As the world marks International Women in Engineering Day on 23 June, the engineering sector continues to reflect on the importance of representation, mentorship, and creating opportunities for women to thrive in technical and leadership roles
From water security and energy infrastructure to large-scale urban developments, women engineers at Zutari are helping shape resilient, sustainable communities across Africa and the Middle East, while also inspiring the next generation to enter the profession.
At Zutari, women engineers across multiple disciplines are not only contributing to critical infrastructure and development projects but are also helping redefine what leadership in engineering looks like.
Engineering combines creativity, collaboration and purpose
For Andriette Combrinck, Technical Specialist: Water Africa, engineering offered the ideal combination of creativity, collaboration, and purpose. “Civil engineering, in particular, appealed to me because it transforms ideas into practical solutions that make a tangible difference in people’s lives,” she explains. “It is intellectually stimulating, collaborative, and far-reaching, one that allows you to help shape communities and leave a lasting positive impact.”
Now with two decades of experience in water resource management, development, planning, modelling, and design, Combrinck has worked across every major river system in South Africa and on projects throughout the African continent. Her career journey, which began as a bursary student, was profoundly shaped by strong mentorship and exposure to diverse projects. Today, she views mentorship as central to developing future engineering talent.
“I have experienced first-hand the impact of strong mentorship throughout my own career,” she says. “I see every opportunity to mentor as a chance to make a meaningful impact on someone’s career development.”
Education is a pathway to opportunity and impact
That emphasis on mentorship is echoed by Lawrenta Isikhuemen, Senior Electrical Engineer, Energy Africa, whose work spans medium- and low-voltage design solutions, power system studies, and projects across the built environment, data centres, and industrial infrastructure sectors.
Growing up in a humble community in Nigeria, Isikhuemen says education became her pathway to opportunity and impact. “I was drawn to a career where I could physically see solutions to real-world problems,” she explains. “The ability to contribute to reliable and sustainable systems that support communities and development ultimately motivated me to pursue engineering as a career.”
Over the years, she has seen how mentorship and organisational support can help women navigate what remains a predominantly male-dominated industry. She notes that diversity and representation are about more than fairness, they are essential to innovation and effective problem-solving.
“At its core, engineering is about delivering solutions that improve lives, and diverse teams are better equipped to achieve this purpose,” says Isikhuemen. “Representation and diversity encourage individuals across different backgrounds to pursue engineering with confidence, knowing they are seen, included, and able to make meaningful contributions.”
Multidisciplinary design and engineering projects
For Samar Izmenqa, Principal Project Manager, Built Environment MENA, the appeal of engineering similarly lay in its ability to combine technical thinking, leadership, and real-world impact. Based in the Middle East, Izmenqa leads multidisciplinary design and engineering projects across the UAE and wider region, coordinating complex developments from concept through to delivery.
“Seeing how infrastructure and design shape the way people live, and experience spaces motivated me to build a career where I could contribute to meaningful projects,” she explains.
Her progression from technical and design-focused roles into senior leadership positions required learning how to navigate high-pressure environments while balancing technical, commercial, and client expectations. Along the way, she says, resilience and confidence became essential tools.
“One of the key challenges as a woman in engineering is sometimes needing to work harder to prove your technical capability and leadership presence,” says Izmenqa. “I focused on building credibility through performance, knowledge, and professionalism while also staying authentic to my leadership style.”
Across all three careers, there is a shared belief that the future of engineering will require more than technical excellence alone. Adaptability, digital literacy, collaboration, and critical thinking are becoming increasingly important as engineers confront rapid technological change, growing sustainability demands, and increasingly complex infrastructure challenges.
Combrinck believes future engineers will need “technical agility, sound judgement, and strong people skills”, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into engineering practice. Isikhuemen similarly points to the growing importance of AI and digital capabilities in delivering smarter and more sustainable solutions across Africa’s energy and infrastructure sectors. Izmenqa adds that future engineers will need to think strategically about sustainability, innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
The future of engineering
The future of engineering across Africa, in particular, is a source of optimism for both Combrinck and Isikhuemen. Combrinck points to the continent’s immense potential to develop infrastructure and services that improve lives, strengthen resilience, and support sustainable growth, while Isikhuemen sees significant opportunities emerging through renewable energy, storage technologies, and AI-enabled infrastructure planning.
“What excites me most about the future of engineering in Africa is the opportunity to be part of meaningful change,” says Combrinck. “African engineers are combining innovation, local understanding, and practical thinking to create solutions that are truly fit for purpose and impactful.”
For young women considering engineering careers, all three leaders offer a consistent message: there is space for them in the profession, and their voices matter. “Never undervalue yourself or what you bring to the table,” says Combrinck. “Your voice, your perspective, and your talents matter.”
Isikhuemen encourages young women not to be intimidated by the industry. “Stay focused, believe in your abilities, and be confident in your voice,” she says. “Engineering offers incredible opportunities to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact.”
Izmenqa concurs: “Do not be afraid to speak up, take leadership opportunities, and challenge yourself. Your perspective, ideas, and contributions are valuable, and the industry needs more women to help shape its future,” she concludes.