Tutor wants to see more women enter trade

Electrical engineering tutor wants to see more women enter trade

New Whitireia electrical engineering tutor Mary Graham hopes to see plenty of young women coming through the programme.

Graham, who joined the Whitireia Trades and Services faculty last week, says women need to be more confident in their ability to foot it in male-dominated industries like electrical engineering, and the mother of three has the experience to speak with authority on the matter.

After realising that she preferred the idea of hands-on learning to sitting in a classroom or lecture theatre, Graham applied for an electrician apprenticeship with Napier City Council in her sixth form year. She quickly gained her qualification and has since worked in a range of roles across the industry.

Graham says she did come up against sexist attitudes in the early stages of her career, but notes that these have become the minority in recent years.

“While there are probably still a few around with those out-dated ideas, across the board in trades it’s now more about whether or not you’re prepared to get stuck in, rather than if you’re male or female.”

After returning from a stint in Sydney, Graham returned to take up a supervisory role with an electrical company in Wellington. However, the joy she experienced in seeing apprentices come through the ranks and her growing desire to give back to the community convinced her to take up the position of electrical engineering tutor at Whitireia.

Graham points out that now is a great time for both women and men to be getting into the industry, with electrical engineers in demand across industrial, commercial and residential developments. She adds that the trade offers good salaries, incredible variety and flexibility, and is one you can take anywhere in the world.

She says the Whitireia Certificate in Electrical Engineering provides an excellent stepping stone into the industry, and that enrolments for the programme are currently open. Māori and Pasifika Trades Training Scholarships are also available for those eligible.

“Enrol now”, says Graham, “and you’ll be starting on a path towards a truly rewarding career.”

ENDS

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