I started working in Aerospace by coincidence.

As a non-engineer, I didn’t grow up with any particular desire to join this industry, but now that I am part of Collins Aerospace I am amazed by our products and technologies and am passionate about encouraging more women to pursue a career in STEM.

Based in the West Midlands, I am a HR Manager for a site that designs, develops and manufactures Heat Exchangers for Aerospace. In my 7 years, with the organisation I have worked at 4 different sites and across 3 Business Units and have been able to benefit from various experiences that have shaped me into who I am today. There is so much opportunity at Collins Aerospace and I am looking forward to growing with this incredible organisation and developing my career further.

Those who know me, know I am a visible and vocal champion for Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) and I am actively engaged in developing an inclusive environment at Collins Aerospace where all employees can thrive and progress.

Over the last year, I have been instrumental in implementing change within our business through creating Employee Resource Groups (ERG): Women in Aerospace and Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic (BAME) to drive sustainable change within the organisation. I have also worked as part of our Diversity Team to create a framework for assessing inclusion, this has been rolled out across 11 sites and ensures that D&I is a strategic priority for the business by embedding this framework in our operating processes. In addition, I am a reverse mentor to a number of senior Directors sharing my perspective and insights about my experiences as a Black woman enabling them to hold a richer view about the perspectives of others, which plays an important role in bridging the gap between different groups in the workforce.

Outside of the workplace, I support my community as a Youth Worker, encouraging young people to grow their confidence and providing them with a safe space to have fun.

As a HR Leader and role model at Collins Aerospace, my focus for 2021 is about supporting young women in STEM and empowering the female pipeline so that they can carve their own path to success as the next generation of leaders.