On International Women in Engineering Day (today, Friday 23 June) three women working as engineers for Network Rail are sharing their views and urging more women to consider a career in the rail industry.
Clare Brint, Olivia Huntly and Lorena Muscai are all based in York, and are involved in a variety of projects, including station upgrades, maintenance of overhead line equipment, and geotechnical work to ensure that trains run reliably and safely.
International Women Engineering Day (IWED) started a decade ago, and to mark its tenth anniversary, Clare, Olivia and Lorena are highlighting the benefits of an engineering in order to encourage more girls and women to consider taking the opportunities that it offers.
The theme of this year's IWED is Make Safety Seen.
Olivia, Senior Asset Engineer, said: “At school, we never really had conversations about future careers, and I hadn't even considered becoming an engineer. I started out as a team organiser and worked my way up, with Network Rail funding my civil engineering degree when I was 30.
“I think it's a real shame that women are still a minority in the engineering industry, but days like IWED can really help us to celebrate the successes and contributions of women in the sector. My message to girls who enjoy science and maths is to consider engineering as a career and to follow your passion.”
Clare, Principal Programme Engineer, said: “I've worked in the rail industry for a number of years, and it's fantastic to see younger engineers, like Lorena and Olivia, joining the rail industry. A career in rail really gives you a chance to get involved in all different kinds of projects and is a great place to gain and develop your skills. We are seeing more female engineers join us, but we still have a long way to go.”
Lorena, Asset Engineer, added: “IWED is a great opportunity to showcase how diverse engineering roles can be, particularly within the railway. There are lots of opportunities to try different things in engineering until you find one that fits you.”
