#EnhancedByEngineering
#INWED24
📖 Your story:
I am the UK Discipline Lead for Ground Engineering for SYSTRA UK & Ireland Ltd and I proudly have a #SquigglyCareer.
I am British-Malaysian, born and bred Bristolian (which will save anyone who speaks to me the awkwardness of accent placing), who married a Yorkshireman. Having fell in love with God's Own County, I have lived half my life up north, and thus have a weird brizzle:yorkshire accent. Which one you get depends on mood ;) #TryNotToGetFullYorkshire
Being surrounded by gorges and the works of Brunel in Bristol, I can now see that my route to engineering was part accident, but also very much influenced by my environment, curiosity and general love of rocks.
I am a proud Geologist and Engineer because I get to see the wide impact that being an Ground Engineer has on the day to day lives of a person.
👷♀️ Who or what inspired you:
I became an Engineer having taken an Engineering Geology module during my undergraduate masters in Geology at the University of Bristol. I was fortunate to have Professor Brian Hawkins as my lecturer, and his character got me enchanted by the prospect of a real world application of a subject I adored. Whilst I started on a pathway to Engineering Geology, through experience I realised that given my time again I would most likely still be where I am now but would have chosen a civil based route. #OnceARockLoverAlwaysARockLover
🏆 Your career wins and innovative ideas:
My proudest project is always the #RoyalShakespeareTheatre. You don't get to work in a project team so passionate and aligned on all projects.
But the projects I like working on are those where others have failed to provide a constructible option, and by bringing a little innovative #OutsideOfTheBox thinking, and working closely with the Contractor and supply chain, you get to something that meets the objective over the brief. #A57ManchesterRoad
💪 Challenges you've overcome:
THE Biggest challenge I have overcome - and something I am very passionate about - is proving that being a flexibly working female engineer does not mean that you are lesser than. I'm not saying that the pathway is cleared of all obstacles, but now it is more trodden and therefore easier for others to follow and improve.
👩🏫 Advice for future engineers:
Be authentic to yourself, your drives, your passions. This is what keeps you going. Technical advancement is one part of the person, do not dismiss the importance of the "soft skills", these are your super powers. And read, read, read... technical books, leadership books, and fiction books. All bring inspiration in different way.
#INWEDBigWeekend #WomenSupportingWomen #WomenInSTEM #STEMCareers #TellYourStory #WomensEngineeringSociety #INWED
Senior Ecologist and Project Manager at GEI Consultants, CERP
1moWelcome back Chamena!