International Women’s Day series: Felicity Gallasch, Site Engineer

Can you share a little about your career journey and what first sparked your interest in this industry?

I’m early in my career and began at a design firm in the water sector. While it was a good starting point, I quickly realised it wasn’t giving me the level of challenge or engagement I was looking for. I hadn’t specifically set out to work in energy distribution and transmission, but once I moved into the industry, I found it genuinely interesting. Seeing the scale and complexity of the work — and the operational challenges involved in delivering infrastructure that’s so critical — has been what’s kept me engaged and motivated.

Was there a moment in your career where you realised you were leading by example, whether for yourself or for other women?

There isn’t one standout moment, but working full-time on site with very few women has made me conscious that representation matters. When you’re the only women in the room, simply doing your job well and confidently contributing to discussion is important. For someone with limited experience, leading by example is as much about presence, consistency and willingness to learn as it is about technical capability.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme focuses on promising that every woman or girl, should be heard and free to shape their own lives. What does that mean to you in our industry?

To me, this year’s International Women’s Day theme is about making sure every woman’s voice is heard and valued. In an industry like ours, that means having confidence and the opportunity to influence how we design and build.  At Enerven, I see this in the way we collaborate, learn from each other, and are trusted to contribute to meaningful projects. When women are empowered to contribute and shape their careers, teams are strengthened and diversified. Stronger teams lead to smarter, safer, and more sustainable outcomes for our customers and communities.

Have there been times when you’ve had to back yourself? What gave you the confidence to do so?

Yes, definitely. There have been moments where I’ve needed to trust my judgement and back myself, whilst understanding that I have limited experience and may be wrong. I’m fortunate to work with people – mostly men – who have never made to feel as though those moments were about being female.

What makes a workplace feel genuinely inclusive to you? (Can you relate this back to Enerven in any way?)

A genuinely inclusive workplace is one where expectations and standards are consistent for everyone. It’s where you’re given responsibility, trusted to do your job, and judged on the output. Enerven has aligned with that view – I am held to the same standard as my counterparts and supported to meet it.

How does an inclusive workplace improve performance and safety?

Inclusivity in the workplace improves performance and safety because it allows for open communication and contribution from everyone. Issues are able to be identified sooner, and decisions are better informed when people feel comfortable sharing their concerns.

Who or what has helped you grow the most in your career?

Externally, I draw inspiration from my mum. She has been a strong influence on my independence and confidence, and I admire the professional contributions she makes to a similarly male-dominated industry.

Internally, I am consistently supported by my construction managers and supervisors who have a wealth of knowledge and are always willing to listen and support my development in environments that are new to me.

What would you say to young women considering a career in this field?

This is an interesting industry which provides opportunities to contribute to a broad scope of work. Young females considering a career in this field should embrace the opportunity to learn in a technical environment. There will be challenging days, but the opportunities for growth are worth it.

What are you most proud of professionally or personally?

I am most proud of the progress I have made early in my career and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful infrastructure delivery. Working on site with Enerven has allowed me to develop technical skills and take on responsibility in a challenging environment.

What’s something people might not expect about your career path at Enerven?

People might not generally expect to see young females on site full time, interacting with contractors and assisting in coordination of works. This is the case for me here and I fully enjoy it. It is great to see female representation growing in the construction teams at Enerven.

What does leadership look like to you?

Since being on site, I ‘ve picked up that good leadership relies heavily on good communication. When teams know what is going on, they can solve issues more effectively, particularly when work groups are working towards a range of different goals and agendas.

What’s one barrier you’d love to see removed for women in our industry?

I would like it to become less unusual to see women contributing directly to delivery sectors and site-based teams, as well as support roles. At Enerven, I have seen positive growth in female representation within construction teams and normalising that presence across all areas of the industry would help broaden participation.

On International Women’s Day, what message would you like to share with women across our business?

On International Women’s Day, I would like to acknowledge the culture at Enerven, where contributions and capability are what is most valued. It is encouraging to work in an environment that values people on their work and supports growing representation across the industry.