There is no shortage of fabulous females fighting climate change. And, these include Stella Whittaker. As the Climate Change, Adaptation and Resilience Lead at Haskoning Australia, Stella is building the blueprint for a safer, more sustainable Australia. With more than 30 years of engineering expertise behind her, Stella has long been at the forefront of change. But, it’s not just about concrete, steel and systems. For Stella, engineering is personal. It’s about protecting people, safeguarding communities, and pushing our country to do better when it comes to climate resilience. A timely message for International Women in Engineering Day.
Stella’s role is as complex as it is critical. Her international work spans everything from sustainable infrastructure design to ESG strategy and climate finance. But, what ties it all together is her unwavering commitment to future-focused action. Stella advises financial institutions on where to invest, develops practical flood adaptation strategies with local governments, and leads national conversations about climate risk – always grounding her approach in real-world impact and relentless advocacy.
“Adaptation is the Cinderella story of climate finance,” she says. “Overlooked and underfunded, but absolutely critical. If not now, when? And if not you, then who?”
It’s this bold, clear-eyed leadership that’s helped her carve a unique path in a male-dominated industry. Her projects don’t sit on shelves. They get built. They get funded. And, they change lives. For instance, Stella has helped steer superannuation funds and major financial institutions toward climate-conscious investment decisions that prioritise adaptation—an area often ignored in favour of mitigation alone.
She’s also been a voice for local change, especially in flood-prone regions, where her work delivers hyperlocal, evidence-based planning tailored to the real risks faced by communities on the ground. It’s not just about engineering for resilience – it’s about engineering with empathy.
But, her ambitions don’t stop there. Stella is using her platform to advocate nationally for a more performance-based approach to climate transition. For too long, she argues, governments and industries have relied on “tick-the-box” compliance when it comes to climate change—meeting minimum standards instead of driving meaningful progress.
“While climate resilience in our energy sector is probably world-leading,” she says, “we need to take a performance approach to climate transition rather than a compliance-based approach. Do not treat climate transition as a tick-in-the-box exercise.”
It’s a timely message. As Australia faces more frequent and severe weather events—from floods to bushfires—leaders like Stella are urging decision-makers to shift focus from short-term fixes to long-term resilience. And she’s not afraid to call out the gaps.
Despite overwhelming scientific consensus, adaptation remains one of the most underfunded areas in climate policy. But Stella is working to change that. One project, one pitch and one policy at a time.
Her work is a powerful reminder that engineering is not just about designing infrastructure—it’s about designing systems that protect people. And as International Women in Engineering Day approaches, there’s no better time to recognise leaders like Stella who are using their skills to make a real difference.
She’s more than an engineer. She’s a changemaker, a connector and a catalyst for smarter, braver action in the face of a rapidly changing world.
Stella Whittaker is proving that when you combine deep technical knowledge with bold vision and fearless advocacy, you don’t just build infrastructure. You build a legacy.