Can you tell us a bit about your Engineering Journey so far?  

Growing up I was always interested in science and how stuff worked. Coupled with that was a desire to do something different to the majority of women surrounding me and this led me to study Physics and Electronics at university. 

 After university, I completed a two-year graduate training scheme at a big European packaging company, working at a large manufacturing site as a Process Engineer. I then progressed into manufacturing management and project management roles, before expanding my horizons as a Project Management Consultant with PA Consulting Group, and then moving into founding and building high tech start-up companies.  

Finally, fifteen years after graduating, I went back into academia as a Lecturer in Project Manager, first at the University of Manchester and since 2017, I have been in my current role at Manchester Met. 

I am currently a Reader in Engineering Project Management and Head of Education for the Faculty of Science and Engineering. I teach and research on how large-scale Engineering projects are organised and managed. But, for the majority of my time, I am working with our 400 Faculty colleagues to make the education we give our students in the Faculty of Science and Engineering the best it possibly can be. 

How did your degree prepare you for your current role?  

My first degree gave me a sound technical grounding in science and maths and taught me how to think analytically, solve problems and model systems. My later MBA and PhD degrees taught me how organisations work, how to do finance, strategy and management, which are all important things. 

What do you enjoy about your current role?  

The variety of scientific and engineering disciplines that we cover, learning about cutting-edge research and best of all working with hugely talented staff and students to educate the next generation of engineers and scientists. 

I like the Department of Engineering, as it’s very collegiate and friendly. But with my Faculty-wide role, I don’t get to spend as much time in the Department as I would like at the moment.   

What are your greatest achievements so far?   

Project managing the design, construction and commissioning of a £6million manufacturing facility in my twenties, having my son and adopting my daughter and completing my PhD part-time with two small children. I’m proud of juggling family, home and my career, and achieving a pretty good balance of each as well as helping steer the Faculty through the first pandemic in 100 years!

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

Go for it.  Engineering offers brilliantly varied career opportunities. You can have an incredibly technical and cutting-edge career path or you can manage and run large projects and companies.

In my experience, no two days are the same in Engineering. A career in Engineering can also take you all over the world. If you’re good at what you do, you will always have a job and be pretty well-paid!

Why do you feel it is important to have a diverse Engineering industry?   

Diversity means working with everybody, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, background or sexuality to solve problems and make the world a better place. 

There is a huge shortage of Engineers in the UK and Engineering holds the key to solving many of the world’s most urgent challenges such as climate change and building a sustainable future for us all. It sounds clichéd, but we really must harness all the available talent to meet this skills shortage. It’s always more fun working in diverse teams and learning from others who have different experiences, problems and ways of working. 

What are your plans for the future?  

Surviving the pandemic, bringing up my children to be good citizens and continuing to teach, research and lead in the Faculty of Science and Engineering or maybe embracing any new career opportunities that come my way. Outside of my work, my plans are to travel, climb as many mountains as possible and ride my bike long into the future.

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