While the number of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers in Australia has doubled over the last decade, women remain largely underrepresented. We speak to Supriya Suhale, who has forged a successful career in a STEM field, about her experience.
According to ChiefScientist.com.au, women account for 29 per cent of the qualified STEM workforce and 37 per cent of university enrolments in STEM fields. And despite the progress, disparities in representation, earnings and senior leadership roles remain challenges that businesses are actively working to overcome.
One such advocate for women in STEM is Supriya Suhale, category manager – Connectivity at Beckhoff Automation, and winner of the APPMA Emerging Leader Award in 2024, who was encouraged to follow her academic dreams from a young age.
“Growing up, I was fortunate to belong to a family that valued education. The rigorous academic environment and encouragement from my family played a pivotal role in this decision.”
Looking back, Supriya feels that engineering chose her as much as she chose it. “From an early age, my curiosity and passion for STEM guided me towards my final goal,” she shares.
For Supriya, engineering is a careful blend of creativity and problem-solving. “I have gravitated towards a career that harnesses all my life’s passions, and I like to think that I can bring about meaningful change and positively impact the world through engineering,” she says, adding that it’s fulfilling to contribute to both company goals and broader societal outcomes through sustainability efforts and STEM initiatives.
As diversity in STEM continues to gain ground, Supriya believes that industry will greatly benefit from women’s unique perspectives, approach to problem solving as well as their collaboration and communication skills. “A continuous drive for more women to enter the fields of STEM will foster more innovation and creativity. This drive also accurately reflects the evolving needs of society.”
For the past seven years Supriya has been building a growing career at one of the world’s leading automation companies, Beckhoff Automation, where she has subsequently received three promotions and currently works as a product specialist in the IO category.
“Engineering offers countless rewards, from working on cutting-edge projects and collaborating with diverse teams, to driving positive change and seeing the real-world impact of our strategies,” she shares.
For many, a career in STEM starts at the grass roots level. “A lot of STEM outreach happens in school and at university level,” she says. “I did some ground work by volunteering at schools and I soon found that most teenage girls perceive a career in STEM to be difficult, boring and not for them, considering the male-dominant demographics.”
She adds that the girls who seemed interested had role models in the field. “This observation proved significant and I hope that it will serve future generations too.”
Recognising this, Beckhoff has launched a STEM outreach program in schools as part of its CSR initiative, including automation days, school roadshows and guest lectures.
While a lack of STEM representation represents a larger systemic issue, countries that prioritise STEM are better positioned to innovate, compete globally and expand their talent pool with essential skills. “Initiatives to integrate STEM into curricula, support research and collaborate with industries are steps in the right direction. However, continuous efforts are needed to match or surpass advancements in other leading countries.
Research shows that Mongolia had the highest percentage of women employed in STEM in 2023 (57%), followed by Lithuania (49%), Iceland (45%), and Poland, which led in STEM graduates (43%).
“This is the way that the world is heading and it’s important that we keep pace to ensure sovereign capability.”
For young women considering a STEM career, Supriya says, “it's essential to pursue your passion confidently. Seek mentors, engage in continuous learning and connect with supportive networks”.
“Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, and remember that diversity enriches STEM fields; your unique perspective as a woman is a valuable asset to the community,” she concludes.
