As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, AR Jones Engineering is taking the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the women contributing their skills, knowledge and determination to the engineering industry.
Among them is Deidre Petersen (26), a welder, safety training facilitator and quality control team member at AR Jones Engineering. Deidre completed her welding trade in 2022 and joined the team in January 2023. Since joining the company, she has continued to develop her skills and experience. Deidre has been coded to work according to specific welding standards and has completed additional courses in Quality Control, Safety, Facilitator, Assessor and Moderator.
“I enjoy the variety,” says Deidre. Welding allows her to be hands-on and apply her technical skills, while training gives her an opportunity to share what she knows and help others develop their skills. Her quality control responsibilities challenge her to pay attention to detail and ensure that work is completed to the required standard. For Deidre, quality means “doing things right, even when nobody is watching.” She believes in taking pride in her work, following the correct procedures, paying attention to detail and never taking shortcuts.
Equal opportunities for women is so important as they are often the breadwinners in households.
Antonio Jones
Creating Opportunities for Women
Engineering and welding have traditionally been male-dominated fields, and Deidre acknowledges that there have been challenges and times when she has had to prove herself. Her approach has been to remain professional, stay confident and allow her knowledge, skills, attitude and quality of work to speak for themselves. Her message to young women considering engineering or welding is clear: “There is a place for women in engineering and we should not be afraid to take it.”
This belief is shared by AR Jones Engineering, which is passionate about empowering women and creating opportunities for its employees. To date, 23 females are working for the company, while 15 female students have gained workplace experience at AR Jones Engineering. For Antonio Jones, creating an inclusive engineering sector is personal. “It is important to me that we empower all our employees. Equal opportunities for women is so important as they are often the breadwinners in households. I myself come from a single-parent household and I believe if my mother had the opportunity to improve her skills, she would have had better work opportunities.”
A Career and Motherhood
Being a mother has also shaped Deidre professionally. She says motherhood has taught her patience, resilience, responsibility and perseverance—qualities she brings into her working life. “It isn’t always easy,” she says, but her child remains one of her biggest motivations. Deidre wants her child to see that it is possible to work hard, have goals and still be there for the people you love.
She is proud to continue growing her career while being an example to her child, showing that with hard work, determination and faith, anything is possible. Deidre also takes the opportunity to sincerely thank Antonio for believing in her and giving her the opportunity to grow, learn and develop within AR Jones Engineering. She appreciates the trust, support and opportunities she has been given. Most importantly, Deidre credits God for giving her the strength, courage and perseverance to keep going, particularly during difficult moments. “I’m grateful for the journey, proud of how far I’ve come, and excited for what lies ahead.”
