Amber O'Connor | Siemens Aeroderivative Gas Turbines
Amber is an Engineering Programme Manager as well as an Equipment Health Monitoring and Performance Engineer for Siemens Aeroderivative Gas Turbines within the Gas and Power business.
Whilst studying for her GCSE’s, Amber explored possible career options in engineering based upon her skillset – liking maths, science and problem solving, she therefore decided to apply for an apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce. Amber was offered a three-year Technical Apprenticeship back in 2010 with the company and this training helped her to gain the practical and technical knowledge for her future career as an engineering leader.
After successful completion of her apprenticeship, Amber was sponsored by the Company to complete a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Birmingham City University part time whilst continuing to work as an engineer. In 2017 Amber successfully graduated with a 1st in her degree, which coincided with her daughter being just six weeks old.
Once Rolls-Royce was acquired by Siemens in 2014, Amber continued progressing her career and gaining a wider understanding of the Equipment Health Monitoring and Performance department. She was responsible for leading a major Digitalisation Program of which the delivery of this resulted in the monitoring of 180 gas turbines for a range of customers worldwide with a capital value of £3.5billion. From this point Amber realised that leading programmes of work from an engineering perspective whilst managing a team of people utilised both her passion for engineering management whilst complimenting her skills as an engineer. Since then, Amber has been leading all programmes for her department which includes managing a team of six subject matter experts located in Canada, USA, UK and the Netherlands.
Amber is an active STEM Ambassador and regularly supports projects involving young women - this has been underpinned through supporting the Siemens SeeMe shows around the UK. Amber is also a key supporter in positively changing the working environment within Siemens and is actively doing so by leading a networking, development and collaboration group called NEXT UK. She has also co-founded a committee with the support of senior management to tackle key cultural issues within the local workplace as well as being a nominated Siemens UK Diversity and Inclusion Champion. In addition to this, Amber has been a key brand ambassador for Siemens, supporting events and film content to encourage the next generation towards a career in STEM by highlighting the amazing opportunities that exist within engineering careers.
Amber was a finalist for the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year 2019, recognised as Highly Commended. This award is to highlight young women within the engineering industry who represent the best of the profession and who also act as a role models for the next generation. She has also been selected as a keynote speaker for this year’s American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Turbo Expo conference during the Women in Engineering Networking Event to discuss her career to date and topics that really matter to women within the industry.
Ambers ambition is to change how engineering is seen by the young people of today, hoping to make a positive impact on as many as people as possible and encourage them to consider a STEM career as a truly viable and existing option. She also wants to be a positive role model for career driven women, demonstrating through her own experiences of having two young children that pursuing a career doesn’t mean that personal life goals such as having a family need to be put on hold. This is a stigma that Amber is working to change within the industry.
Hannah Ratcliffe | Jacobs
I can pin-point the exact moment which shaped my career.
It was a careers lunch at school, where a woman from Construction Skills, a recruitment company, asked me, ‘have you ever considered a career in Civil Engineering?’ My answer was no, but her question inspired me to find out more, which led to me gaining work experience with Balfour Beatty on the iconic Forth Rail Bridge. This experience changed everything.
I graduated with a Master’s in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2014 having gained valuable experience through summer placements with Transport Scotland and Scottish Water. After graduating I joined the engineering consultancy Jacobs and have enjoyed nearly a six-year career working on mostly large infrastructure schemes across the UK, including the A90/A96 Haudagain Improvement scheme, Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, A9 Dualling, A9/A82 Longman Junction Improvement scheme, the Heathrow Expansion Project and M3 Junction 9 Improvements scheme.
I am continuously developing as an engineer, having started at Jacobs on their Graduate Development Programme, to taking on design lead responsibilities and more recently project management roles.
I am currently working towards my chartership with the Institution of Civil Engineers and will be sitting my Chartered Professional Review in Spring 2020.
Through my role as a STEM Ambassador, I have promoted engineering and science through engaging with schools and universities at a variety of events. I want to be that person who inspires others to consider a career in Civil Engineering, just like someone was able to do for me 12 years ago.
Rebecca Cocklin | BP
I graduated with a First Class Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oxford Brookes University in June 2017.
My keen interest in the field of engineering stems from a young age when I began racing karts, and I have been developing my knowledge and skills ever since. In addition to my academic achievements, I completed a year in industry with BMW group at Oxford MINI Plant as a Complex Vehicle Analyst within the quality-engineering department where I was responsible for root cause analysis and resolution to issues on both pre-series and production vehicles.
Currently in my final year of the BP Castrol Challenger Automotive Graduate Scheme I have had the opportunity to work within different areas of the business including Product Testing and Engineering, Lubricant Product Development, Digital Strategy and Fuels Test Methodology. Over the course of my placements I have been responsible for managing and programming test beds, engine testing, data acquisition and analysis, leading projects including a high-priority project to develop and deliver new products to market within 9 months and creating a minimum viable product to improve the way data is collected, stored and used.
I am also proud to be a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) ambassador for BP where I promote the studying of STEM subjects and careers in engineering and science to students of all ages. I regularly present to visiting students and visit local schools to deliver practical engineering workshops and deliver mentoring sessions as well as participate in panels at events such as BP discovery days to discuss my education, career and answer questions.
Sasha Buonasorte | Shelter
Finding my place at Shelter allowed me to find out what was most important to me.
When I was 19 years old, much like anyone else at that age, I wasn't quite sure who I was, what I wanted, and most importantly, what kind of impact I would have upon others. It was then that I was lucky enough secure a job as a street fundraiser for Shelter, and I never looked back.
It started with the rush of using my communication skills to do some good in the world, by educating and inspiring members of the public, but that was just the beginning. Whilst it was the opportunity to indirectly make the world a better place that originally motivated me to put my all into my career, I found my niche in helping my teammates cope with complex life struggles. Fundraising for Shelter had allowed me to use motivation from my own background and tricky experiences to thrive, and it became my mission to pay this forward.
With this decision secured, I quickly progressed within my team, becoming the deputy manager of the Leeds team. During this time I focused my energy on making the role as safe as it could possibly be. It was incredibly important to ensure my voice was heard on this issue, as I was one of the few young female managers in a male dominated environment. Women experiencing harassment whilst at work is an ongoing issue that occurs in many roles, and street fundraising is no different in that respect. I worked with my superiors to ensure appropriate policies and training were put into place for anyone dealing with some of the common problems that can occur. I fought hard for a shift in our culture, to allow team members to feel comfortable in being open about the challenges of being in a public-facing role.
Just over a year ago I secured a role as a direct marketing executive, based at Shelter's head office. As I currently do not line manage anyone, I have found a way to carry on helping others by becoming a Mental Health First Aider. I am co-leading on this project organisation-wide, so that I can try my best to ensure that we implement it to the best of our ability. It is now my main goal to help change the culture around how we speak about our mental health in the workplace, and I feel incredibly lucky to work within an organisation that values me enough to allow my voice to be heard when it comes to our wellbeing.
Lucienne Edge | Royal British Legion
I worked in the civil service for 21 years within 3 different departments – Department of Works and Pensions, Home Office and Ministry of Justice, moving around various teams and posts.
All my roles focused on people and their wellbeing. This is an area that I’ve always felt passionate about. In the DWP I worked processing Disability and Attendance Allowance claims. In the Home Office I helped create, implement, run and finally outsource an Intermediary Service which matched young/vulnerable victims or witnesses of crime with registered professionals who could assist them making a police statement or testify in court.
In the Ministry of Justice I moved into HR and had the opportunity to become a trained voluntary Bullying and Harassment Advisor. I provided one on one advice and support as well as carrying out Directorate wide investigations up to, and including, Director level. I was involved in all stages of the process - interviews, report writing, resolution and recommendations. While there, I also helped with the formation and running of a junior staff forum, which were mainly women, increasing their visibility, providing them with a voice and a direct link to senior leaders.
In 2016, I decided I needed to take some time out to reflect. I made the decision to enter the charitable sector and this led to becoming the Membership Administration Manager at The Royal British Legion in Nov 2018. My team and I deal with governance, training, event planning – Annual Conference and County Chairmen’s Seminars and complaints. I’m a regular contributor to the agenda of the Employee Voice forum and try to initiate changes in the work environment as well as an active member of the LGBTQ+ & Allies branch.
I ensure that my team and I consider diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our workstreams and that we’re sensitive to all our members’ requirements. I also highlight areas where improvements can be made across the organisation and encourage others to do the same. It is challenging and a slow process but small steps are being made in the right direction.
Sharan Jaswal | Sharan Jaswal
Sharan is an energetic and engaging Educator, Facilitator & Changemaker passionate about social justice, education and the empowerment of young people and marginalised groups.
She has over 15 years experience in designing, delivering and scaling education programmes globally. A graduate of the London School of Economics & Political Science, Sharan has worked internationally across Asia, India, Europe and the Americas.
Sharan spent 12 years working to grow the charity MyBnk where she led the education team, spearheading their work with marginalised youth, and becoming an experienced project manager and learning experience designer.
She recently became self-employed and stepped into the field of social justice and gender equality – working with organisations such as The Good Lad Initiative, Rethink Mental Illness, Diversity Role Models and Future Foundations as an education, diversity & well-being facilitator and consultant.
She’s a trustee for the Abram Wilson Foundation, and volunteers on several youth sector advisory boards.
In a typical week, Sharan empowers young people by developing their resilience and works with female founders to accelerate their businesses. She’ll spend her weekend working with men to join the fight for gender equality by exploring power, privilege and allyship. She’ll often spend her evenings volunteering with #POCImpact, a community connecting and supporting People of Colour in the Social Impact sector.
Her accolades include being a Royal Society for the Arts and Clore Social Leaders Fellow. Her education programmes have won awards for their social impact with the Guardian Public Service and Centre for Social Justice Poverty Prevention to name a few.
Fareeha Usman | Being Woman
Fareeha is the founder of Being woman, a registered charity working towards to educate and empower women with the skills and confidence to challenge all forms of prejudice and discrimination in the society.
She is a multi-talented personality, a Kathak artist and motivational speaker. She is also a human rights activist who never gave up on life despite the devastating injuries and complications that she went through. Fareeha is the survivor of a car accident which left her a widow at a very young age. This does not end here and due to the societal pressures she was married again when she could hardly walk within 2 years of the traumatic accident. Her problems did not end here and she was tortured and abused by her husband and she was the victim of marital rape. She stood up for her rights and stayed strong. Fareeha chose not to carry on with an existence of wretchedness and disillusion after her mischances in her life. She discovered her inward quality by restoring the people and leadership skills inside her after her loss of motion and physical and mental distress that she went through prior. She broke all shackles of physical handicap and rises above to accomplish her fantasies to continue with her dancing and partcipated in reality tv shows in Pakistan and have performed for various charities in UK. Her speciality demonstrates her resilience and motivation in life which helped her to beat her feelings of dread. She has spread awareness and have developed programmes around mental health and gender based violence and discrimination in Pakistan. She has been actively promoting digital and social inclusion in Northumberland through her work and is one of 100 Tech Up Women Programme by Dr Sue Black and now is the ambassador of the programme. She strongly vouch for the promotion of equality and diversity and supports asylum seekers and refugee women and families in Northumberland. Fareeha is additionally a motivational speaker. Starting at now, she has given motivational chats on various stages, for example, Share and Learn events held by Goodthings foundation and was also a speaker at Digital Evolution conference in London at BT centre. She is writing a book to empower women through her story and an ambassador for Gender equity! She believes that "we are the sheroes of our own life stories and sheroes never give up!
Katie Burnell | Amey
Katie joined Amey in 2011 as a graduate and she now leads their Amey Consulting Highways Design Team in Birmingham.
Her team of c. 100 technical professionals deliver civil engineering projects across the UK and overseas, specialising in highway civils, structural civils and project management of major highway improvement projects.
Katie has a demonstrated history in leadership, programme management and change management within the highways industry and within civil engineering consultancy and has recently achieved her PG Cert in Leadership in the Roads Sector and her CMI Chartered Manager status.
Katie is committed and passionate about encouraging and inspiring talent into STEM related careers and is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of professionals. For the past 18 months Katie has held a place on the Highways England/Coventry University Roads Academy Programme as an Advisory Board member helping to shape and influence the programme and ultimately shape the emerging and future leaders of the Highways Industry.
Katie is passionate about the development of those around her and has introduced an Account level mentoring and training programme to expand the skillset and professional development of her teams, focussed on growing talent. She has established, introduced and delivered a communications strategy that is business leading improving employee engagement scores year on year.
Additionally, Katie is also committed to supporting her community and volunteers at the Birmingham Central Foodbank to support those in their time of need.
Monica Stancu | Royal Academy of Engineering
Monica Stancu is the Diversity and Inclusion Manager at the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Previously, she has worked in diversity and inclusion at Sodexo and F. Hoffman La Roche. Monica has also worked in international affairs and human rights at the European Medicines Agency (EU agency) and the United Nations. She holds an MA in Women’s History from Sarah Lawrence College, USA and was a visiting scholar at the Institute for Research on Women, Gender and Sexuality at Columbia University in the City of New York. Monica has been selected as a Global Champion for Women’s Economic Empowerment by UN Women.
Ivana Skerlikova | Atos
A passionate green advocate who actively promotes new talents and mental wellbeing, and fosters a diverse IT workplace.
Moving from a small town in Slovakia, into a big London world can be scary. But once you get out of your comfort zone, great things may happen. For me, it was to follow my passion to study Psychology. Once entering the workplace, I did not want to only ‘’do a good job’’, I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and so in my spare time I launched a number of initiatives.
Helping our talents to accelerate their career
Atos X is an annual ‘’TED style’’ speaking competition I started in 2016 where the top 10 UK young talents (graduates/apprentices) will work with mentors from the leadership team to develop their presenting skills and create inspiring talks. Over 10,000 employees watched Atos X talks since 2016 (the most popular non-mandatory learning intervention in the UK). At the same time, our Atos X finalists will have an opportunity to accelerate their professional career, getting new job offers on the back of the competition. This year the competition is expanding to Germany and Netherlands.
Reducing carbon footprint to protect our planet
I recently launched Atos Green Network – a community that aims is to connect like-minded individuals, raise environmental awareness and reduce carbon footprint. We are planting trees for each new member and in 4 weeks we have more than 700 employees (with this speed we will plant thousands of trees later this year!). The plan is to transform our offices, data centres and operations for greener and more sustainable, and assist our clients on the same journey. Also, to educate employees (create a personal footprint calculator) and volunteer in nature reserves and parks to actively protect our environment.
Fostering diversity to create a more inclusive workplace
When Gender Pay Gap was introduced, I felt that the scope was too narrow and we surely need to look at other diversity and inclusion aspects. With a help of volunteers, I started a data analysis initiative to understand our BAME (Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities) employee data and identify any gaps in talent development, management and recruitment. Thanks to this intervention, various measures were put forward (e.g. BAME mentoring) to ensure we support and grow our diverse community.
Reducing re-offending and fostering mental health
In my spare time I support ANTZ charity by mentoring prison inmates in London and also volunteer as a Mental Health 1st Aider to support fellow colleagues who are going through a difficult time. At work, I recently moved into Health and Life Science department where I focus on projects that can help to transform our hospitals and that support drug research, so we can prevent or better handle situations as the corona outbreak.