Engineers Australia has designated 2007 the Year of Women in Engineering.

Designed to celebrate the many achievements and important contributions women make to engineering teams, the campaign aims to increase awareness among the profession and wider community of the diversity, competence, influence and passion of women engineers.

Engineers Australia president, Rolfe Hartley, said that with Australia now facing a severe skills shortage, recruiting and retaining women in engineering had become critical.

"Women currently represent less than 10% of the engineering workforce in Australia," he said. "This is one of the lowest participation rates by women across all professions. It is a sad statistic and one I want to see improve."

Hartley said that as the national voice for engineers, Engineers Australia wanted to tell women about the exciting and diverse opportunities engineering offers both professionally and personally. "We want to raise the profile of the profession amongst school leavers and inspire a new generation of women to become engineers. But just as importantly, we also want to retain those women already working in the profession."

"This is an exciting campaign that has the potential to really make a difference", said Hartley. "I believe that if this campaign can inspire people and create debate, then it could be a real catalyst for change".

The campaign is being developed by a national committee chaired by Dr Rebecca Gravina. It will highlight the achievements of women in engineering and showcase the diversity they bring to the engineering team. Events and activities will provide forums for female and male engineers to network and discuss issues that affect them.

For further information, visit www.engineersaustralia.org.au/women