Shanae Heber during her interview with the News Room (Photo: News Room/ February 8, 2024)
Heber is also a Rotaract Guest and part of the International Service Committee, and to observe the day, the committee will disseminate a sensitisation video of women and girls involved in STEM.
According to the Women in STEM statistics, women make up 26 per cent of the workforce. This is a vast underrepresentation and Heber believes that if young girls see women promoting themselves in the field, then they will be inclined to get involved.
“I am a woman in engineering…it has a place in my heart because it’s a day that I can use to promote full access to participation of women and girls in Science and we can showcase all the opportunities that are available for women and girls in STEM.
“I think that comes from having representation, when women take up the mantle, they inspire young women because we ourselves are role models and if we have more representation, more women will join the industry. We are seeing women breaking pas the barriers,” she said.
Guyana’s economy is highly dependent on the nascent oil and gas sector and this is an area where workforce is needed.
Heber, a former ambassador for the Ministry of Labour for Women and Girls in the Oil and Gas Sector, suggests women consider these opportunities to harness new possibilities for themselves.
Heber noted that the government is offering Board of Industrial Training programmes that are STEM related for women to join. She also mentioned the Women in Energy Organisation which hosts career fairs for persons to network and understand the industry.
Shanae Heber during her interview with the News Room (Photo: News Room/ February 8, 2024)
