This International Day of Women in Engineering, IPH is proud to showcase some of the talented women across our group with backgrounds across a diverse range of engineering specialisations. In line with this year’s theme of Make Safety Seen, they discuss what inspired them to pursue engineering, and how the field contributes to improved safety and quality of life around the world.
Sharon Zhu is a Senior Associate at AJ Park with a strong background in the biomedical engineering field. Before joining AJ Park, she worked at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, where she researched new engineering solutions in the areas of biology and human physiology. She uses this industry experience and her Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering from the University of Auckland to understand her clients’ inventions and help bring them to life.
What led you to pursue engineering and how does it contribute to your work in IP?
I pursued engineering as I was drawn to learning about how things around me worked. It has also given me the opportunity to meet people making practical differences in the world by helping solve big problems around us, or incrementally improving smaller aspects of daily life.
As a patent attorney, my engineering background means that I can share the same appreciation and enthusiasm as my clients for the innovations they have created. It also helps me communicate with the inventors and understand how something operates quickly and what advantages it may have over products and solutions which may already exist.
How have you seen the field of engineering contribute to improved safety and quality of life?
Engineering is the core of most technological advances as it helps improve our understanding of different fields and providing solutions. Engineering is all around us and is used to create new products which improve the lives of many. New technologies help connect people, diagnose and treat illnesses, and improve the comforts of everyday life. Personally, I don’t think I can go back to a time without wireless headphones, an e-bike to commute through traffic, or a pressure cooker for quick and tasty meals.
Do you have any advice for women pursuing engineering, IP or other STEM related industries?
Give everything a go! Find out what makes you tick and is interesting to you and go towards anything which might be an opportunity to get involved in that. Be open to meeting new people, learning from them and building your tribe of like-minded people. These fields have vast opportunities and you will find something that will make the most of your natural skills, and help you develop new ones.
Kerry Dick is a Special Counsel at Griffith Hack, and a registered patent and trade marks attorney. She practices predominately in the fields of mechanical engineering, machinery and medical devices. With a Bachelor of Automotive Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire, she holds particular expertise in automotive design, having worked with some of the world’s leading car manufacturers.
What led you to pursue engineering and how does it contribute to your work in IP?
I always wanted to design cars, from an early age. My decision to study mechanical, automotive engineering was an easy choice. My father is an engineer, and I think this influenced me, as I always had a very positive view of the field. It also helped that I enjoyed maths and science at school and was naturally mechanically inclined.
How have you seen the field of engineering contribute to improved safety and quality of life?
I am lucky to see this on a daily basis – with every new invention I work on. I worked in the car industry for years, specialising in high-speed crash. The advances in this industry alone are huge, from the addition of seat belts, to airbags, to crumple zones and now with advances in engineering and computing we have cars that brake, steer, drive and park themselves.
Do you have any advice for women pursuing engineering, IP or other STEM related industries?
I would say “stay true to your heart”. Don’t let anyone put you off or steer you away from your goals. If you do what you love everyday you’ll never work a day in your life!
Brigide Mattar is a Principal at Smart & Biggar, who practices patent law in both English and French. She has twenty-five years of experience working with innovators in artificial intelligence and machine learning, both as a professional engineer and registered patent agent. Her extensive experience and Bachelor of Electrical Engineering make her a valuable asset to clients in the electrical and computer space.
What led you to pursue engineering and how does it contribute to your work in IP?
I was always curious about how things worked and in particular how technology can be used to solve problems and make things easier. This curiosity about how things work has been key when working in IP, and in particular when advising clients in patent protection on their innovations.
How have you seen the field of engineering contribute to improved safety and quality of life?
There is so much to say here that a few sentences would not render justice to everything I have seen the field of engineering contribute over the last 25 years of my career. To name only a very few, I saw: cars becoming safer with cameras, driving assist features, self-diagnosis and digital connectivity which were quasi-inexistent a few years back; improvements in material composition and manufacturing processes for sheet metal that have allowed obtaining materials to have a greater ability to withstand impact; railroad track inspection system that are helping keep our railways safe; and medical technology/software that has improved the standard of care of patients by leveraging artificial intelligence. There are so many more…
Do you have any advice for women pursuing engineering, IP or other STEM related industries?
I would have three (3) pieces of advice:
- surround yourself with people who share your values and who will look out for you to help you achieve your goals;
- make it a point to build your network early on in your career; and
- do not underestimate yourself and take all the opportunities you can get to learn new skills, including skills in fields complementary to engineering, such as finance, marketing, and law.
The more you know, and the more supportive your network is, the better equipped you will be to take on challenges and opportunities.
Connie Land is a Patent Attorney working in Spruson & Ferguson’s Sydney office. She specialises in medical devices and technology, and provides value to her clients through her experience with the medical device industry and deep understanding of the mechanical, electrical and biological principles which underpin these technologies. She has a Diploma in Engineering Practices, and a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering.
What led you to pursue engineering and how does it contribute to your work in IP?
Growing up, I always loved problem solving, being creative and building things around the house. In high school, I also developed an interest in biology and the human body. A career in Biomedical Engineering allowed me to continue to pursue my passions but on a larger scale and in relation to real world problems.
How have you seen the field of engineering contribute to improved safety and quality of life?
As technology advances, I have seen the field of Biomedical Engineering tackle many medical problems our society faces. As a result, new medical innovations have been invented resulting in greater access to treatment, diagnostic and preventative technologies which have greatly improved the quality of life of patients and have allowed people to live longer and healthier lives.
In the IP industry, I have been able to work with many large and small companies in the medical technology space to secure IP protection for their inventions. It is extremely rewarding to know these companies can now make, use, and sell their technology in Australia and improve the quality of life for Australians.
Do you have any advice for women pursuing engineering, IP or other STEM related industries?
Engineering, IP or other STEM related industries can be for anyone - never be afraid to pursue something you are passionate about! Always believe in yourself, the world needs more women like you to be the change you want to see in these industries.