Peta Cox attended the Women Surveyors Summit 2025 in Las Vegas and found that it combined connection, courage and growth.

By Peta Cox

The Women Surveyors Summit 2025 was a conference that filled my cup, reminding me exactly why spaces like this are so important. It felt like a reunion of old friends and the beginning of new ones, where laughter and shared purpose connected women who may have only met for the first time but already spoke the same language.

Now in its sixth year, the Summit hosted 174 women, surveyors and professionals working within our industry, from all over the United States, plus one international attendee.

What began in Texas with around 30 women, maybe 60 once all was said and done, has grown into a national gathering that brings together surveyors from across the country, with an open invitation globally.

It is more than a professional conference. It is a space for women to feel equal, connected and supported.

From the moment registration opened, there was a sense of excitement and belonging in the air. Conversations flowed easily about projects, families, challenges and dreams. It is rare to walk into a professional setting and immediately feel like you are among friends, but that is exactly what this Summit offers.

The program struck a perfect balance between technical, educational and personal development. From advanced surveying topics to ethical leadership and mentoring, the sessions reflected how broad and evolving our profession really is.

The off-site technical tours were a real highlight, offering a hands-on look at the precision and innovation that drive the work we do. Standing among such passionate professionals reminded me how diverse and dynamic the surveying community truly is.

I was honoured to be invited to speak during lunch on the first day, where I shared my experiences around mental health, burnout, peri/menopause and life in general. It was not an easy topic, but it resonated deeply across the room with women both young and experienced.

Many opened up about their own journeys, stress, exhaustion and the invisible pressures that come with trying to balance everything. Some were moved to tears, not from sadness, but from finally feeling seen.

Together, we realised that we are not alone in these challenges, and that leadership must include empathy, understanding and open conversations about wellbeing, self-care and awareness.

One of the most inspiring moments of the Summit was seeing women across generations come together to share knowledge and experience.

Rita M. Lumos, Nevada’s first female registered professional land surveyor (PLS), stood proudly beside Kaitlin Constantine, the youngest female PLS in the state. Watching the two of them connect, the trailblazer and the next generation, was powerful. It symbolised everything this Summit stands for: legacy, mentorship and transformation.

Throughout the two days, I spoke with many surveyors for The Geoholics Podcast, and every interview was inspiring in its own way. I met incredible women from Puerto Rico, Alaska, California, Texas and so many other states, all with stories and empowering insights to share.

It was also wonderful to meet our scholarship winners for this year, Isabella Totra, the youngest attendee, and Iris Saldana. Both young, passionate and determined to make a difference, they bring fresh energy and ideas into the profession. Listening to them speak about their studies and goals reminded everyone that the future of surveying is in good hands.

As the days went on, what struck me most was the strength of the community. The way women supported one another, shared advice and celebrated each other’s wins. Whether through technical sessions, personal conversations or casual catch-ups over coffee, and maybe a few cocktails, there was a real sense of unity and purpose.

Networking was a huge part of the experience too. Women were not just exchanging business cards, but building genuine connections that will continue long after the event. Many shared job leads, collaboration ideas and opportunities to subcontract or refer work to one another.

It was refreshing to see professional networking done in such an open, supportive and community-driven way. These connections are how we grow, both individually and as a profession.

A massive thank you must go to my Geoholics team for sponsoring and supporting my visit to this incredible event. Without them, I would not have had the opportunity to connect, learn and bring back the knowledge and inspiration to share with others.

The Women Surveyors Summit is more than an annual event. It is a reminder of what is possible when women are given a safe space to grow together. It is about passion, motivation, leadership and transformation.

I came home with new friends, new knowledge and a renewed sense of purpose. My hope now, through the WiSE Network, is to create events like this back home in Australia. A space for women in surveying to come together, share experiences, lift one another and continue building a stronger, more inclusive profession for the future.

It is important to note that this Summit is not just about women supporting women. It is also about acknowledging and appreciating the allies who help make our presence in the profession possible. Many of us hold professional positions where inclusion and progress depend on partnership, on men and women working together to build a stronger, more balanced profession.

This supportive event, and the roles we each hold, could not exist without that shared commitment. The Summit is made possible through the Future Surveyors Foundation team, with special thanks to Trent Keenan from Diamondback Land Surveyors, who brought it all together for the Foundation this year.