A Night of Inspiration

FMC-EGM 30 by 30 Women in Engineering Initiative

by Nonita Mole and Jeanette Perez

The 30 by 30 Women in Engineering Initiative, organized by the Filipino Members Chapter – Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba, held Friday, February 21, 2025, at Mar’s Sisig Restaurant was a resounding success! The event drew the largest number of attendees to date since the FMC started this initiative in 2022, highlighting the growing interest and commitment to promoting women in engineering in the Filipino Community.

The program started with FMC Chairman Joan Santos warmly welcoming the guests and introducing the executive committee. This was followed by Chairman Rey Robillos who recognized each attendee with their names and respective designations.

What exactly is the 30 by 30 initiative? Host and event organizer Jeanette Perez explained that the program is a national effort that aims to increase the percentage of newly licensed female engineers to 30 per cent by the year 2030. This bold goal seeks to address the gender disparity in the engineering industry and encourage more women to pursue careers in this traditionally male-dominated field. Thirty per cent is universally held as the “tipping point” for sustainable change. In fact, the 30 by 30 initiative is not unique to Engineers Canada. There are also other 30 by 30 initiatives – one is by the government, which is to designate 30 per cent of earth’s land and ocean area as protected areas by 2030 and another is the 30 by 30 initiative by law enforcement, which is to increase women law enforcers by 30 per cent by the year 2030. Nevertheless, to reach this goal requires collective effort.

Attendees were treated to a delicious dinner, which served as the backdrop for networking and engaging conversations. The night turned particularly motivating with Stories of How We Got Here, shared by Ms. Ethel Fernandez and Ms. Jeanette Perez. Their personal journeys into the engineering profession resonated deeply with many in attendance, offering hope and encouragement to aspiring engineers.

The event also featured lively games designed to foster connections among the participants. Attendees were tasked to answer four simple questions to identify their role as an agent of positive change to the engineering profession. Through their answers they determined if they were either a connector, a maven, or a salesperson. The game created an atmosphere of fun. There was also a “guess who” game that allowed the participants to learn some interesting facts about other participants while winning gift cards in the process. The unique games sparked a lot of laughter and brought camaraderie among the participants.

As the night drew to a close, there was a flurry of activity with photos being taken and souvenirs being handed out, providing attendees with memorable keepsakes from an impactful evening. The gathering not only succeeded in advancing the cause of women in engineering but also built a strong community committed to supporting one another in their professional journeys.