International Women’s Day 2019

In 2019 Engineers Australia will be celebrating its Centenary. This is a significant milestone for our organisation and a chance to stress the critical role engineering plays in the lives of all Australians. A Centenary is time to take stock. To look back and marvel at our accomplishments. Engineers have helped transform the world: who in 1919 would’ve imagined where technology would be today? And where women would be today?

The Centenary is also a time to look forward and imagine our future. It’s a springboard for the next century; continuing our legacy of supporting human progress, and continuing to expand the boundaries of what is possible.

International Women’s Day is also about celebrating where women have come from and looking forward to see where we can go. This is why the theme for our 2019 event series is tied in with our Centenary theme, “Anything is Possible”.

Engineers Australia is excited to announce Turia Pitt as the keynote speaker for our International Women’s Day events!

Without a doubt, Turia Pitt is one of Australia’s most admired and widely recognised people.

Renowned for her pure grit, indomitable spirit and passion for humanitarian work, Australians have taken Turia into their hearts and are deeply inspired by her.

In 2011, age 24, Turia was an ex-model, fitness junkie and successful mining engineer when she was caught in a freak firestorm while competing in a 100km ultramarathon in Western Australia. She was choppered out of the remote desert barely alive, with full thickness burns to 64 per cent of her body.

Surviving against overwhelming odds is the least of her achievements. Turia has gone on to thrive in the ultimate story of triumph over adversity.

In 2016 alone, Turia has competed in her first IRONMAN competition, and is releasing a new book and an online motivational program as well as walk the Kokoda trail to raise money for Interplast, a not for profit organisation that she is closely aligned to. Turia has raised close to $1 million since she began working with the organisation several years ago.

This engaging and refreshingly candid young woman will astonish you, inspire you and leave you in stitches. Her enthralling message of overcoming adversity and the need to never EVER give up will motivate you … out of your chair, and into life. The standing ovation Turia was given at her TED talk is a testament to her skills as an orator. Turia’s motto ‘never ever give up’ resonates with people from all walks of life – anyone, anywhere, who refuses to be limited by circumstance. She is a true and profound inspiration to all those she meets.