, unit manager Safety at Goldfields will look at how women can be encouraged on both a micro and ‘bigger picture’ persepective. Issaka is a trailblazing figure in the mining industry as the first female mining engineer in South Africa to earn a Doctorate in the field, breaking barriers as the first black South African woman to do so.

Board member of CESA and founder of Pink Africa Consulting, Naomi Naidoo, will be highlighting how one can allow one’s work to speak for itself, rather than being labelled as either a man or a woman doing the job, and how to be categorised as an exceptional worker instead.

Phindi Mthambama, Africa brewing and quality director at AB-InBev will be addressing ‘unconscious bias’ in the workplace and the host of challenges facing women in engineering. Mthambama is the first female director and partner in Supply at AB-Inbev, Africa. She has mentored young individuals who have become successful leaders and is a board member of the SAB provident fund.

Representatives of Eskom, Sasol, SANRAL, Enel Green Power, NRF-SAASTA, the National Department of Science and Innovation RSA and SANSA will also speak to elements of the overriding theme of the day, “It’s ‘DUE’ – Develop, Unite, Empower.”

Organisations are invited to partner, exhibit and/or host a table for the women in their company to join in on the discussions of the day – to not only invest in women empowerment, but to further support and encourage women to choose a career in STEM.

Pinpoint Stewards have 20 years of experience in research, management and arranging onsite conferences and – more recently – online training platforms relating mostly to legislative updates and critical issues affecting South African organisations. They are a 100%-women owned, Level 2 B-BBEE company.

For more information and the full conference brochure and activities planned, contact info@pinpointstewards.co.za

Register before 15 December 2023 to be eligible for the EARLY BIRD conference fee for a full two-day agenda.

Source: Supplied by Pinpoint Stewards, edited by Sharyn Macnamara

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