Can you tell us about your Engineering career journey?  

I have an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, a degree that covers Engineering, Mathematics, Electronics, Telecommunications and power systems. This has benefited me in my current research area, which involves using intelligent systems for sensing, monitoring, controlling and managing infrastructure to address societal challenges. During my undergraduate programme, I also undertook a six-month industrial placement which helped me to develop my practical and people-facing skills.

My first job after graduating was in Banking where I learned to develop good relationships, communicate effectively, deliver exceptional customer service and work in a diverse, fast-paced environment. 

I joined the School at Computing and Communication at Lancaster University in 2005 as a Research Associate and was promoted to Senior Researcher in 2010. At Lancaster University, I was involved in several research projects including industrial projects and others funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. I was also a Work Package Leader of a successful EU FP7 smart grid project, which included twelve partners from seven different countries. 

 I am currently a Professor in Intelligent Infrastructure Systems and lead the Smart Infrastructure and Industry Research Group at Manchester Met who are a team of over twenty academics and twenty-five researchers. I have been privileged to be part of multi-partner, multi-country, multi-million-pound projects. For example, I have been Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator in the research areas of the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities, smart grids, communication systems and cyber-physical systems.

Outside of the University, I am the current Vice-Chair of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Technical Committee on Power Line Communications and have been General Chair and Co-Chair of international conferences like the IEEE International Symposium on Power Line Communications and its Applications and IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid Communications. Additionally, I am a Panel Member of the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Peer Review College and European Commission Horizon 2020 Expert Reviewer and rapporteur. I also serve as a School Governor and member of the Board of Trustees of charitable organisations. 

In the future, I want to work with people both in and outside of Engineering to solve problems that seem to have defied solutions so far from climate change to inequality, poverty, food shortage and the lack of clean water etc. I also want to work more with the Engineers of the future, particularly women and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

What do you enjoy about your current role?  

My role gives me opportunities to work with people from a range of academic and industrial backgrounds, travel and see the world and contribute to something tangible, something that makes a difference, something I can hold in my hand and say “I was involved in making that!” 

I love my colleagues. They are passionate about their jobs and conscious of the fact that Engineers are proactive members of the university. We are not mere thermometers that sense and inform the world around us. We are thermostats. We sense and detect troubles, then respond appropriately to make the world around us a better place to live for today and our future. We can see that in many projects, be it in smart locks for the NHS, new AI-enabled technology for railway applications or intelligent energy management systems to improve access to clean energy. We are also training future Engineers, preparing them for the next industrial revolution. 

What are your greatest achievements so far?  

My greatest achievement is seeing the students and researchers that trained under me doing well in their own rights. 

Other achievements include leading a project that won UK Best Knowledge Transfer Project of the Year 2020, winning the Manchester Met Research and Knowledge Exchange Awards in 2014 and 2016, and becoming a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of The Institution of Engineering and Technology. 

What advice would you give to students who aspire to a career in Engineering? 

Engineering is one of the best career paths ever! It is worth all the effort. Think big! Those dreams are achievable if you don’t give up. Develop both technical and soft skills and consider going on an industrial placement as part of your degree. This will increase your chances of getting that dream job.

What does diversity in Engineering mean to you?  

Diversity means increased capacity! When we have people from different backgrounds with complementary skills, the outcome is synergetic in nature.  Efficiency is higher than 100% because you get more than you put in. It is a sensible thing to do. 

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