Meet Jia Li | Inspiring Women in Engineering

1. Tell us what you do at Transport

I’m a Project Manager responsible for delivery and development of rail systems projects, including traction power, track and signalling. I manage all phases of the project life cycle and am heavily involved in technical management, commercial management and of course management of staff, stakeholders and delivery contractors.

2. What's your proudest moment?

Successfully commissioning a design and construct high voltage feeder project after only 3.5months from project kick off. This was achieved by thinking outside the box, open and honest communications with all stakeholders, close collaboration with Sydney Trains colleagues and our alliance delivery partners, and gaining the trust and support of internal colleagues.

3. What advice do you have for other women thinking about a career in Engineering?

If you enjoy challenging your brain and using logic, creativity and interpersonal skills to solve problems, then a career in Engineering and Project Management is for you.

You never know where a degree in Engineering may take you as it opens doors to a world of opportunities. Employers love hiring Engineers for their lateral thinking and problem solving abilities, which are qualities valued in any industry.

To give you some of my personal experiences, I’ve been lucky enough to work on the delivery of many very different types of projects such as petrol station reconfigurations, Chatswood Chase redevelopment, firing range upgrades at Liverpool Military Area, submarine shore services upgrades and wharf dredging projects at Garden Island, the new Chalmers Street and Lee Street Traction Substations as well as business case development work on the current More Trains More Services 2 and 3 programs.

So if you can’t bear the thought of being stuck in a mundane job that repeats day after day, a career in Engineering is the answer.

4. How can we transform the future of women in engineering?

I believe the key is to instil interest in STEM subjects from a very young age, from the selection of STEM toys to parents and caregivers role modelling a keen interest in how the world around them works, and having strong female role models at home and/or in school.

Similarly, having strong female role models, female leadership presence and women in engineering advocates in the workplace also goes a long way to creating an environment conducive to promoting the desired cultural shifts.

Transport’s flexible work practices and inclusive culture has certainly been one of the key reasons why I enjoy coming to work every day.

5. Tell us something that people may not know about you?

My first job out of uni was a Project Engineer at Caltex where I was responsible for developing the first set of storage and handling procedures for E10 Unleaded, then engaging contractors to roll it out to the first 30 Caltex petrol stations in NSW and QLD. I believe those storage and handling procedures are still used today, 14 years on.