First published 18 June 2021
QUT GEMS is celebrating 15 years, and launching into the next 15 with a new look and a new name. Formerly Girls in Engineering Making Statements, GEMS now stands for Gender Equity in Engineering Makes Sense.
Over the past 15 years, GEMS has provided students with professional, educational and social support through the pillars of industry, mentoring, and charity. As 2021 GEMS President Fiona Wyer explains, the new name fits with the club’s goal to ‘keep GEMS moving forward and relevant with the times, whilst also respecting and maintaining the foundation it was built on.’
‘The club’s 2021 vision included the goals of: building a diverse community, breaking traditions and being more future focussed, says Fiona. ‘To reflect this vision, the 2021 Committee decided to refresh and update the GEMS brand. GEMS is now more than a four-letter acronym; it’s a brand that stands for gender diversity, equity and inclusivity in engineering.’
It’s fitting then, that Fiona recently represented QUT at the Women in Engineering Leadership Summit. This two-day, virtual event provided participants with an opportunity to meet and hear from industry guests on a range of topics.
‘I thoroughly enjoyed the event,’ says Fiona. ‘It was great being able to meet members of the engineering industry from around Australia. Many topics were covered including, “Taking control of your leadership legacy”, “The neuroscience of leadership”, “Advanced communication techniques” and many more. There were panel discussions on the topics of quotas in engineering and building a strong professional brand. There was so much knowledge shared amongst participants and valuable opportunities to flesh out these discussions in smaller groups.’
‘I am passionate about helping guide, support and empower others to succeed,’ says Fiona, ‘particularly students in engineering. I have been involved with GEMS since 2018 and it has been the highlight of my university experience. I instantly felt welcomed by the community of students this club brings together and wanted to then give back and help shape GEMS by joining the Committee.’
‘Now, as President, I feel honoured to uphold the legacy of GEMS as we move into our next 15 years and beyond.’
You can watch the 2021 GEMS committee explain the reason for the rebrand via QUT GEMS Facebook page
Special thanks to our friends at Refraction Media (producers of Careers with STEM), who provided a complimentary ticket to Fiona to attend the conference.
