“Why is this happening again and again and what can we do to stop it?” It was a question that Amna Arif, our Specifications Engineer, couldn’t ignore as she watched floods repeatedly devastate communities around the world, especially those most vulnerable. It’s also a question that captures her essence – a problem-solver who doesn’t shy away from a challenge.
It’s no surprise that stormwater engineering felt like a natural career fit – a space where she could combine her passion to protect our natural world with real, tangible solutions. Women like Amna are showing that the best solutions come not just from expertise, but from empathy. Their resilience, passion, and ability to see both the science and the human impact are shaping a more thoughtful, inclusive future for the profession.
This International Women’s Day, we sat down with Amna as she reflected on the defining moments of her career and the legacy she hopes to leave for future generations of women in stormwater engineering.
Thank you for chatting with us, Amna. I want to start with your journey in stormwater engineering. What sparked your interest in this field? Was there a moment or experience that made you say, this is it—this is what I want to do?
I’ve always been curious about the environment, particularly fascinated by how water flows over the land, carves its own path and ultimately reaches the ocean. I found myself drawn towards this marvel. That’s why I pursued my degree in environmental engineering.
Over a period of time, as I saw people being affected by floods, tsunamis…it led me to dive deeper into the science behind these events. Seeing firsthand how people lost their homes was a trigger… and I wondered why underprivileged communities suffered the most. The bottom line is, I deeply care about humanity, about other people. I knew I had to do something… something that would pay off well into the future.
As for the water engineering sector, there’s more beneath the surface than people realise. I built a gradual interest in stormwater engineering after moving to Australia – almost 7, 8 years ago now – and working in the water engineering field. But it was always at the back of my mind as a fascinating sector. And there’s been no looking back ever since. And today, outside of work, I am finalising my specialisation degree in water engineering from UNSW – it perfectly aligns with my passion and skillset.
When you were starting out in stormwater engineering, was there anything that really surprised you or challenged you?
I was surprised by how complex and interdisciplinary the field is. It’s not just about hydraulics – it’s also about hydrology, urban spaces and infrastructure, and climate change. All of these things impact us and so many other species on our planet.
When I started exploring this industry, it was like peeling an onion – realising that there’s so much to learn and absorb was an eye-opener.
You’ve spent a good number of years working in the stormwater and the water industry. Along the way, did you ever face a moment of self-doubt or experience others doubting you?
It’s quite natural to experience self-doubt early on in your career. Initially, I did experience imposter syndrome, questioning whether I was good enough to compete in the industry. But I constantly reminded myself of why I was in the industry in the first place. It was all driven by my passion and purpose. I knew I had to use that passion as fuel to keep going and navigate my imposter syndrome by continuously educating and upskilling myself.
Moreover, for decades, this field has been shaped largely by men. While progress has been made, the journey towards equal representation and mutual respect is still unfolding. When I was younger, I remember being underestimated because of my age, gender and lack of experience.
But my career has always felt like my true calling. And so I shifted focus on expanding my skills, learning from experienced mentors like Harout, our Director, whose leadership played a key role in my decision to join Ocean Protect, and building confidence in my expertise.
We’ve talked about challenges, but let’s flip that—what’s a moment that made you feel proud?
I love public speaking and delivering presentations – it’s one of the things I enjoy the most about my job. When I help consultants and they thank me for “rescuing” them, I feel elated. When they’re struggling, they’ll pick up the phone and ask me for help – it’s moments like these that make me feel proud. Being able to help others and facilitate progress brings me joy.
Also, when I am on project sites…I realise there will always be a piece of me in those spaces. Then, when I go home and show off my work to my son, it fills me up with so much pride and happiness when he says, “that’s impressive, mamma!”
Tying this all back to this year’s Women’s day theme #AccelerateAction—a call to push for faster, more tangible progress.
In your personal experience, what does ‘accelerating action’ look like for women in stormwater engineering?
For starters, I think women’s day isn’t just about inclusion, it’s also about impact. ‘Accelerating Action’ needs to start with us meditating on how we can make these impacts felt by the women in the industry. Yes, we need to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes. But we also need to create pathways to help women connect and inspire each other in the industry.
We also need spaces for women at the table where they’re involved in decision making alongside their male colleagues. The more decision-making roles women take on, the more we can accelerate action.
Women’s Day can mean different things to different people—some celebrate, some reflect, some take action. How are you acknowledging the day this year, and what does it personally mean to you?
I’ll be treating and spoiling myself – maybe with a nice trip. I was in Wollongong for a getaway recently and it was epic. I love taking little trips by myself. The best thing you can do for yourself is explore – find the beauty in nature around you and connect deeply with it.
If you could go back and give advice to your younger self, stepping into this field for the first time, what would you say to her?
Scary as it may seem, always trust in your abilities. Never doubt your potential and never settle for less. Surround yourself with positive people and positive crowds and keep pushing through. Be resilient because you don’t know yet how beautiful your future is and how much growth and success lies ahead. And finally, let your breakdowns be your breakthroughs!
My message to future generations of women in water engineering, too, would be to keep fuelling your passion – you’ll do wonders in the field that you are in.
Before we wrap, what’s a quote or piece of advice you live by?
I think it was Nelson Mandela’s words, “it always seems impossible until it’s done.”