Julie Hammer AM, CSC, an electronics engineer and retired Air Vice-Marshal with the Royal Australian Air Force, has taken-up the leadership of Australia’s peak professional body as National President of Engineers Australia. Julie is the first female national president in the 89-year history of the organisation that has a membership of over 80,000.
Julie’s role as National President follows her close involvement in driving new leadership and management programs to promote recognition of the diversity of skills that professional engineers bring to the corporate and government sectors.
Her term also comes at a time when there are more demands on the engineering profession to deliver solutions for issues across Australia and globally.
“While the skills and innovation of engineers help underpin the quality of life of the Australian community and the performance of our economy, the problems that engineers must now solve are critical to the survival of future generations and the planet.
“It is no longer acceptable to simply exploit resources for the short-term comfort and economic needs of societies.
“What the engineering profession is very conscious of is the need and responsibility to deliver solutions that are embedded with sustainable outcomes,” Julie Hammer said.
Julie will continue advocacy on policy issues that is based on an inclusive contribution by governments, industry and the community. The policy issues will continue to include infrastructure, skills shortages, research and development, education and climate change.
Promoting opportunities for engaging more women in the engineering profession is also high on the agenda for Julie’s presidency. The issue is clearly highlighted by the fact that only 10 percent of the members of Engineers Australia are females.
“Australia cannot afford to have the very poor under-representation of females in our engineering profession and there is much more work to be done to address the fact that only 15 percent of the women engineers over 40 are still in the profession,” Julie said.
Queensland-born and educated, Julie’s leadership skills and practical approach to complex issues was recognised throughout her highly distinguished defence career. Julie was the first woman to command an operational unit in the RAAF, the Electronic Warfare Squadron, and was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for that command, and was the first woman in the history of the Australian Defence Force to have achieved One Star and then Two Star rank.