Vida Balshaw was the inspiration for the Women in Engineering Scholarship named in her honour, which was inaugurally awarded to Liza Chao
In and around the time that UNSW Sydney was founded, and during its early period of growth, Vida Balshaw was an office worker in the ordering department of an engineering firm.
In her role, she saw first-hand the disparity between the wages of the men and the women employed doing similar jobs.
That lived experience is now being addressed within UNSW Engineering by way of the Vida Balshaw Women in Engineering Scholarship, set up in her honour by daughter Judith Kay.
The Scholarship, established to provide financial support for exceptional women undertaking their first year of study towards a Bachelor of Engineering degree, is one of several philanthropic initiatives dedicated to advancing and empowering women in engineering at UNSW.
Judith, who was a recipient of a scholarship herself as a student, says her mother would be thrilled to know there are ever-more equal opportunities nowadays for women in engineering.
“She would be absolutely delighted to know there was a female engineer taking on the men on their own terms,” Judith says.
“I set up this scholarship in my mother’s name, simply to give back what I have been given.
“In the days of a forward-thinking government, I was fortunate to be given a scholarship into Teachers’ College. For that I have always been grateful.”
Liza Chao was the inaugural recipient of the Vida Balshaw Women in Engineering Scholarship and exemplifies the transformative impact of the initiatives to empower young females in the industry.
Liza fondly recalls receiving the award from Judith, who offered reassurance and emphasised the values of commitment, dedication, and talent. Their bond extends beyond formalities, and their friendship is fortified through shared stories and regular meals with Liza’s family.
Post-graduation, Liza delved into recycling start-ups, channelling her passion for sustainability into impactful work. Notably, she led the development of a groundbreaking on-site organic processing unit at Goterra, contributing to a more environmentally responsible future. In a symbolic gesture, the unit was named after Liza, reflecting her influential role as a woman in the engineering profession.
“While working at Goterra, I was the lead engineer on their first on-site organic processing unit. It is a Goterra first that enables the acceptance of packaged waste at the customer site and the processing of that waste into soil enhancers and fly protein to be sold to pet food companies,” Liza explains.
“It was named after me following an initiative put forward by Goterra’s female CEO to highlight women in the industry and to name all units after influential women going forward.”
As Australia’s best engineering faculty turns 75, there are just as many reasons why we’ve earned that title. Discover new stories weekly, celebrating the successes that have enabled progress for all.
