-- The partnership will support diverse professionals returning to STEM careers

Bechtel today announced partnership with STEM Returners Australia to increase 
diversity in STEM professions by supporting professionals returning to STEM 
careers. Through the STEM Returners program, the company will offer a 10-week 
paid placement in Australia for mechanical, electrical, civil, and design 
engineers, and project managers who are returning to the workforce after a 
career break. Bechtel will consider other opportunities for successful 
Returners upon completion of the program.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/326556/bechtel_logo.jpg 

"STEM professionals re-entering the engineering and construction industry are 
an untapped source of diverse experienced talent," said Leigh Carter, Asia 
Pacific general manager for Bechtel's Mining and Metals business. "Our 
partnership with STEM Returners Australia will support those on extended career 
breaks who want to return to their careers in the industry while at the same 
time enhancing diversity in STEM careers."

"I'm excited to be launching this program in partnership with Bechtel," said 
Marcail Roe, director of STEM Returners Australia. "This will enable us to 
create opportunities for returners in STEM but also to influence the Diversity 
and Inclusion agenda in the field. Too many conversations are focused around 
one area of diversity but to make a genuine positive change we want STEM to be 
open and accessible to everyone."

STEM Returners Australia is grounded in the program's success in the UK. The 
program supports engineers considering returning to work following a career 
break. Some methods used by much of the industry when searching for new talent 
rule out a number of talented engineers, particularly those from a diverse 
background or with career gaps. STEM Returners focuses on replacing recruitment 
techniques that can prevent industry diversity and removing the barriers these 
groups face, allowing them to provide value to companies that participate in 
the program. To date, 46% of all those who returned to STEM careers are women 
and over one third are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

About Bechtel 
Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner 
to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our 
relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our 
capabilities to our customers' objectives to create a lasting positive impact. 
Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 
countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, 
improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure, increased access to 
energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner 
place.  

Bechtel serves the Energy; Infrastructure; Nuclear, Security & Environmental; 
and Mining & Metals markets. Our services span from initial planning and 
investment, through start-up and operations. www.bechtel.com

Media contact:

Marilyn Urtubia
Email: mcurtubi@bechtel.com

SOURCE Bechtel