Dr Annalisa Contos, water engineer and advocate for women in STEM, has been named as finalist in the 2020 Telstra Business Women’s Awards.
The Telstra Business Awards finalists represent the highest achievers in Australian business and celebrate the most innovative and entrepreneurial businesses in the country.
After founding Atom Consulting in 2009, Annalisa has worked to improve access to safe water and sanitation to communities, regardless of their location.
“The benefits of a safe and resilient water supply and sewerage system extend beyond public and environmental health. Water for liveability provides a wide range of physical and mental health benefits. We need to move from a linear approach to water supply to closing the loop”, said Annalisa.
“We work with water utilities to manage the challenges of declining water quality that arose through the drought and provided expertise to design and construct safe recycled water schemes, allowing them to continue to water their parks and ovals. This has huge impacts on the community’s mental health and wellbeing.”
Like all STEM industries, women are not well represented in senior positions in the water industry. Annalisa has mentored over 50 people, both emerging engineers and those regionally-based, and holds a role at the University of Sydney that allows her to empower more young women to join careers in STEM.
“We suffer from a lack of women in senior roles in our industry. I want to prove that women in STEM can run successful businesses and make an impact at this level while balancing complex family situations.”
When she was inducted as a Fellow at Engineers Australia, she was the only woman in a cohort of 21 peers. Annalisa is incredibly passionate about engaging more women in STEM and takes an active role in many industry associations and at events to promote the position of women in the field.
“I’m proud to be recognised by the Telstra Business Women’s Awards for championing inclusion, innovation and inspiring others to do the same.”
Annalisa is also an active advocate for diversity as she is a mother of two neurodiverse boys. She founded Atom Consulting - who champion flexible work arrangements - in 2009 when her eldest son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Annalisa is proof that women in STEM can run successful businesses, and make an impact at senior policy levels while balancing complex family situations.
Engineers Australia congratulates Dr Annalisa Contos on being recognised as one of Australia's most influential women in business.
Image: Supplied