Bridging engineering and mentorship at AECOM

As a Senior Bridge Engineer at globally trusted infrastructure consulting firm AECOM, Wandie Oliver has carved a remarkable path in the engineering industry, not only through her technical expertise but also through her dedication to mentoring and uplifting other women in the field. Her career is a testament to resilience, passion and the power of paying it forward. On International Women’s Day 2025, we celebrate Wandie’s journey and her commitment to fostering the next generation of women engineers.

Wandie’s engineering journey began at Stellenbosch University, where she earned her Bachelor of Engineering degree (BEng) in 2011. She later completed her Master’s degree in Structural Engineering (MEng) at the same institution in 2022, a significant personal achievement that highlighted her dedication to continuous learning.

Her professional career started in 2012 at SMEC South Africa, where she specialised in bridge design. During her tenure, she worked on a diverse range of bridge structures, including incremental launching method (ILM), integral, composite steel, beam-and-slab and twin-spine bridges. One of her most notable projects was the design verification of a 1.24 km extradosed bridge. Her experience extended to the construction site, where she played a pivotal role as an Assistant Resident Engineer on the N1 widening project in the Western Cape, overseeing bridge rehabilitation and reconstruction.

In 2020, Wandie joined the Western Cape Government’s Department of Transport Infrastructure as a Professional Engineer. There, she managed and implemented large-scale infrastructure projects, including freeway upgrades, interchanges and flood damage control. She was also the design lead on a 159 m twin-spine bridge and played a critical role in flood hydrology and hydraulics.

Now, as a Senior Bridge Engineer at AECOM’s Cape Town office, Wandie contributes to global projects, assisting the New York office with a design-build project for the Bronx River Parkway and working on projects in Alberta, Canada. She describes her move to AECOM as “the best decision ever,” highlighting the firm’s high technical standards, collaborative environment and opportunities for growth.

While Wandie has found support from colleagues in the design office, she acknowledges that the construction site environment posed different challenges. “It is still a novelty to see a woman in charge of structures on a construction site,” she says. “I received the odd negative comment, but I brushed it off. High-quality work earns respect and that is what I focused on.”

Her strategy for navigating obstacles is to develop resilience. “Most individuals will treat you with respect and equality, supporting your professional growth. I concentrate on these positive influences and disregard the noise.”

Wandie attributes much of her professional growth to the guidance of mentors, including her husband, whose entrepreneurial mindset has provided valuable insights into the corporate world. She also recalls the impact of her first-year engineering mathematics lecturer, who exemplified the power of inclusivity by remembering every student’s name. “By ensuring no one is overlooked, you create an environment of respect and engagement,” she reflects.

Now, she actively mentors aspiring female engineers, technologists and technicians, guiding them toward professional registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa. She supports them in developing report-writing skills, documenting training experiences and even balancing work, family and further studies.

Passionate about bridging the gender gap in engineering, Wandie ensures that young women in the industry receive the support and encouragement they need. She fosters an open-door policy, making herself available to answer questions, provide career guidance and include women in technical discussions and leadership opportunities.

Wandie stresses that engineering is a dynamic environment, constantly changing and evolving and providing unlimited satisfaction when approached with dedication and skill. “If you are genuinely passionate about improving our civil society, this is the industry for you.”

She takes great pleasure in her work, witnessing the continuous development and construction of infrastructure, a field that is always changing and expanding. “It keeps you engaged and allows for significant skill advancement. Engineering serves as the foundation of civil society, and being part of this industry fills me with pride.”

Wandie adds: “I want to ensure that young women do not miss out on these opportunities. I strive to share this message with anyone willing to listen, particularly women, as this can be a highly rewarding career when pursued with commitment.”

In this regard, Wandie actively mentors fellow female colleagues, including identifying and provide training programmes. She also assists in their part-time studies, providing a supportive environment. She favours an open-door policy. No matter how busy she is, she makes time to assist or answer questions and pull people into discussions and meetings. “I always make women feel comfortable expressing their opinions and raising concerns.”

For young women entering the industry, Wandie’s advice is clear: “Take pride in everything you do, even the smallest tasks. If you can be trusted with the small things, you will earn your way onto the big, exciting projects.” She also shares a quote from Mark Twain that guides her professional ethos: “Always do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”

Reflecting on her time at AECOM, Wandie praises the firm’s commitment to fostering career growth for women. “AECOM is incredibly supportive of women in engineering. I have been given amazing opportunities to grow and learn and I have all the necessary tools to succeed. If you embrace dynamic challenges, AECOM will take you places.”

Wandie is not just building bridges. She is building a future where women in engineering thrive. Through her expertise, mentorship and support for women in the industry, she is helping to shape a more inclusive and diverse engineering landscape. On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate her contributions and look forward to the lasting impact she will continue to make in the field of engineering.