The Woman Engineer Media File

WOMEN’S ENGINEERING SOCIETY www.wes.org.uk

VOL 19 • NO 5 - WINTER 2014 The Woman Engineer

featured engineer

Natalie Desty

Positivity in Abundance

Drive, tenacity and being a “real people person” are perceptions, how subjects are taught at school and amongst the skills that enabled one graduate to industry prejudice. What’s vital is that as a collective step into an important role in the maritime defence we fight against cultural stereotypes and promote sector. Fast forward ten years and engineering more role models. We also need to change attitudes recruitment specialist Natalie Desty is still enjoying at school where guidance on careers is still, on the her working life in this fascinating industry and is whole, reinforcing gender stereotypes. We also encouraging others to follow in her footsteps. need to support, mentor and promote the women As head of maritime for the UK and international who have made it in to STEM to ensure that they do at WES company member Matchtech, Natalie is not fall foul to a sticky floor.” But she says industry thriving and loves her daily challenges. “I manage must speak up for itself: “It is industry that will a team of maritime engineering recruiters placing make the most positive change to secure its future engineers in to a huge variety of careers in many prestige lecture talent pipeline.” different countries,” she told The Woman Engineer. When asked why she would recommend a The quest for a silent “Being such a skills short market, engineering career in engineering to others, Natalie shows skills are in high demand - especially within the aircraft why she is such a motivator. “Engineering is the maritime sector, so I spend a fair amount of my time Page 3 most diverse, innovative and exciting career that attempting to safeguard the future talent pipeline. I can think of. Engineers that we work with vary A big part of my role is working with industry, from those designing, building and supporting influencers and government to advise on the STEM highly specialised, intricate technology to aircraft agenda and increase diversity, especially women in female president carriers, aeroplanes, cars and huge infrastructure engineering.” projects. There is so much opportunity in the UK for iet Natalie’s enthusiasm is not just confined to the An historic announcement and internationally so it offers fantastic, progressive workplace - she gets involved at all levels. “I sit career opportunities, and the ability to transfer on the Marine Industries Alliance Skills Group, the between sectors. Engineering is all about ingenuity Steering Group for UK NEST (which represents the Page 5 and design - our everyday lives are entwined with maritime defence industry) and the engineering innovation and technology develops so Federations Training Service Committee British Marine quickly, and being part of that is so exciting! these associations I have written a number of gender specific toys . Through “The opportunities are plentiful for both whitepapers advising on ways to mitigate the university graduates and apprentices.” skills gap within engineering and also increase Changing our attitudes In the ten years she has been with Matchtech the number of women in engineering. I am very after joining fresh from university, Natalie has passionate about increasing the future engineering communicated with many people which, she says WOMEN’SPage ENGINEERING 11 SOCIETY talent pipeline and showcasing the huge is the best thing about her job. “I work with such www.wes.org.ukopportunities available to women, so also speak at a diverse range of people and it makes every day schools and universities to showcase the industry.” different. I have been fortunate this year to be She is particularly keen to change perceptions for chosen as one of karen burt award those looking at career options. “It is clear that we Business Women ofManagement the Year which Todays hasVOL allowed35 19under • me NO35 4 - AUTUMN 2014 Best chartered engineer have a problem with diversity in engineering,” she to speak at events encouraging women to reach said. “Diversity figures are still around the 8 per cent their full potential. This is hugely rewarding - mark which is still the lowest in Europe, and in an ThePage 12 Woman Engineerespecially in engineering where women are still so industry with such a skills gap, this makes no sense underrepresented.” at all. The key issues preventing more women from If ever there was a role model, surely this lady fits the woman engineer - winter 2014 joining engineering professions include outdated the bill. For more information visit: www.wes.org.uk/ wes winter 2014.indd 1 nataliedesty

REACH YOUR TARGET 1 featured engineers AMBITION 23/04/2015 14:55 21-year-old Jade Aspinall is in the third year of an engineering apprenticeship at MBDA Lostock and has ambitions to achieve two HNDs with distinction in electronics and mechanical engineering. Her parents tried hard to discourage her from her chosen professional route but her determination proved too great. “I work in very clinical, diverse engineering,” she said. “It’s different every day and it’s not about dirty overalls. It’s about doing a really interesting job. When I could see that an apprenticeship means you get education, experience and money – I thought ‘why can’t I do that?’ But my parents really wanted me to go to university. I went to an open day and they said I could one day get a job with a great company like MBDA and I thought I could do that now with an apprenticeship so why wait?” Jade is very vocal about her ambitions and is happy to be a role model for young people, speaking at events where possible. Equipped with determination, confidence, enthusiasm and ability – what better career for her AUDIENCE than engineering? Pam Liversidge OBE is a chartered mechanical engineer and was the first woman president of the Institution of Mechanical EngineersACHIEVEMENT (1997-1998). Pam’s CV is impressive and includes roles with blue-chip names such as GKN and her own manufacturing companies. She has held senior positions throughout her career and is currently Managing Director of Quest Investments Ltd, a pro- active shareholder in engineering and medical device companies. She has numerous Honorary Doctorates from universities and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society of Arts and the City & Guilds The Woman Engineer is a quarterly journal produced for women Institute. She also has an extensive list of prestigious awards and appointments. Speaking at the NWEDShe was WES awarded conference an OBE in 1999 for services to the IMechE. listen to some very knowledgeableshe said she was and “delighted” enthusiastic to bespeakers part of andthe day.the Q&A “We sessionshave the are opportunity extensive.” to ‘Women in Engineering: The Challenge’ NETWORKING nwed Dervilla Mitchell is a director at Arup, the company she joined after graduating Review of this studying and working in all engineering disciplines. Published ground-breaking day and returned to after a six-year spell in Ireland and the United States. She has been involved in large architectural projects including Portcullis House Page 3 Westminster and led the Arup team at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 where she was Head of Design Management for the £4bn project. A civil engineer by trade, she has worked as a structural engineer for most of her career. Speaking at the NWED WES conference she praised the virtues of all quarterly by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), The Woman manner of networking. “Networking is all about celebrating our diversity and wes student promoting inclusion,” she said. “The impact of networks fosters the right culture conference where people feel at ease.” She thanked the eight male delegates at the event Burseries available - sign but quipped: “Now you can see what it feels like in our working lives.” She explained how staff networks have helped Arup with its diversity up now commitment. “We speak of talent, merit and fairness, which are all important words but we also have clear terms of reference and a network budget so it is not a side line but an important part of our business plan.” Engineer has a wide distribution to WES members, other women Page 4

wes annual report Highlights from 2013-2014 With a PhD in chemistry and over 25 years in the energy industry, Dr Nina Skorupska was the first woman appointed as FINANCIALa power station managerREWARDS at RWE engineers throughout the UK, to educational establishments, and Centre pullout npower and has been Director of Technology Services. Other roles include executive member of the Board of Essent NV, The Netherland’s largest energy company. In 2012 she became a Supervisory Board Member for DNV GL Energy in The Netherlands and is the Chief Executive of the Renewable Energy Association. WOMEN’S ENGINEERING SOCIETY In a straight talking presentation Nina said: “My advice to young engineers would be to learn how to read a balance sheet and P&L. It’s very important that to relevant companies and organisations. Mywww.wes.org.uk Voice you can articulate this. I have earned a fortune and that’s one thing that women IET Women in don’t talk about.” At the point where she was earning the most, Nina took a pay Engineering webcast cut and went back to technical services because she preferred the environment there. “You need to make yourself ready to be flexible and adapt to changes as a She explainedwoman how it wasworking “exciting in engineering and empowering – if you beingthink youron a jobboard isn’t and going making to change things then happen,” think but again!” sheVOL 19 • NO 6 - SPRING 2015 Page 5 She is particularlywarned enthusiastic that compromises about her havechosen to befield. made. “Energy “You touchescan have our it all,modern just not lives all atand the it’s same in the time.” news the woman engineer - autumnThe 2014 Woman Engineer

wes newsletter autumn 2014.indd 1 all the time. It is a very exciting sector to work in.”

1 Targeted at the women you want to reach 23/04/2015 14:57 The Woman Engineer is the ideal publication for all your display featured engineer and recruitment advertising as it reaches the very people you Alison Longstaff Project Director Hyder Consulting

need to. On the right tracks A logical approach to problem solving and the ability to interact with other people are important attributes to success, says a and personable nature, determination, civil engineer working on one of Europe’s the ability to see the bigger picture, and largest construction projects. excellent communication skills. Alison Longstaff She is a Chartered Engineer and MIoD is a team playerBSc, and CEng, enjoys MICE, the CDir, daily Chartered Director and says being routine of working with a group of like- chartered in your specific area of expertise minded individuals to achieve ambitious is an important recognition to have to be obituary objectives, which is why she was the ideal able to function at the highest level. choice as a key player on its Crossrail Saying goodbye to a Alison transferred to her role in the legend in engineering contract for WES company member Hyder rail sector a year ago after a period with Consulting. Hyder as a business director in the utilities The Woman Engineer is: Far from being a negative, Alison says sector. Prior to that she was a partner in Page 3 being a woman has made her memorable an engineering consultancy company. and helped her have a “rewarding” career. Taking up a role with the company three back to engineering Alison’s role as a project manager years ago also meant she had to relocate and project director in the rail sector from Northumberland to the Midlands but Returning to work after means she is at the sharp-end of high the move has been worth it thanks to the a career break - tips for profile contracts. Her current role as challenge of the role. success project director for Crossrail’s Paddington When asked what the best things are • mailed four times a year to 1,000+ recipients keen to develop their New Yard Contract C336 is certainly about her chosen career, Alison said: Page 4 focussing her mind. “Hyder are the design “The satisfaction of getting the project consultants to Costain who are appointed over the line and working with the team sparks programme as D&B (design & build) contractor for this in a collaborative environment.” Alison’s project,” she told The Woman Engineer enthusiasm is being rewarded with professional engineering credentials WES embarks on a new “A typical day involves: attendance at a versatile and stimulating career in . initiative meetings, liaison with our key architectural engineering, which, she says she would suppliers, ensuring that information is readily recommend to others. “I would Page 10 delivered to the agreed programme, say to anyone considering engineering communicating regularly with our client as an option that you will find that it is a about changes or variations which may more rewarding career than you have ever affect time and costs, solving problems, wes student imagined.” Her advice: “Make sure you are • regarded as a highly professional publication full of news from WES keeping the team motivated and buying good at maths and physics and also make conference the drinks at the end of the day!” A report on the November sure that you are a good communicator.” Along with her obvious technical abilities In terms of the gender issue, in event and good planning and problem-solving Alison’s case being a woman has been Page 12 skills, other qualities are fundamental to an advantage. “Being female in the civil and the wider engineering community the woman engineer - spring 2015 Alison’s daily role including a pragmatic engineering world has never been a hindrance,” She said. “If anything it has helped me to stand out from the crowd.” WES SPRING 2015.indd 1

• read by women engineers of all ages and at all stages in their careers 1

23/04/2015 14:55 • THE publication to help you achieve diversity in your workplace www.wes.org.uk news...... WES volunteer The Woman Engineer meets a WES volunteer ...... Gillian Skinner Award recipient embraces the new world

Having looked after the interests of the set out to make the group welcoming, moved on. “Women engineers might still West of Scotland WES Group for the past encouraging and sustainable at a local be in the minority but we mustn’t forget ten years, Anne Madsen understands how level and you can only do this if you make that the change in the workplace has been difficult it is to get volunteers to take on it easy for people to get involved. We have phenomenal in the past 20 years.” work but says technological breakthroughs an ‘open attitude’ so you don’t have to be Anne has been a member of WES for and 21st century communication tools a member to come along but we do try nearly 20 years and she can’t remember have eased the burden. “There are a to contact and encourage other women how she originally got involved with the National Women in A GLORIOUS core group of people – including Philippa engineers to come along and some of society but it was Philippa Ayton, who DAY OUT Ayton, Susan Slyn, Alison Simpson, Nina them do join WES. You might feel like the used to run the West of Scotland Group Engineering Day 2014/2015 Baker and myself who are slowly trying ‘odd one out’ at work but at WES meetings who implored her to take over some group Former WES President Dorothy to establish a new way of doing things,” you connect with other like-minded women responsibilities from her. “Philippa is still The impact analysis of the inaugural day in 2014 has now been compiled and can be Hatfield OBE attended her investiture at she told The Woman Engineer. “We set and men. We had a man join recently who very active and involved and the way seen on the WES website at www.wes.org.uk/nwedimpact. We reached over 10 million Buckingham Palace earlier this year with up a Yahoo group to create a method for had been to other engineering organisation she ran the get-togethers was inspiring. readers with the press releases that went out in the national and engineering press, another former Past President Milada the workload to be shared and for people events with his partner and found them It’s hard to get people to do things but I which raised the profile of the event considerably. Williams. to communicate with each other which stuffy so she brought him along to one of think our friendly approach helps; we are But it wasn’t just our efforts - many of you, your companies and other organisaitons Dorothy was presented with her award has been very well received.” The group our meetings and he couldn’t believe how pushing out the Glasgow group to other got together to organise events. Over 80 events were held nationally, over 250 schools by the Queen, apparently quite a rare has recently disbanded the Yahoo group friendly and enjoyable it was so he joined parts of Scotland such as Aberdeen thanks received printed copies of the Resource Pack and many more were downloaded online, occasion. Dorothy has been a pioneer and set up a Facebook one which gives up.” to our volunteers.” NWED trended third in the world on twitter with the #nwed hashtag (above the World of women engineers in the aeronautical them even greater flexibility to promote the Anne has quite literally Cup and the first day of Wimbledon), and we reached thousands of engineers. We were industry for nearly 60 years and she many events they organise throughout the witnessed a sea change overwhelmed with the response and the testimonials we received as a result of the event. said she was delighted to collect the year. in workplaces throughout Next year we are looking for sponsors to brand some of the resources that go out with OBE as recognition of her work and “The important message to get across her career as a maritime this event, as finanical backing will allow us to make an even bigger difference. Once efforts. “The Queen was well briefed, she is that the workload is reduced for anyone engineer. “I started out at again it is over to all of us to build on this year’s success in 2015 so get in touch with talked about the fact that I trained as an who wants to get involved and it isn’t sea in the Merchant Navy WES if you want to be part of this initiative. The date for NWED 2015 is 23rd June again. aeronautical engineer and asked about actually that much work nowadays if and in the early days it was changes in the industry,” she told The you set things up right in the first place. a ‘voyage from hell’ but now Woman Engineer. Facebook has made a huge difference. I things have changed and Second helping of CUPCAKES New Fellows don’t have the time to spend on things like women are viewed very this but it really isn’t that much so I would differently.” She now heads The Royal Academy of Engineering has Dawn Fitt, Dawn Elson, Phillippa Ayton encourage others to get involved – it’s not up design for power and generously sponsored the reprinting of Women’s as much time as you think.” propulsion for small ships at the poster Engineering: It’s in Everything Anne is convinced that reducing the BAE Systems and still finds (also known as the Engineering Society workload has helped the group achieve herself working with lots of cupcake poster!). Stay in touch with like-minded people one of its objectives – sustainability. “We men but the attitudes have Copies of It’s in everything the poster are The Gillian Skinner Award is given to someone who goes available for above and beyond the call of duty for WES. One of the those who have winners of the award this year is Anne Madsen. outreach projects Anne has run the West of Scotland WES Group with schools, for many years. She has organised social outings, contact Cath educational visits, fun play nights and formal lectures Heslop at the and has put together inspirational WES Scotland WES office for programmes. more details, Anne has been instrumental in forging connections for WES with IESIS and the IET through the Engineering r you ipelines e fo ’s in sub-sea p email: info@ mad ur feet. It ke areer that’s oes on yo baked cupca A c and and the sh e perfectly- eering. e in your h It’s even in th orld without Engin the phon chnologies. ining a w und us. It’s in and nano-te – just try imag ng is all aro kyscrapers t all possible .org.uk Engineeri wering s who make i gineergirl.wes Policy Group Scotland. es, to s sonic plan it’s engineer s at http://en and super ves). And ering career eat themsel and engine (ovens don’t h ngineering wes.org.uk t e t more abou TIMING is everything u them. Find o As a BAE Systems employee, Anne has facilitated IET benefits for Join WES in January and get 15 months support for WES within BAE Systems which led to them membership for the price of 12! becoming the first WES event partners. WES members Want to support our work? Now Anne is a great ambassador for WES and we are Through its partnership with IET, WES is the perfect time to join WES. grateful for all her support. members can register for IET events at Full membership costs £52.00 and members’ discount rates, and use the student membership costs just £10.00 Above: Anne (left) is pictured with WES President Carol Marsh (right) facilities at Savoy Place London (including (concessionary rates are available). the lounge, business centre and meeting If you join in January you will also TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER rooms), under the same terms and receive three months’ free membership conditions offered to IET members. so make it your New Year’s Resolution The Faculty of Engineering and Design at the University of Bath says it is delighted to have one of the first student groups to become Contact Cath Heslop at the WES office to support WES in supporting YOU! formally affiliated with WES. for more details. For more information contact Cath The newly formed Student Women in Engineering Society Group has representatives from the departments of mechanical, electrical, New Members Heslop at the WES office on Tel: 01438 chemical and architecture and building engineering. Their aim is: “To support and empower current students within the Faculty of 765506, email: [email protected] Dorothy Hatfield OBE on a very special day Engineering & Design, as well as to help encourage more young women to choose engineering at university and as a career.” Susana Aguiar, Whitney Akinyi, Julie Within a few days of launching their Facebook page the group had attracted over 120 members. They have already engaged in a Alton, Kemi Badenoch, Nikki Barker, range of activities which include supporting National Women in Engineering Day, a recent University of Bath Open Day and a local Teen Nancy Chalastara, Dawn Elson (Fellow), Corporate WES Members: Tech West event in Bristol in addition to helping out with the production of a video aimed at encouraging girls into engineering. Theoni Georgiou, Elaine Greaney, WES is delighted to announce that Sellafield has become a Company Member. The A number of the group attended the annual WES Student Conference in November where they talked about their experience of Yasmin Harris-Boadi, Jessica Jones, getting the society up and running. Bridget Kogo, Esha Mistry, Chrysoula current list of Company Members is: Arup, Bam Nuttall, Bureau Veritas, DP World, Future activities planned are a Christmas event with an external speaker and a training course around the theme of ‘Don’t wait to be Pantsi, Sophie Parsons, Carmel Reid, Edwards Vacuum, Hyder Consulting, Instron, Malvern Instruments, Mars, Matchtech, asked’. More social events including a quiz evening are in the pipeline. Laurie Rowe, Julia Skiba, Katie Jo National Grid, Transport for London, Sellafield. Taheney, Gloria Umeadi Event Partners are: BAE Systems, IET, Selex ES. For more information on the group’s activities visit: www.bath.ac.uk/engineering/women/society

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