Can you tell us a bit about yourself? 

My name is Inash, I’m a civil engineer by profession and currently studying to specialize in water and environmental engineering.  

I grew up in a very active household, which was probably one of the reasons why I chose to pursue Civil Engineering as I didn’t want an inert, desk job. My career has opened up opportunities for me to travel and explore the islands of Maldives, as well as to take part in site investigations and have an active lifestyle. Outside of my job, I find comfort in reading as well as baking.  

What inspired you to pursue a career in the digital/tech/data/innovation sector? 

Well to be precise, my career has not been exactly in any of those sectors. My career in civil engineering has been in design of water and sanitation projects as well as groundwater resources assessment and management projects. But of course, I rely on a large volume of data for these projects, and embracing new technology, which might be learning new programming languages or exploring innovative ways of processing data, has been key to expediting the projects I work on, and improve the quality of engineering design projects in the Maldives. A gender inclusive digital education is so important, and without having been educated and proficient in digital technologies, I would not have been able to really close my projects the way I have.  

Tell us about your work with UNDP? 

I was the project coordinator from the lead design consultant’s side for a novel large-scale groundwater study done in the Maldives where Green Climate Fund (GCF) was the funding agency, UNDP the accredited entity, and Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology the client. 

This project involved piloting novel technologies in the Maldives, with key expert hydrologists from leading international companies. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) designs were proposed to enhance groundwater storage and improve water quality as well as prevent flooding. I was involved in all the steps of this project from building the methodology for field surveys to completing them during challenging pandemic times, to analyzing the data, identifying issues and proposing solutions.  

This project really opened up my eyes to the importance as well as to the historical significance of the groundwater lens in the Maldives islands, and also the effects of climate-change and anthropogenic activities on the water lens. Protecting and conserving our freshwater lens is vital to ensure water security for generations to come. 

As a woman in this sector, what challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them? 

Personally, I feel like I’ve entered this field at a period of time where people are slowly starting to let go of unconscious biases against female engineers. I am grateful to senior female engineers who have really worked hard to make a name for themselves and prove this field is for anyone who has the passion and ambition to work in it. They have really paved the way for me and future generations of women to flourish in this sector. 

Of course, there’s still a long way to go for true gender equality in the workplace. There are still instances where I feel male colleagues’ opinions and ideas are valued over mine, and that I’m not taken as seriously as I should be. Microaggressions like these have the potential to build up and really affect one’s self-confidence and mental wellbeing. The alarmingly high rate of women who enter this field but then choose to leave and pursue other interests is proof of this. 

What I find really helpful is to have a network of my peers, with whom I can share my experiences and who really motivate me to keep going despite any obstacles. With gender microaggressions, it is very easy to think you’re imagining things or that “it’s all in your head”. Having people who validate my experiences and feelings had personally been very helpful for me to keep my head up. 

What advice would you give to other women who are aspiring to succeed in this industry and what can be done to encourage more women to pursue careers in tech, data, and innovation? 

I really believe the field of civil engineering is very wide-ranging and there’s something for anyone. There’s a general idea that you have to be a math wiz or have a high IQ to become an engineer, and maybe that’s a reason young adults choose not to pursue this field. What I personally believe is that what you actually need is to have a passion for mathematics and physics, and that passion leads you to work hard at understanding concepts. You need to be driven to solve problems and think creatively and out of the box. 

It seems quite contradictory to talk about the challenges I’ve faced as a female engineer in one breath and then to convince more women to join the field in another. However, I honestly believe that the sense of accomplishment at doing what I do is worth it, despite its challenges. Having a complex problem in front of me and figuring out a way to solve it is one of life’s biggest joys for me. Civil Engineering has provided a safe and secure livelihood for me, while giving me the opportunity to explore, innovate and create.  I don’t think that the satisfaction from modelling and creating something on a piece of computer software, and then seeing it be built and constructed in real life will ever get old for me. 

As per the official definition adopted by the Institution of Civil Engineers, “Civil Engineering is a vital art, working with the great sources of power in nature for the wealth and well-being of the whole of society. Its essential feature is the exercise of imagination to engineer the products and processes, and develop the people needed to create and maintain a sustainable natural and built environment.” It does not make any sense for our built environment to be designed and developed by only half of its population. Women bring unique perspectives to the table and drawing board, and the more diversity we bring to the design process, the more our designs become inclusive, robust and sustainable. 

In the fields of tech, data and innovation, Women in Tech Maldives are doing an absolutely fantastic job advocating for women in technology as well as encouraging young girls and women to pursue careers in the field. They organize many outreach events as well as open mentoring opportunities, workshops, coding classes among other initiatives.  

Finally, what are your future goals and aspirations, both professionally and personally? 

The Maldives is rapidly growing and developing country, and civil engineers are one of the most important people behind these developments. Professionally, I want to advocate for more sustainable development in the Maldives, particularly in the form of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and nature-based solutions. I also want to work towards becoming a chartered engineer, which is one of the reasons that I am currently pursuing a postgraduate degree.  

Personal goals are harder to define. I find that the older people get, especially people in the field that I am in, they tend to get a little jaded, pessimistic, and cynical, both in their professional as well as personal lives. I hope to never lose my enthusiasm and zest for life, to always remain active in one form or another and to finally master the art of baking sourdough bread!