The women behind Melbourne’s Bigger, Better Trains

15/03/2022

This International Women’s Day we look at some of the incredible women behind the High Capacity Metro Trains – Melbourne’s bigger, better trains.

The High Capacity Metro Train is not only Melbourne’s first new train design in nearly 20 years, offering a more comfortable, reliable, safe and accessible journey for passengers, they’re also being built by women.

Downer, as part of the Evolution Rail Consortium, is delivering 65 High Capacity Metro Trains – the largest single order of trains in Victoria’s history. The project is in partnership with the Victorian Government, who committed $2.3 billion to get Victorians where they need to go.

At Downer, our focus is on workforce development, and being able to have women across all aspects of the train design and build is key.

This International Women’s Day, we recognise five women who have helped deliver the new trains and ease congestion on one of Melbourne’s busiest corridors.

Alexandra Sawtell

Project Manager, currently working on the Light Service Facility at Calder Park

Alexandra has worked on the HCMT project as a Project Manager since 2016. She has worked on the build of the Pakenham East Depot, the interface on the High Capacity Signalling Project and is now working on the Light Service Facility build.

As a woman in rail, Alexandra is proud. “Generally, pride is my key take away about being a woman in rail. Women are outnumbered, but I take pride in pushing a positive message about diversity. With women in the room, whether that’s the meeting room or the board room, we bring a different dynamic and I take a lot of pride in that”.

Teresa Mauro

Apprentice Electrician

The HCMT project is Teresa’s first job since graduating high school, and was a little nervous entering a male dominated industry. “At first, I was a little bit nervous. There are so many men, and I’m a woman in a male dominated industry. But there are so many women where I work. So many women. I’m very very comfortable. All of us women have each other’s backs, so that’s a good thing.”

As an apprentice electrician, Teresa’s role on the HCMT project is to wire up the train systems, completing all the electrical connections and terminations.

Roslyn Cook

Administrator at Pakenham East Depot

Ros started with Downer four years ago. She originally worked for Downer’s Infrastructure Projects business and was a part of the team that built the Pakenham East Depot—our state-of-the-art maintenance facility for the HCMTs. She moved across to Downer’s rail business in 2019.

The thing she’s found the most rewarding and challenging has been her own mindset coming into the industry.

“As an Aboriginal woman coming into the industry, I had my doubts about myself – imposter syndrome, I guess. But coming into this industry and working with my amazing peers has helped me thrive and develop so much knowledge and gain respect for the industry. Before now I didn’t have an appreciation of the development and maintenance of the trains that help passengers travel safely, comfortably, accessibly and reliably.

“I’m also a mother, and when my teenage son catches the HCMT on the Pakenham line with his mates, I know how safe he is. He can see the dynamic route map, which helps him understand where he needs to get off the train and thereby makes him more confident on his journey.”

Montanna Bullivant

Junior Engineer

Montanna is currently studying Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering at university. She took a year off to participate in Downer’s Cadetship Program, and is now back studying full time, and working part time.

She found that working on the HCMT Project as a cadet was the perfect mix for her, as she worked in the Reworks Team which is operational, and the Train Management System team, which is more based on electrical and software.

As a young woman in rail, Montanna feels comfortable. “Maybe I’m coloured by my high school experience. I went to an all girls’ school, so I can’t say if I would have gone into engineering if I went to a co-ed school. But as a woman in the industry, I think the more women the better. Having more would bring more positive experiences.”

Natalie Bond

General Manager Technical – HCMT

Natalie is one of our most senior women working on the HCMT project. As an engineer, she is responsible for all technical elements of the delivery of the HCMT trains for Melbourne, incorporating engineer, Safety, RAM, ICT, Systems Engineering and TLS interface.

As a Senior female engineer on the HCMT project, Natalie has found that being a woman is nothing but an advantage as both an engineer and in rail.

“I’ve always found that bringing a different perspective to the discussion – sometimes because I’m the only woman in the room – has been nothing but a benefit. People seek me out for my different perspective, which I’ve always appreciated.

“While I have gotten used to being the only woman in the room, it is refreshing now to see there being a lot more women than there ever was before (over my 20-year career). There is great growth for diversity in engineering and the industry as a whole”.