Engineers Australia Queensland Division launch
On February 22, 2007, Engineers Australia's Year of Women in Engineering was launched by Queensland Division at Customs House in Brisbane. The Year of Women in Engineering coincides with a federal government skills campaign focusing on attracting more females into the engineering profession - women account for only 10 percent of the current engineering workforce.

Honorary guests at the launch were Hon Margaret Keech (Minister for Tourism, Fair Trade, Wine Industry Development and Women), and Mr Geoff Haigh (Engineers Australia Queensland Division President 2007).

Guest speaker Ms Cheryl Paten, Education Coordinator for The Natural Edge Project, spoke about the relationship between the critical need for more Women in Engineering, and the critical need for engineering solutions that can move us to a sustainable position as a species on the planet.

In her words, "My belief is that we need to be very clear about our goals for the next 50 years, nationally and in the global context. If we are truly committed to sustainability for the planet and quality of life for our children and their children, then we must be committed to facilitating the training and contribution of more women in engineering... We need a significant shift in mindset, to ensure that we can innovate our way to living within the earth's capacity."

(click on "Full Story" below for a transcript of the speech on Women & Sustainability).

Townsville is Queensland's first Solar City and is set to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50,000 tonnes. The Solar Cities program, a $75 million Federal Government initiative, will run from 2004/05 to 2012/13, coinciding with the first Kyoto commitment period.