Alcoa continues to back female engineers

Alcoa of Australia is continuing its long-running support for aspiring female engineers by extending its ground-breaking scholarship program.

Former Alcoa Bev Corless Women in Engineering Scholarship recipient Katie Marshall is now employed by Alcoa as a Graduate Chemical Engineer.

Alcoa was the first company to initiate specific scholarships for women studying engineering at Curtin University more than a decade ago, inspiring other companies to offer similar opportunities.

Under its latest agreement with Curtin, the Alcoa Bev Corless Women in Engineering Scholarships will be offered for the next three years.

The scholarships, named in honour of a former Alcoa engineer, aim to increase the number of females in the profession while also promoting the integration of sustainability into engineering planning and design.

Previous recipient of the scholarship and current Alcoa Graduate Chemical Engineer, Katie Marshall, urged students to apply saying the honour and financial support from the scholarship gave her a head start in her engineering career.

“Receiving the scholarship was the start of an invaluable relationship with Alcoa,” Katie said.

“It paved the way to completing my vacation work at Alcoa’s Wagerup alumina refinery, which created the opportunity to complete my thesis project with Alcoa’s Centre of Excellence. Now, I’m back at Wagerup working as a graduate and looking forward to a long-lasting career with the company.”

The latest one-year scholarships, valued at $5,000 each are open to full-time female students at Curtin University enrolled in their second, third, fourth or fifth year of studies. Eligible engineering courses include Civil and Construction, Chemical, Electrical and Electronic, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Mining, and Metallurgical.

Applicants should demonstrate academic merit, leadership skills, a passion for their course of study, and interest in fields aligned to Alcoa career opportunities.

The scholarships also provide opportunities for women to further their careers through Alcoa’s Vacation Student Program where they can get a first-hand insight into the company’s operations.

Alcoa has a proud history in Western Australia, employing more than 3750 people across its two bauxite mines and three alumina refineries in the south west and generating some $1.4 billion in expenditure with WA suppliers.

Alcoa of Australia Chairman and Managing Michael Parker said the company was committed to achieving gender balance and these scholarships would help encourage more women to consider engineering careers at Alcoa and within the resources sector.

“My vision is for the resources sector to inspire confidence and trust in women so that they choose to actively participate in the workplace knowing they will be supported throughout every life stage of their career,” Mr Parker said. “Women change the operational workplace in better ways. Diversity creates more productive and innovative environments and breaks down old myths and barriers about gender and work."

More information about the Alcoa Bev Corless Women in Engineering Scholarship is available via the scholarship page on the Curtin University website – curtin.edu.au. Applications close in March 2019.

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Media contact
Sonia Nolan, Senior Communications Adviser, 0401 034 103, sonia.nolan@alcoa.com
Jane McGuire, Senior Communications Adviser, 0410 694 676, jane.mcguire@alcoa.com