Every year on 23 June, International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) shines a light on the inspiring contributions of women engineers around the globe. Spearheaded by the Women's Engineering Society (WES), INWED is more than a day of celebration, it is a vital platform to raise awareness about the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in STEM fields.
As the industry grapples with skills shortages and rapid technological transformation, embracing different voices is not just the right thing to do, it is essential for engineering a better world. Leading engineering consultancy Zutari is proud to support INWED 2025 under the global theme #TogetherWeEngineer.
This theme resonates with the company’s belief that innovation flourishes when people collaborate across disciplines, backgrounds, and experiences. As an organisation that strongly emphasises sustainability, impact, and people-centred design, Zutari recognises that the future of engineering must be inclusive. This year, Zutari spotlights three inspiring women who are shaping the future of engineering with vision, leadership, and resilience.
Zinzi Portia Xakayi: Environmental Assessment Practitioner
Described as a “Jack of all trades,” Zinzi brings versatility and passion to her role. From permitting and auditing to environmental compliance monitoring, her work ensures Zutari’s projects meet and exceed regulatory expectations.
Zinzi’s proudest professional moment came when the Kathu Solar Park project, which she helped author and assess, won an award. Her personal achievements include pursuing a Master’s degree, a journey she describes as both liberating and empowering.
She sees Zutari as a workplace that is “increasingly inclusive,” particularly at technical and middle-management levels. “I have witnessed Zutari make meaningful strides toward building a more inclusive and supportive environment, especially at the technical and middle management levels, where women are increasingly empowered to contribute and grow within the organisation,” she says.
These efforts have fostered a sense of belonging and have opened doors for many talented professionals, herself included, to develop our skills and take on greater responsibilities. Yet, Zinzi calls for more focus on mentorship and clear leadership pathways to accelerate change at the executive level.
“While progress is evident, it is essential that we continue to focus on creating clear pathways for leadership development, mentorship, and succession planning for all employees. I am optimistic that, by prioritising these initiatives, Zutari can build on its achievements and shape a leadership team that truly reflects the diversity and talent within our workforce,” says Zinzi.
The theme #TogetherWeEngineer reminds her that collaboration and unity are the keys to lasting progress. “For me, it is a reminder that progress in engineering and society at large is achieved when diverse voices come together, share ideas, and support one another. It is about collaboration, breaking down barriers, and building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
Aa’isha Dollie: Design Manager and Public Realm Team Lead
From Cape Town to Riyadh, Aa’isha exemplifies the strength of talent empowered to lead globally. As a Design Manager and Public Realm Team Lead, she oversees a team delivering over SAR80 million in public art and landscape contracts on the Diriyah Phase II project in Saudi Arabia.
Her career is punctuated with accolades: graduating with honours in Civil Engineering, developing one of the first net-zero water strategies, earning an MBA, and being named Zutari’s Young Engineer of the Year in 2025. Aa’isha was also the youngest to be promoted to her current leadership role.
“Zutari is fortunate to have forward-thinking leaders who look beyond gender constraints to recognise, harness and nurture talent. There is still a long way to go before this is balanced out but there have been noticeable efforts made to advance the careers of women, especially when it comes to senior position promotions,” says Aa’isha.
For her, INWED 2025 is about looking beyond ourselves as individuals and realising that we could achieve more and have a far greater-reaching impact if we stand together and support one another. “This is not just about women supporting women. It is about communities pushing to question the traditional stigmas we have imposed upon ourselves and think about how much more value we could create without them.”
Zutari’s support of women in engineering starts at a school level through involvement in communal events to get young girls thinking about a career in STEM. “This is very important because subject selection in high school is an early constraint that challenges one’s eligibility towards a STEM career,” stresses Aa’isha.
She reflects on the positive change for women in the field. “From the time that I started studying in 2014 to now, there has been a significant and noticeable increase in the number of women entering the field. What still needs to happen is that the traditional expectations of societal views that engineering is a career suitable only for men need to change. Young girls should not feel like a career in STEM is not for them. They should not be mocked, criticised or discouraged from it.”
It is important to have more women in engineering and STEM roles because engineers design and build what they know. “The only way to achieve inclusively designed spaces is to have women involved in the development process because they balance out the design thinking with a different perspective,” says Aa’isha.
Her message to women to succeed in the technology and engineering space is simple: “To not be underestimated and overlooked because they are women, they are less capable.” Aa’isha’s future looks bright as she champions Zutari’s growth in the Middle East and being in a position “to honour and pay forward all the support I have received by supporting, encouraging and mentoring emerging professionals.”
Kerrylynn Chetty: Technical Team Lead, Energy Unit
As the only female Technical Team Lead in Zutari’s Energy Division, Kerrylynn understands the weight and power of representation. “I am acutely aware of both the challenges and significance of female representation in technical leadership,” she says.
Her appointment alone gives her confidence that Zutari is making meaningful progress toward gender equality. However, it goes further in that she is also being led by a female Managing Director. Kerrylynn also has two highly skilled female technical resources in her team.
“It sends a powerful message that, in Zutari, women are trusted not just to lead projects but also to lead entire business units. The multifaceted inclusion of females in the engineering fields within Zutari displays the top-down and bottom-up inclusion to achieving gender equality and female empowerment,” comments Kerrylynn.
“At my core, my love for teaching, learning, and the development of people and staff makes me the proudest,” she adds. She has mentored over ten engineers and technologists to professional registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa. Her personal motivation is to be a source of inspiration and guidance to people in the workplace. Despite the pressures faced as a team, it gives her great joy to prioritise the growth of each team member.
“I am also proud of my academic achievements to date,” says Kerrylynn. These include a bachelor’s degree in engineering (cum laude), a master’s degree in engineering (cum laude), a Government Certificate of Competence for Electrical Engineers in Factories, a master’s degree in business administration, and professional engineering registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa for more than ten years.
Kerrylynn says that #TogetherWeEngineer speaks to solidarity between women supporting each other and between allies of all genders who believe in creating an inclusive, equitable space for engineering development. “It is about recognising that when we bring diverse minds and voices, engineering becomes multi-dimensional. This mindset makes it more than just a theme; it is a call to action. My personal experience and the 2025 theme remind me that while individual determination opens doors, real transformation happens when we move forward together.”
She adds that Zutari is an organisation that goes beyond numbers and ticking boxes. It actively fosters a culture where women are heard, empowered, and positioned to shape strategy. There is a strong display of active mentorship, inclusive leadership development, and a celebration of women through various initiatives and programmes.
“I have seen firsthand that the support is real, and the intention is clear that the way for other strong, technically competent females to follow suit has been paved. The barriers are slowly breaking away. I believe this reinforces the importance of representation at every level, from the site to the boardroom.”
This demonstrates that women are not only capable of driving technical excellence but also shaping the future of the industry. “Of course, being the only women in a team lead position in the Energy Division is a reminder that our work is not done. Women have now been invited to the table, but we need to encourage and focus on speaking up, leading, and influencing.”
Engineering the future, together
Zutari understands that transformation does not happen in isolation. It takes courage, collaboration, and community. Its support for INWED 2025 is part of its broader commitment to cultivating a workplace where everyone can thrive, lead, and innovate, regardless of gender.
By showcasing the stories of Zinzi, Aa’isha, and Kerrylynn, we are reminded of what is possible when talent is nurtured and empowered. #TogetherWeEngineer is more than a hashtag; it is a blueprint for a more inclusive future.
