International Women in Engineering Day 2018
It is International Women in Engineering Day this week and so we would like to take this opportunity to proudly place some of our female engineers in the limelight. We hope we will inspire the Female engineers of the future!
Bethan Phillips
What got you in to engineering?
I really enjoyed Maths and Physics at school, but I wanted to study something that had a practical side as well as a theoretical side, and mechanical engineering fit the bill. I also realised that an engineering degree opens up so many different career opportunities. While I was at university, I became interested in buildings and knew that this was the area I wanted to specialise in.
Where are you in your career?
I’m a Principal Consultant with Verco, specialising in the field of energy efficiency and sustainable energy solutions. I’m a chartered mechanical engineer, with a background in building services engineering. I’m currently managing the Investor Confidence Project for Verco, which is all about standardising the way that energy efficiency projects are developed.
What do you enjoy most about your job in engineering?
I love how varied my work is, with different challenges on every project, particularly as technology advances and policies change. Engineering combines so many different skill sets – not just technical, but analytical, team-working, communication, and even creativity – and this makes my job multifaceted. Being an engineer has also given me the opportunity to work abroad, which has been fantastic experience. And, not least, it’s crucial to know that I am playing my part in minimising climate change by helping buildings become more energy efficient and less carbon intensive. Engineers have a pivotal role to play in this across so many sectors.
What advice would you give to young women considering a role in engineering?
I would say go for it! Engineering offers so many benefits, in particular, working as part of a team on projects that provide real benefits to society. But engineering is also very broad, so make sure you take the time to choose a specialism that’s really right for you, and that matches your skills and interests.
What’s an invention that you couldn’t live without?
Without doubt, our office coffee machine…it’s a few years old now, and I have been known to get the screwdriver out to keep it going.
Who’s your engineering hero?
There are so many! But I will have to go for Ada Lovelace, who developed the first ever computer programmes – incredibly, she did this back in the 1840s.
Saadia Ansari
What got you in to engineering?
I’ve always seen myself as very multi-disciplinary and I wanted to explore practical and scalable ways of changing the impact we’re having on the planet. My background is in environmental science, and I’ve specialised through my Engineering Doctorate in building services engineering, to try and both improve the impact buildings have on the environment, and also improve the internal environments we live in.
Where are you in your career?
I feel like I’m at the start of a new chapter. I’ve only recently come to the end of my EngD and started with Verco back in February, so it’s been an exciting couple of months where I’ve been learning how to adapt the knowledge I’ve gained through my studies for the needs of individual clients.
What do you enjoy most about your job in engineering?
I love the mental challenges from the variety of different projects that I get to work on, some are more challenging than others, and that’s a good thing.
What advice would you give to young women considering a role in engineering?
I would say that as much as engineering has defined disciplines, it’s important to maintain a multi-disciplinary approach to any problem, even if that means looking at disciplines that seem alien to you, like psychology and the social sciences.
Who’s your engineering hero?
Two obvious women spring to mind; Hedy Lamarr whose genius enables us to use things like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, all developed whilst holding down a successful acting career in time when women didn’t really exist in engineering; and also Sutayta al-Mahamali, known as the algebraist of Baghdad she wasn’t strictly an engineer but definitely a true multidisciplinarian, being skilled in maths and legal matters - including inheritance (something I’m sure the maths came in handy for!).
What’s an invention you couldn't live without?
I have cats so I would definitely say my @dyson!
Hannah Jones
What got you in to engineering?
I had a design and technology teacher in year 9 who encouraged me to go on an ‘Introduction to Engineering’ course with a charity called Smallpeice Trust and I never looked back after that really.
Where are you in your career?
I had my one year anniversary at Verco today actually! This is my first job in the sector so hopefully I am right at the start.
What do you enjoy most about your job in engineering?
A lot of engineers say they enjoy the problem solving element but I think that holds true for me. And because of what Verco do, it’s also very varied work from day to day, or hour to hour at times.
What advice would you give to young women considering a role in engineering?
My advice to anyone just in terms of the study and work itself would be to consider finding a general engineering course that you like the look of if you’re not sure about which discipline is right for you. If I hadn’t done a general course then I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now!