In 2008 the Principal of Southland Girls’ High School found herself sitting next to the General Manager of New Zealand’s Aluminium Smelter on the two hour flight from Wellington.
The pair observed that women were badly underrepresented in industry roles especially those with an engineering or physical science focus. “Wouldn’t it be great if senior physics students from the school could actually experience what it is like to work as an engineer or technician at a major industrial facility,” mused the Principal.
“Well they can!” said NZAS’ GM and the NZAS/Southland Girls’ High School Education Partnership was born.
Since its inception, 45 young women have participated in the programme with half of them going on to study engineering at university.