Inspiring women to join the science and technology sector

Enticing more women into science and technology roles is a challenge many companies, including Viva Energy Australia, are taking seriously. CIO Cindy Murphy says opportunities for women in the IT sector have exploded in the last three years.

Opening doors to opportunities

Part of the problem with attracting women to STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) positions is a lack of awareness of the job prospects in these industries. Cindy Murphy, Viva Energy Australia’s CIO, sees this firsthand in the IT sector.

“I don’t think women appreciate the range of roles and opportunities in IT,” she says. “They think everyone in IT’s in a dark room with a screen in front of them cutting code. They don’t appreciate the skills – both technical and people skills – that the industry needs, whether you’re a developer, tester, business analyst, project manager, web designer or security expert.”

Cindy has seen these opportunities explode, particularly in the last three years. “IT at Viva Energy has changed from being back-office boxes and switches to being integral in moving our business forward,” she says.

Part of the solution, then, she says, is to address the issue at the secondary school level. “Many girls aren’t even studying it, without even understanding what doors they’re closing.”

Women and the workplace

Of course, some of the challenges that women in STEM face are not limited to STEM industries but are universal to the workforce, such as juggling career and family. In Cindy’s experience, women still tend to carry the load when it comes to childcare, and they need support around that.

She’s no exception. In addition to being Viva Energy’s CIO and having more 30 years’ experience at Shell and Viva Energy, Cindy is also the mother of three (now grown-up) children.

“I’ve been very fortunate that Shell and Viva Energy really supported both flexible working and part-time working,” she says. “That kept me in the workforce. Plus, it kept me in the right job at the right time, when my career was a little bit on hold and my kids were my priority.”

What’s more, Cindy thinks the situation is only improving for women – thanks, in part, to technology and more empathy for working mums.

Fostering diversity in STEM industries

Advocating for diversity will help to further draw women into the STEM fold, says Cindy. “But I think we should encourage diversity in any industry; I wouldn’t limit it to STEM,” she says.

“Because it introduces diversity of thought and diversity of approach. There’s real growth and personal development that comes from being around people from different cultures, different thought processes and different genders.”

So, what is this female CIO’s advice for girls and women who are unsure whether a STEM role, or a company like Viva Energy, would be a good fit for them? “Try a range of roles,” Cindy says. “Don’t lock yourself down to one career. You might not end up where you think you’ll end up, but you might be in a place you like so much better.”

Also, she says, look at the company culture. “At Viva Energy, we’ve got a really good culture. And I’m not just saying that. I hire a lot of contractors in the IT space, and none of them ever want to leave.”

Interview with Cindy Murphy, Friday 5 May 2017