WSP Opus continues to lead the way in diversity and inclusion as it welcomes a fresh intake of new graduates.
Of the 51 graduates joining the company this year, 42% are female and 58% male. In comparison, WSP Opus' 2018 intake was 34% female and 65% male.
Ian Blair, WSP Opus Managing Director, is delighted to see changes happening in the traditionally male-dominated engineering and infrastructure industry.
Blair says the industry is working hard to increase the number of women. The Diversity Agenda, of which WSP Opus is a founding partner, has set a target of 20% more women in engineering and architecture roles by 2021 and the University of Auckland has set a goal to have 33% women in its first-year student cohort by 2020.
Figures from Education Counts, show female enrolments in engineering-related bachelor's degree in June 2018 were at 18.7%. Of these civil and electrical engineering fields both had a 17% female representation, while mechanical engineering had 10%.
While Blair applauds the efforts of the industry he believes there should be champions pushing for faster change and calling for those in a position of influence to do so.
Last year WSP Opus was one of the first large employers in New Zealand to close the gender pay gap.