Niri Arambepola | WSP
I went to school in north London where I excelled at maths and physics but really enjoyed art classes. I wanted a profession that would combine drawing with science. Aged 15 I did a week of work experience in an architecture practice where I learnt the most important thing of my entire career: what structural engineering was.
I went on to study General Engineering at Newnham College, Cambridge University. I studied the basics of different types of engineering before specialising in structures. Newnham is a women’s college so I experienced an all-female living environment and a male dominated studying environment. In the engineering department I quickly came to believe that a woman could succeed in a “man’s industry”.
After graduating, I started working at WSP where I still work now, 5 years later. I have been fortunate to work on some amazing projects in central London and Heathrow airport. These include the Shell Centre- a challenging project in central London consisting of seven new towers, built over several tube lines. On this project I have designed the structure for two of the towers as well as a large section of the shared basement. I have worked on this from concept design through to construction and it is fantastic to see buildings I have designed in real life.
In 2012 I co-founded the Structurally Found competition- a photo treasure hunt designed to tell the general public about the amazing engineering surrounding them. After a lot of planning and persuading, Structurally Found became a part of Open House Weekend in 2014 and attracted 3000 entries from around the world. We ran the event again in 2015 and 2016, adapting and expanding it each time.
I continue to work on a variety of projects at WSP, and am currently preparing for my chartership.
Marina Parry | CRUK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester
For the past two and a half years, I have been a postdoctoral research fellow, part of the Molecular Oncology group at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, where I have been working to understand how prostate cancer develops so we can give patients the most appropriate clinical care.
Prior to that, I spent two years at the University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Institute studying the causes of a very rare form of blood cancer, Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma, and uncovered a new genetic change seen in very many patients. This has helped understand why people develop this cancer, as well as hopefully finding better treatments for it.
I completed my PhD at the University of Sheffield in 2011, where I was investigating the genetic events responsible for inherited susceptibility to breast and prostate cancer. Our aim was to improve breast and prostate cancer screening to target it to the people who would benefit most.
Susan McDonald | Deloitte
Susan is an electrical and mechanical engineer, passionate about promoting engineering and energy careers.
Susan worked at National Grid for six years. She was responsible for maintaining National Grid’s relationship with the energy regulator relating to a ~£1bn new electricity transmission project. Her work facilitated new low carbon projects to help meet increasing UK energy demand in a sustainable way.
In November 2016, Susan joined Deloitte’s Infrastructure & Capital Projects Consulting team. As a Senior Consultant, Susan specialises in the design and setup of delivery models and control for capital projects and complex transformation programmes across the energy and resources industry. Susan was recently responsible for evaluating a UK water utility’s asset maintenance end-to-end process and capabilities.
Susan holds a Master of Engineering (M.Eng) in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering with Distinction from the University of Strathclyde. Susan is currently the Chair of the UK Young Energy Professionals Forum which has over 1,300 members. She is an ambassador for the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Queen Elizabeth Prize to help promote engineering globally. In 2015, Susan won the EY and Energy UK Young Energy Professional of the Year Award, and in 2016 was shortlisted in WeAreTheCity’s Rising Star Awards Top 10 for Diversity.
Justine Smithies | Woodsons of Aberdeen Ltd
She has completed a sponsored skydive for Stonewall Scotland and raised £2300 mostly from the fishing community of the North East of Scotland. After this event Stonewall Scotland invited her to be a keynote speaker for their workplace conference in December 2015 and has since spoken at various businesses / educational establishments. In her spare time she has also written for various publications YWCA Scotland, The Glass Closet, KaleidoScot , GTenMedia and also setup & runs a support group for the LGBT+ people of Aberdeenshire called Just Be Yourself. Recently she also starred in the BBC Scotland documentary “Transgender Love”.To contact Justine:Email: justine@smithies.me.uk
Twitter: @JustineSmithies
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/justine.smithies
Web: http://justine.smithies.me.uk
Claire Gott | WSP
As a Design Manager, I specialise in managing multi-disciplinary design teams on major infrastructure projects. I have worked on a number of high profile projects, including the £790m London Bridge Station Redevelopment project, the Paddington Cube and HS2 Euston Station.
My strong drive, goal orientation and leadership skills have empowered me to be a significant leading role model for women in both the rail and construction industries. Through my passion for sustainable positive change and my numerous positions on Industry Committees, I champion initiatives to encourage young people into engineering.
I was one of the founders of the independent charity Cameroon Catalyst and am determined to help facilitate sustainable development in rural Cameroon.
In 2015, I was awarded an MBE in recognition for “Services to civil engineering and international charity work."
Yasmin Ali | E.ON
I am a control room manager, chartered engineer, and a proactive promoter of engineering because I believe that engineers have the power to change lives and improve the world.
After gaining a Master’s degree in chemical engineering in 2010, I joined E.ON’s Engineering and Leadership graduate scheme. This was a fascinating journey in the energy sector; from coal and gas fired power stations in the UK, to business expansion in Turkey, to Oil and Gas operations in the UK’s North Sea.
My continued passion for energy has led me to the world of distributed energy generation. I am currently the control room manager for E.ON’s Community Energy business, responsible for delivering safe, reliable heat supply to over 20,000 customers and creating value from electricity generation assets.
Alongside my day job, I am a regular public speaker, an active member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, a news presenter for the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and a board member on the Women’s Engineering Society Young Members’ Board.
Keen to communicate engineering, I am constantly searching for new ways to reach wider audiences. I was selected as one of the BBC’s Expert Voices in 2014, and awarded a British Science Association Media Fellowship in 2015, which allowed me to spend time working for the BBC science unit.
I have featured in various promotional engineering campaigns, written blogs, appeared on television and radio, and even performed engineering themed stand-up comedy!
Mary Akangbe | NHS
Rachael Griffin | Roche Products Ltd
I am Rachael, aged 41, and mum to a beautiful 4 week old (a position I never thought I would be in). I also currently wok for Roche Products Ltd as a contracts manager in Pharma Research and Early Development.
In 2012 – my life changed for ever. I found the lump the previous November, but waited until after Christmas before going to the doctor. On 16 February 2012, aged 36, I was told I had breast cancer.
Once you’ve been diagnosed, your world is turned upside down. You live from appointment to appointment and you can’t plan anything, which was a tough. But I decided to try and keep some sense of normality / control – for me that meant working through my treatment. I was triple positive so would need chemo, surgery, Herceptin, radiotherapy and hormone therapy.
One of the hardest parts of the cancer was friends. We generally assume that our friends will be supportive in a crisis, but after cancer, we learn this may or may not be true. Its amazing how many people run for the hills when they hear the word cancer, and other friends (who I really saw as acquaintances) totally stepped up. I might be bald with no eyelashes and look a sight – but I was still me!
It was after treatment had finished that things really started to hit me. Having time to process everything and the emotional upheaval afterwards was huge. I had no idea how I was going to put the fragmented jigsaw that was my life back together.
Fast forward to now. I’m back at work full time. My main focus outside of work is Younger Breast Cancer Network UK - a peer support network for younger women with breast cancer. It has had no funding and started from grass roots. We now have 3000 members and work regularly with charities such as Breast Cancer Now and Breast Cancer Care. The group is a lifeline to many - just ask our members. Find us at @YBCN_UK.
Patrice Baptiste | DreamSmartTutors
As a child, Dr. Patrice Baptiste always dreamt of qualifying as a medical doctor. After years of hard work, continued dedication and perseverance she qualified in 2013 from University College London (UCL).
Due to the challenges surmounted trying to achieve her dream, Dr. Baptiste uses her experiences to show others that a dream is never too big, or unattainable. Through sharing her story she aims to inspire, empower, support and encourage as many people as possible.
Alongside Dr. Baptiste’s full time duties as a doctor she regularly contributes to GP Online, an online magazine for doctors. For two years she has served as a Director Appointee and now volunteers her time as a Foundation Governor. Patrice is the founder of DreamSmartTutors, an organization that not only aims to help students successfully apply to medical school but also educates and informs them about life as a doctor. This is through a number of courses and personalized one-to-one tuition. The focus is especially, but not exclusively for students from disadvantaged and Black Minority and Ethnic (BME) backgrounds. Patrice is also a STEM ambassador, a School Speaker and a member of UCL's BME alumni committee.
Patrice uses her skills as a writer, experiences as a doctor and abilities to engage with young people to raise awareness of important issues in addition to educating and informing others, especially the next generation of future professionals.
Julia Robertson-Avenell | Hays Life Sciences
I am an experienced Admin Manager and PA with vast experience in the sales industry. I am passionate about the development and recognition of the support role and have put this passion into co-founding NESS-The Essex PA Network. Networking and arranging events for NESS allows me to develop my own skills and help those around me to do the same.
From networking, I have taken on a different role at Hays as Contractor Relationship Manager. This means I am responsible for contractor care – meeting, assisting and being a problem solver for the contractors in my remit. I believe that networking gave me a superb grounding and training to commit to this role with confidence.
In my spare time I am a volunteer Sales Manager for the Hamelin Trust charity. Each Saturday I work in the shop unpacking donations, sorting, moving furniture and serving the public. I absolutely recommend volunteering to anyone – it’s really hard work but the feeling of achievement at the end of the day outweighs this.
I am friendly and approachable and I believe in paying it forward to help others achieve and realise their potential.