Cat Podesta

Catherine Podesta | Offshore Installation Engineer | SSE

Cat Podesta

On completion of my master’s in mechanical engineering I joined bp where I had the opportunity to work in a diverse variety of roles within projects.

I started on the graduate scheme in Project Controls, learning the skills needed to help keep a project on schedule and within budget.

However, I had a desire to apply my engineering experience and jumped at the opportunity to work offshore on a construction vessel. This showed me my passion for subsea construction, and it allowed me the opportunity to learn from a diverse team and experience firsthand the challenges of working on site.
From there I managed the regional construction vessel program and contract for bp North Sea, which allowed me to influence safe and efficient offshore execution for the business. After which I moved to awarding and managing the services contract for subsea hardware in Mauritania and Senegal including new region entry for the contractor.

Following 8 years at bp I wanted to use the skills I had learnt to support the UKs transition to Net Zero. I moved to SSE Transmissions to help stand up the Marine function in the business and provide technical input into the network upgrades needed to support the UK's ambitious targets set out in the government's British Energy Security Strategy. Working with the head of development I am working on initiatives to streamline our procurement and front-end design to allow us to meet the 2030 targets.


Alexandra Lawson

Alexandra Lawson | Commercial Advisor - Integrated Energy Solutions Europe | Shell UK

Alexandra Lawson

After first thinking a career in dentistry was what her future had in store, one work experience week and root canal treatment later, Alexandra changed her mind and explored what the world of STEM had to offer.

Growing up in Glasgow, Alexandra was far removed from the world of oil and gas three hours north, but through influential role models and supporters, Alexandra graduated with a Masters in Chemical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde and has since found herself immersed in the energy industry.

Skilled in supply chain optimisation and operational strategy, Alexandra has had a fantastic career in the energy sector to date. Having started her career as an operations engineer, Alex now combines her frontline experience with her commercial acumen, working as a Commercial Advisor within the Integrated Energy Solutions team at Shell, helping customers decarbonise through onsite energy solutions to achieve their net zero ambitions.

Outside of her 9-5 responsibilities, Alexandra is passionate about advocating for the future pipeline of STEM talent. She channels enthusiasm through her additional responsibilities as a member of the Women in Science & Engineering Young Professional’s Board and sponsorship of Northeast Scotland College’s Girls in Energy Program.

Throughout Alexandra’s education, her favourite part of attending industry presentations was watching someone present, feeling completely inspired and thinking “one day, I want to be like them.” She is on a mission to be that role model for others and to light their spark for science and engineering, just like others did for her.


Aasha Marenghi

Aasha Marenghi | Subsea Project Manager | bp

Aasha Marenghi

Aasha is a Subsea Project Manager for bp, leading a global project team to deliver the subsea production system for bp’s complex ultra-deepwater gas project offshore Mauritania and Senegal.

With a background in mechanical and subsea engineering, for the last fifteen years she has held a variety of subsea project management roles in bp and the energy industry, with a strong track record of major project deliveries in West Africa and Egypt.

She has a passion for project leadership, leading teams to tackle complex challenges, and creating team spirit and purpose around a project mission.

Throughout her career, Aasha has built trust and respect through authentic and inclusive relationships across a diverse network. She prides herself in creating a mutually supportive and psychologically safe environment for her team to operate in, and in providing space for individuals to work flexibly to be at their best.

Aasha has been part of the working group for bp’s ‘Women in Projects’ community, organising and hosting network events; and is also a coach and facilitator for bp’s project management training courses.

She is a Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and a Chartered Project Manager with the Association of Project Managers.


Zoha Omer

Zoha Omer | Future Leaders Graduate | CBRE GWS

Zoha Omer

As an ambitious and goal-driven individual, I have always believed in creating value while moving forward in life.

My journey began in Saudi Arabia, where I grew up as an immigrant from a middle-class divorced family. Fitting in with the culture and establishing an identity was a struggle, but I persevered and maintained high academic achievements throughout high school.

I was fortunate enough to secure a merit scholarship allowing me to attend Jeddah's best private university. During my undergraduate, I faced the challenge of balancing school with work to support my family's needs, instilling a profound sense of responsibility. These challenges shaped me into a committed and goal-driven individual, which led me to immerse myself in community-building organizations and serve causes more significant than myself.

In the summer of my junior year, I secured an opportunity at Cummins, Middle East, where I was responsible for developing corporate sustainability and management policies. After graduation, I received a full-time internship offer at Desert Technologies (DT), where I had the opportunity to deploy several rural electrification projects across Africa to provide clean, cost-effective, and sustainable energy.

My ambition is to make impactful opportunities and develop my understanding to decode and implement deep-seated change in the community. I aim to expand my knowledge of facilities management while complementing and broadening my current expertise within the energy sector. With the support and guidance of CBRE GWS and my manager Chris Demuth, I am eager to be involved in the transformation of people's lives.


Tokunbo Ifaturoti

Tokunbo Ifaturoti | Senior Project Manager | Ministry of Justice

Tokunbo Ifaturoti

I started my corporate legal career at Amazon.co.uk and worked as a solicitor and consultant for various Law Firms having qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales.

I am a Senior Project Manager and have worked on various projects in sectors such as Construction, Data Protection, Digital Transformation, and Procurement. I am a Global Goodwill Ambassador and advocate for Sustainable Development Goals.

As the CEO of a corporate social responsibility and sustainability management consultancy with a particular focus on the development of emerging nations, I remain passionate about Sustainable Development. I advocate its benefits across corporate and non-profit organizations in the United Kingdom, Africa, and Asia drawing from 22+ years of working and volunteering experience.

I am also the host of a Sustainability Development Podcast series that amplifies the voices of people from communities, businesses, academia, and civil society organizations. I use this platform to share bold and innovative solutions that help tackle social, economic, and environmental issues which affect sustainable development.

I have worked and volunteered with over 15 Not-for-profit organizations and charities in countries to provide strategic direction, and visibility, drive projects, and meet the organizations’ goals including UNICEF (United Kingdom). I have led and also been part of, fundraising projects raising millions of pounds to provide access to material resources to meet needs not limited to girl child education, hunger, crisis-ridden communities, and the environment.

I have 2 bachelor's degrees (in Law and International Development with NGO Management) and a master's degree (in Computer & Communication Law).


Sarah Zarywacz

Sarah Zarywacz | Meetings & Events Operations Manager | BCG

Sarah Zarywacz

Sarah is a multi-award winning corporate event manager and marketer, passionate about furthering industry DE&I and ESG progress, and growing others to achieve success on their own terms.

Following a degree in French and German, Sarah embarked on a career as corporate EA before uncovering her passion for marketing and events. Having since worked in global teams, built event functions and strategically professionalised event programmes, Sarah has simultaneously become an industry thought-leader and advocate for ESG and DE&l. Sarah can frequently be seen speaking to these areas at industry conferences and in industry press. Similarly, in a previous firm, Sarah was the Global Co-Lead for a corporate neurodiversity ERG and was a Global Event Sustainability Lead, spearheading and implementing event sustainability best practices firmwide.

Sarah’s work and industry contributions have been recognised via C&IT's Corporate A-List, Conference News' 30underThirty, M&IT's Tomorrow's Talent and shortlisted in WeAreTheCity's Rising Stars in 2022.

Outside of work, Sarah is an industry mentor for Manchester Metropolitan University and volunteers for the alumni programme of Fay Sharpe OBE's Fast Forward 15 mentoring scheme. Sarah also runs an Instagram blog on all things events, marketing, professional development and corporate life to inspire, motivate and promote the corporate events profession.

https://linktr.ee/sarahzmarketingevents


Sally Orange

Sally Orange | Mental Health Campaigner | Sally Orange Ltd

Sally Orange

Sally Orange is a physiotherapist and dedicated mental health campaigner.

Having hidden her own battles with severe depression and chronic anxiety for over 20 years, she now speaks openly in person and through social media of her challenges, in an attempt to remove associated stigma.

She also encourages others to manage their own mental well being through physical activity and is the only person on the planet to complete a marathon on every continent in fancy dress (as different pieces of fruit!) , with the specific purpose of breaking the stigma.

By taking on physical challenges, dressed as fruit, she never fails to make people smile. More seriously however, she is often asked why she is dressed in the colourful costumes. When she tells of her dedication to break the stigma associated with mental illness, people often open up and talk about their own struggles or how they know someone who has or is currently having difficulties with their mental health.

It subtly starts a conversation, while also proving you don’t have to be the fastest or the fittest to gain a sense of achievement from physical activity.

From running a marathon in a pod of the London eye, symbolising the ups and downs the pandemic had on the Nations mental health to another underground deep in a mine, which she named 'beneath the surface', as you never know what is going on in someone else's mind, Sally always seeks to give purpose to her challenges for the benefit of others.


Pasha Khan

Pasha Khan | EMEA Strategy & Transformation Lead | RWC

Pasha Khan

As a Strategy & Transformation Lead with expertise in Organisational Design, M&A Integration, Enterprise Application Implementation, and Business Change Management, I have had a diverse and rewarding career to date.

My previous experience in Lean and Six Sigma tier 1 initiatives in the manufacturing sector has been instrumental in delivering tangible financial, operational, and efficiency-driven metrics in global organisations.

Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with a wide range of businesses and industries, which has allowed me to develop strong communication, emotional intelligence, and influence skills. These skills have enabled me to effectively turn business vision into operational excellence, and I am proud of the positive impact my work has had on organisations and their stakeholders.

As a Strategy & Transformation Lead, I have had the opportunity to work on some of the most complex and challenging projects in the industry. Whether it's designing and implementing new organisational structures, integrating acquired businesses, or implementing enterprise-wide applications, I have consistently demonstrated an ability to deliver high-quality outcomes on time and on budget.

One of my key strengths is my ability to understand the unique global challenges facing each organisation and develop tailored solutions that address their specific needs. This has enabled me to build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, and to deliver projects that are truly transformative for the businesses I work with.


Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith | Portfolio Delivery Manager - Digital | River Island

Michelle Smith

I’ve worked in retail for 20 years, I have a real passion for the evolving world of Retail and have worked my way through the changes and challenges it has faced.

From what was a part time job at 15, has given me a career, filled with amazing experiences and opportunities to develop myself.

While stores has always remained a real passion of mine, this has evolved into the world of Omnichannel and has been my area of interest over the last 8 years. Getting to work in digital gives me the opportunity to be part of that progression and how we bring our instore and online experiences to life for our customers.

I put everything into what I do, I really enjoy my role, the business I work for and the people I get to work with.


Martyna Adam

Martyna Adam | Senior Data Analyst | Grayce

Martyna Adam

I am a Senior Data Analyst at Grayce, but I have only started my career in data 16 months ago.

I come from a non-technical background, and after graduating with a BSc in Psychology and a MSc Research Methods in Psychology, I decided to take a leap of faith and switch my career into data. From there, I began a journey of hard work and determination to upskill in technical areas and navigate the ever-changing world of data and technology.

My core responsibilities lie in delivering excellence for my client, and utilising my technical and soft skills to help my clients make data-driven business decisions. Currently, I am working in the legal industry for a Magic Circle law firm, supporting on an industry-leading innovative programme of firm-wide scale.

Outside of core client commitments, I'm a Lead for the Digital Community of Practice, a mentor across several schemes, a co-host of monthly Data community calls, and a committee member for a Skills Club designed to promote technical skill development through practical projects. I also helped organise a week-long digital festival, with external speakers and live coding demonstrations, to promote knowledge exchange within the company.

In my spare time, I'm a Trainee Instructor for Code First Girls, a Medium writer and author of 'From A to SQL' series, and take part in projects and events that promote the visibility of role models in data and technology. My overarching aim is to continue to inspire women to pursue careers in data and technology.