The Woman Engineer
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WOMEN’S ENGINEERING SOCIETY VOL 19 • NO 5 - WINTER 2014 www.wes.org.uk The Woman Engineer featured engineer Natalie Desty Positivity in Abundance perceptions, how subjects are taught at school and industry prejudice. What’s vital is that as a collective Drive, tenacity and being a “real people person” are we fight against cultural stereotypes and promote amongst the skills that enabled one graduate to more role models. We also need to change attitudes step into an important role in the maritime defence at school where guidance on careers is still, on the sector. Fast forward ten years and engineering whole, reinforcing gender stereotypes. We also recruitment specialist Natalie Desty is still enjoying need to support, mentor and promote the women her working life in this fascinating industry and is who have made it in to STEM to ensure that they do encouraging others to follow in her footsteps. not fall foul to a sticky floor.” But she says industry As head of maritime for the UK and international must speak up for itself: “It is industry that will at WES company member Matchtech, Natalie is make the most positive change to secure its future thriving and loves her daily challenges. “I manage talent pipeline.” a team of maritime engineering recruiters placing When asked why she would recommend a engineers in to a huge variety of careers in many career in engineering to others, Natalie shows different countries,” she told The Woman Engineer. why she is such a motivator. “Engineering is the prestige lecture “Being such a skills short market, engineering most diverse, innovative and exciting career that The quest for a silent skills are in high demand - especially within the I can think of. Engineers that we work with vary aircraft maritime sector, so I spend a fair amount of my time from those designing, building and supporting Page 3 attempting to safeguard the future talent pipeline. highly specialised, intricate technology to aircraft A big part of my role is working with industry, carriers, aeroplanes, cars and huge infrastructure influencers and government to advise on the STEM projects. There is so much opportunity in the UK agenda and increase diversity, especially women in and internationally so it offers fantastic, progressive engineering.” career opportunities, and the ability to transfer female president Natalie’s enthusiasm is not just confined to the between sectors. Engineering is all about ingenuity for iet workplace - she gets involved at all levels. “I sit and design - our everyday lives are entwined with An historic announcement on the Marine Industries Alliance Skills Group, the engineering innovation and technology develops so Steering Group for UK NEST (which represents the quickly, and being part of that is so exciting! Page 5 maritime defence industry) and the British Marine “The opportunities are plentiful for both Federations Training Service Committee. Through university graduates and apprentices.” these associations I have written a number of In the ten years she has been with Matchtech whitepapers advising on ways to mitigate the after joining fresh from university, Natalie has gender specific toys skills gap within engineering and also increase communicated with many people which, she says Changing our attitudes the number of women in engineering. I am very is the best thing about her job. “I work with such passionate about increasing the future engineering a diverse range of people and it makes every day talent pipeline and showcasing the huge different. I have been fortunate this year to be Page 11 opportunities available to women, so also speak at chosen as one of Management Todays 35 under 35 schools and universities to showcase the industry.” Business Women of the Year which has allowed me She is particularly keen to change perceptions for to speak at events encouraging women to reach those looking at career options. “It is clear that we their full potential. This is hugely rewarding - karen burt award have a problem with diversity in engineering,” she especially in engineering where women are still so Best chartered engineer said. “Diversity figures are still around the 8 per cent underrepresented.” mark which is still the lowest in Europe, and in an If ever there was a role model, surely this lady fits Page 12 industry with such a skills gap, this makes no sense the bill. at all. The key issues preventing more women from For more information visit: www.wes.org.uk/ joining engineering professions include outdated nataliedesty the woman engineer - winter 2014 1 President’s Message This is my last message as President of WES. It has been a real privilege and so much fun, but hard work being the President and I would like to thank everyone for their support over the past year. My successor will be Dawn Bonfield who will have the challenge of guiding the council under From the the new governance model. As this journal is released I will be in Los Angeles representing WES at the International editor’s desk Women’s Conference. I was asked to take part in a panel on Inspirational Women in Engineering. By the time you read this we This gave me the chance to research our founders Katharine, Lady Parsons, her daughter Rachel will hopefully have much more Parsons and Caroline Haslett and what truly information about comets and inspiring women they were. Through this, WES what happens to them as they has connected with author, Henrietta Heald who is bringing out a book at the end of 2015 on Rachel get closer to the sun thanks to Parsons. the Philae Lander which made WES has started work on National Women an historic touchdown on a in Engineering Day (NWED) 2015 and I will Lynn Postle, FICME be launching it as International Women in comet earlier in November. Engineering Day (IWED) in LA. Financially, WES is now in a much better Despite a technical glitch and some us she had an excellent academic position and we have forged so many new last minute problem-solving, the hard education but that careers advice relationships with companies and organisations work and determination of the Rosetta didn’t quite hit the mark (just like the and have worked hard to maintain our existing mission team has paid off. first attempt with the Philae Lander). relationships. The attention surrounding the Thankfully for us all in both cases The support from the council has been mission has once again brought a second attempt was made. We amazing. Dawn Bonfield has been instrumental science and engineering into the can only hope that with high-profile in several WES initiatives including NWED and media spotlight. But it is a much more events like this our educators and Magnificent Women in their Flying Machines. Milada Williams has worked hard on HR positive image not one borne out of job parents of future generations will matters, producing the new WES polices and losses, the call for more manufacturing look more favourably on the career trademarking the WES brand. Jackie Longworth or design jobs, or angry mobs routes available to boys and girls. has worked hard on the new governance structure campaigning about a technology they Because for every one media grabbing and we have been lucky to have Caroline Jackson disapprove of. It is publicity which says scientific breakthrough there are tens join us as the Honorary Treasurer who has not ‘we can go wherever we want and do of thousands of other projects that are only sorted out our finances but is also introducing what we need to do to improve our shaping the world we live in. a new online membership database. understanding of the universe because Let’s see what 2015 brings us! This is not to distract from what other members we can, and we can because of of the council have done and on my behalf I would like to send you all a big thank you. All council science, technology and engineering.’ members and volunteers give up a lot of time for Interestingly the latest Karen Burt Next issue contribution deadline WES which is much appreciated; without their Award winner Elaine Greaney tells 10th January 2015. help, WES would not exist. The WES office is efficiently run by Cath Heslop and WES now has several contractors who all do sterling work in promoting WES and its aims. Finally I want to thank my company Selex ES don’t miss for all the support they have provided during WES Fellows’ Dinner my year as President. They have embraced the December – Date to be confirmed WES objectives by becoming an Event Partner IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards and allocated time for me to work on WES 10th December – IET Awards including WES Prize. www.theiet.org/ywe activities. I will miss being the President but I know that National Women in Engineering Day WES will go from strength to strength and I wish 23rd June 2015 – www.wes.org.uk/nwed Dawn lots of luck as the 52nd President of WES. Dr Carol Marsh CEng FIET SIEEE MInstP MIACR FWES The Secretary, Women’s published by the Women’s subscription price of £30.00 Engineer should be sent Engineering Society Engineering Society. It is per annum (inc postage). to the Editor at the same c/o IET distributed free of charge Send subscription orders to address. Michael Faraday House to members of the Society WES. Cheques should be The views expressed in this The Women’s Engineering Six Hills Way and to selected professional made payable to: Women’s journal are not necessarily Society is a charity STEVENAGE SG1 2AY women engineers, Engineering Society.