SMEC in the Americas has launched an important program aimed at enhancing the skills of professional women who have recently graduated from university and started technical and engineering careers.
Piloting the program in December 2021, SMEC’s team in Chile has now delivered a 2-month calendar of asset management and maintenance training with our first intake of university graduates. Focused on strengthening relationships, key to the program were a series of workshops to build the tools to tackle high-demand projects.
On 1 December 2021, the Women in SMEC Program opened with a special event hosted at the Australian Chilean Commerce Chamber (AUSCHAM) in Santiago. Our 11 participants joined the launch ceremony virtually, which was attended in person by the Australian Ambassador for Chile, delegates from the Ministry of Women and Gender of Chile, along with CEOs and senior representatives from our key clients.
“Aligned with SMEC’s values, delivering this program in the Americas is testament to our commitment to diversity across the industry, and to the inclusion of women in the region’s critical infrastructure projects,” says Miguel Severino, People & Culture Manager at SMEC, based in South America.
The Women in SMEC Program’s launch event keynote speech was given by Susana Riquelme, TecFem Founder and CEO.
Program participants Muryel Gajardo, Barbara Cáceres, Katherine Segovia, Jennifer Muñoz, Carmen Marquez, Javiera Villegas, Yeibi Cruz, Sebastián Madrid, Mónica Cuellar, Karina Silva and Constanza Márquez recently graduated from universities across the Americas.
The event was a hybrid format streamed live. William Lilis, SMEC’s Business Development Director in the Americas, addressed the attendees.
Featuring a panel including the Australian Ambassador for Chile, delegates from AUSCHAM, along with important clients, the launch event featured a lively discussion about the importance of building a network of connections.
On 1 December 2021, attendees gathered for the launch of our Women in SMEC Program delivered by our team in the Americas, at the Australian Chilean Commerce Chamber in Santiago.
In October 2023, Johan Basson (Function Manager, Urban Development) received an Honorary Fellowship from the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA).
The SMEC Foundation has supported a range of projects, guided by on-the-ground support and the professional expertise of SMEC staff. The dedication and local engagement within many of our regions sets the SMEC Foundation apart from other donor organisations. Your passion for making a difference has propelled us forward, enabling us to impact lives, uplift communities, and create positive change.
In a strong display of commitment to environmental sustainability, around 50 SMEC employees recently laced up their running shoes to participate in the “Takbo Para Sa Kalikasan” (Earth Run) 2023 held on 26 November at Liwasang Ulalim, CCP Complex, Pasay City. The event featured three run categories – 5K, 10K, and 25K – and was organised by the Green Media Events Company.
To bolster environmental stewardship, SMEC joined forces recently with the Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) for a successful tree planting initiative in Vietnam. The activity, held at Me Linh Station for Biodiversity, located around 50km north of Hanoi, marked a significant step in SMEC’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability.