When Victoria Colquhoun began her engineering career over two decades ago, she often walked into site meetings as the only woman in the room.
“Sometimes I was mistaken for the minute taker,” she recalls. “It knocked my confidence quite a bit.”
Now, she leads the South-East engineering team for Honeywell, overseeing large-scale technical packages on construction projects across Victoria and New South Wales. Her journey reflects what’s possible when expertise, support and belief come together over time.
Victoria began with a strong technical foundation and a love for problem-solving. She built her experience across a variety of major projects—office towers, hospitals, shopping centres, stadiums and airports—each offering new challenges and opportunities to learn.
“In the early years, I didn’t always feel confident speaking up,” she says. “But over time, I earned respect and trust from others in the industry, my experience and confidence grew and that changed everything.”
As her capability and leadership grew, so did her responsibilities. Today, as Regional Engineering Manager, Victoria leads a talented team of engineers delivering smart, sustainable solutions across the construction and infrastructure sectors.
“My role is about both people and performance,” she says. “While I manage labour resources and project delivery daily, I also support the Engineering team members with their development and individual career goals.”
Victoria brings a collaborative, people-first approach to leadership. She encourages open conversations, helps her team identify growth opportunities, and ensures they feel supported both professionally and personally.
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For women considering a career in engineering, Victoria has a clear message: “Go for it, no two days are the same. You’re constantly learning, solving real-world problems and seeing the results of your work come to life.”
She also offers advice for women in male-dominated fields:
“Be confident, back yourself, and surround yourself with a network of people you trust; mentors / sponsors. Don’t change who you are to fit in.”
Victoria’s story is one of perseverance, skill and quiet confidence. From her early days on site to leading some of Honeywell’s most complex projects, she shows how careers in engineering can be both technically rewarding and personally fulfilling.
