JOELLA TOMKINS: FROM GOKARTS TO AEROSPACE

Joella Tomkins is part of the new wave of women breaking barriers in engineering. In high school, she built an electric go-kart through EVolocity. Now, she’s a mechatronics student, with dreams of working in the aerospace industry. Joella’s story showcases the power of initiative, mentorship, and creativity in shaping the next generation of engineers.

Joella Tomkins fascination with engineering started young. As a child, she loved building and creating thingswhether it was tinkering with gadgets or assembling projects from scratch When she realised she could use this passion to solve real-world problems, her career path began to take shape, and she knew she wanted to become an engineer.

Today, Joella has her sights set high - literally - with dreams of working in the aerospace industry.

“I’ve always been interested in aerospace - it’s something my inner 10-year-old thinks is really cool I’m also drawn to it because of the potential for making it more sustainable.”

For now, she’s completing a mechatronics degree at the University of Canterbury - the first step on a journey she hopes will soon be filled with designing and developing next-generation aircraft.

We speak one afternoon when Joella’s in between lectures and exam prep. It has been a busy day - but it’s clear she loves it.

Like many women in STEM, Joella has faced challenges navigating a male-dominated field. In her mechatronics programme, she estimates that only about one-third of her peers are women This disparity is hard to miss, but she’s found strength in the community of female students around her. “It’s great to have that support network.”

When she’s not in a lecture hall or lab, Joella can be found at a local high school, where she voluntarily mentors several teams of EVolocity students. “I love guiding them through the process of coming up with ideas and building from there. I know how rewarding it is to create a project, and I want to share that experience with others."

For Joella, mentoring isn’t just about passing on her technical skills - it’s also about fostering confidence and creativity amongst the next generation of wāhine.

She believes programmes like EVolocity are crucial in helping young women see their potential in STEM fields. “Engineering can feel intimidating at first, especially when it’s portrayed as something really difficult. But programmes like EVolocity give you that boost of confidence to know you can do it.”

It’s a full-circle experience for Joella. She participated in EVolocity a few years prior when she was a year 13 student at Auckland’s Mahurangi College - working in a team of six to build a 1kW go-kart using scrap carbon fiber sourced from a nearby company. “Race day was my highlight. It was incredible to see all our hard work come to fruition. There’s nothing like seeing your final product come to life after working on it from start to finish.”

But it wasn’t always smooth sailing. “Coding was especially tough,” Joella admits. “At first, I had no idea what I was doing. But it was a matter of trial and error - learning by doing, figuring out what worked, and exploring new ideas.”

Today, the lessons she learned from this experience continue to influence her studies and approach to engineering. Now, as she explores advanced technologies like 3D printing and laser cutting as part of her degree, she feels the benefit of having that early hands-on experience. “EVolocity gave me a head start," she says. “I feel more equipped to figure things out and solve problems on my own, and that’s been hugely valuable in my studies.”

The programme also helped sharpen her creativity - a quality she considers crucial in engineering. “At the start of the engineering process, you need a lot of ideas,” she explains. “Being able to think outside the box is important, and that mindset carries over into all areas of life.”

When asked about what advice she’d pass on to others wanting to follow a similar path, Joella emphasises the importance of remaining open, and being willing to let go of convention. ”Definitely give things a go, you never know where it will go or what doors will open. Being open to new ideas and not sticking with conventions.”

She credits this mindset as a key part of her journey, noting that she wouldn’t be where she is today without having embraced new challenges and opportunities along the way.

As she looks to the future, Joella has a hopeful vision for the future of her field. “Diversity is growing, and I hope it will continue to grow. Engineering is starting to recognise the benefits of having different perspectives, which can lead to better results.”

One area Joella is particularly passionate about is sustainability. “Electric vehicles have shown us what’s possible with electricity,” she explains. “We don’t have to rely on petrol anymore. I want to contribute to making aerospace more sustainable.”

Though she’s still exploring what her own role in the aerospace industry will look like, Joella is clear about her overarching goal. “I want to create things that make life better for people ”