In a world where professional connections play a crucial role in personal and career development, UGL’s internal female network, Women@UGL, is fostering a culture of camaraderie with the aim of inspiring one another, as well as attracting more female talent to our organisation.
The Women@UGL Connection, launched in November, is a series of events for women working within the organisation to connect, share experiences, and glean insights from accomplished leaders. Events were recently held in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. The sessions were a hit!
The Brisbane and Melbourne events kicked off with an insightful talk by Deborah Brown, UGL’s General Manager Fuels and Energy East. Deborah shared her remarkable career journey, which began 35 years ago when she decided to pursue a degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering at Auckland University. Her decision was fueled by a passion for mathematics and the sciences, coupled with a desire to venture down the less-traveled path in a field where only 3 out of 100 were women at that time.
In Perth and Sydney, Meg Abaldonado, UGL’s Executive General Manager, People & Culture, led an interactive session with colleagues, further emphasising the importance of connection and collaboration. Meg's engaging and fun approach allowed attendees to share their experiences and insights, creating an environment of mutual learning and empowerment.
With positive feedback and 95% of attendees connecting with someone new, there’s plans for further connection opportunities in 2024. These events, as well as other initiatives, will form part of our 2024 Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) aimed at improving representation of women at all levels of the organisation.
