Being the only woman in the room can be daunting, but it shouldn't stop anyone from building a successful career in engineering.
I've always been a practical, hands-on person. As a child, I loved building things with Lego and bricks, and I was fascinated by seeing something come together from scratch. As my career progressed, seeing how these types of projects can benefit people and make a difference to their day-to-day lives has been really rewarding.
I started my career as a contract assistant before moving into project management roles with contractors in the rail industry, working on projects such as trackside renewals. Today, I've been in the rail industry for 28 years and have spent the last 16 years with Southern Railway.
My career journey - and why engineering matters
Throughout my career, progression has often meant stretching myself and stepping outside my comfort zone. Every role I've taken on has given me the opportunity to learn new skills, develop my knowledge, and see the industry from a different perspective.
I love my job and I love my team, but neither of those things happened by standing still. Growth comes from being willing to take on new challenges and continue learning.
Now, as Head of Fleet Infrastructure and Renewals for Southern, I look after everything at our depots. That includes maintaining the estate, ensuring sites are safe and secure for our colleagues, managing contracts with suppliers, sourcing materials, overseeing planned preventative maintenance, and driving improvements across our facilities.
Ultimately, it's all about making sure the trains get out of the door. Without depots, the trains can't be maintained, and without maintenance, we can't provide the service our passengers rely on. My role is to oversee the day-to-day operations that keep our railway moving.
Taking pride and satisfaction in my work
Whether we're maintaining infrastructure, renewing assets, or delivering major projects, everything we do is for the customer. We can never lose sight of that. The work happening behind the scenes plays a vital role in keeping the railway running and ensuring passengers can travel safely and reliably.
That's why seeing projects completed successfully is so satisfying. From the very first stages of construction through to final handover, there's a real sense of achievement in watching an idea become reality. Seeing something develop from a literal hole in the ground into a finished project gives me a real sense of pride and satisfaction.
Just as importantly, if we can deliver something that makes life easier for colleagues, customers and communities, that's something to be proud of.
One of the defining moments in my career was delivering the Derby Etches Park depot while working for East Midlands Railway. It was the first time a train operating company had delivered a depot rather than Network Rail. From the tender process through to delivery, the project was completed on time and on budget.
Supporting people to succeed with teamwork
One of the things I'm most proud of is helping people develop their careers. Watching colleagues progress, gain confidence and move through the ranks is incredibly rewarding. One engineer in my team started in an administrative role and has worked her way into a senior engineering position.
Creating opportunities for people to grow is something I care deeply about, and that includes supporting equality and diversity across my team. I'm proud to say that the senior leadership within my department is split equally between men and women. Building diverse teams brings together different perspectives, experiences and ideas.
For me, good teamwork starts with making sure everyone feels able to contribute. Every person brings something unique to the table, and it's important that every voice is heard. I'm fortunate to work with an amazing team, and when we're delivering projects together, everyone understands their role and how their contribution supports the wider goal.
The importance of representation
As a woman in engineering, there have been challenges along the way. It can be frustrating to be the only woman in the room during a meeting. At times, women have had to work harder and go the extra mile despite having the experience and qualifications required.
However, I have also seen positive change during my career. The industry has become more inclusive, and organisations are working to improve the environment for women across engineering and rail. That can be seen in major initiatives as well as practical improvements, including better-fitting personal protective equipment like women-specific safety boots, harnesses and high-visibility clothing.
Representation plays a huge role in continuing that progress. Young women and girls need to be able to see people who look like them succeeding in engineering and rail. Visibility helps demonstrate that there is a place for them in this industry and that there is a pathway to build a successful career.
The more people who are willing to be visible and share their experiences, the more we can encourage the next generation.
My advice: Be authentic and stand firm
Around 20 years ago, two inspirational women entered my life and gave me advice that has stayed with me ever since. They encouraged me to be myself, be authentic, stand proud and stand firm.
They taught me that if I genuinely believe something is right, I should have the confidence to back myself and deliver it. That's the same advice I would give to women already working in engineering or considering a career in the industry: be authentic, play to your strengths, and be yourself.
Rail is a fantastic industry with a lot of opportunities. It is welcoming, increasingly diverse, and has come a long way over the years. There is a place for women in engineering, and there is a place for you in rail.
Looking ahead to the future
One of the most exciting things about engineering is that it never stands still. The pace of technological change, including developments in artificial intelligence, will continue to shape how we work and how we maximise our resources. Innovation will create new opportunities across the industry, and I’m fascinated to see how those opportunities develop.
At Southern, we're already looking ahead to major programmes of work, including a significant signalling renewal project that will run over five years and involve collaboration across multiple departments.
For me, that's what engineering has always been about: bringing people together to solve problems, improve infrastructure and create something that makes a difference, and that's exactly what makes engineering such a rewarding career.