Engineering shapes our worlds, but for Georgia Dallimore it also transforms our generations.
To mark today's International Women in Engineering Day (IWED), Georgia shares her trajectory in the Australian space sector and why engineering roles are exciting career opportunities.
IWED celebrates the role women play in technical fields and inspires more women and young girls to pursue a career in engineering.
Over the Moon
Georgia is an aerospace engineer graduate from the University of Adelaide and a recipient of the prestigious John Monash Scholarship.
She is currently a space communicator at the Australian Space Discovery Centre, where she enjoys sharing Australian space history with visitors. Georgia will soon pursue a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology (Technische Universiteit Delft) in the Netherlands.
Can you briefly share with us why you chose to pursue a career in engineering?
Growing up, I loved space, science, and eventually, maths, but was unsure about where these interests could take me.
I knew I wanted a career which could make a positive difference to people’s lives, and it was one of my high school teachers who suggested I might enjoy engineering.
Discovering that many astronauts, including Andy Thomas, studied Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering too, I knew it was the perfect blend of my interests — using STEM to solve problems through space technology for life on Earth.
What are your observations about the field of engineering in the Australian space sector?
I have been privileged to see the space sector’s incredible growth since the Australian Space Agency’s establishment in 2018, being part of the action from high school.
The sector is full of passionate, hard-working people, who are discovering new ways to innovate with this opportunity to build a space industry in the 21st century.
This means young engineers, even students, can directly contribute to space missions. I worked on multiple spacecraft during my internship at university, which is not typically an opportunity elsewhere in the world.
Any specific source of inspiration that led you to pursue an engineering career in the space sector?
I was in Year 11 when I heard the Australian Space Agency headquarters would be established in my hometown of Adelaide.
This fiercely reignited my passion for all things space, and with the advice from my teachers, knew exactly that Aerospace Engineering is what I should pursue.
Engineering is an exciting career that can take you around the world, where no two days are the same...
It is a team sport, and you will work with brilliant minds who are passionate about solving some of the biggest Earth and off-Earth challenges.
You are a 2025 John Monash Scholarship recipient, could you share with us what this honour means to you?
I am honoured to have been selected as a 2025 John Monash Scholar, having the opportunity to study a Masters in space engineering at a world-leading institution. I am excited for the potential this can have to unlocking further avenues for collaboration with the Australian space sector and the international community.
What would you regard as your most formative experience in engineering so far?
During university, I worked on so many exciting projects as an engineering intern at Australian space firms.
A huge privilege was leading the thermal engineering on one of Australia’s first lunar payloads. I have such fond memories of the environmental testing, waiting with colleagues in trepidation to see that everything passed as expected!
What would be your elevator pitch to younger women who are interested to pursue engineering?
Engineering is an exciting career that can take you around the world, where no two days are the same. Every day, your work truly matters — you are part of projects with a real, positive impact to society.
Engineering is a team sport, and you will work with brilliant minds who are passionate about solving some of the biggest Earth and off-Earth challenges.
No matter your skills, you are welcome in the space community; I’ve formed close bonds with many colleagues, sharing experiences from pushing boundaries of space technology for Australia.
Which space career is right for you?
Navigate a day on the Moon in our short interactive quiz to find out which role best suits your strengths.