Women in Engineering and Project Management
Women have always played an essential role in the design and development of critical structures, machines and systems that shape our world. However, progress in the industry has been slow. In the UK, women continue to be a minority in the field making up just 16.5% of the workforce in 2021 as detailed in the Women in Engineering: Trends in Women in the Engineering Workforce between 2010 and 2021 published in 2023. This gender disparity is mirrored throughout all educational pathways into engineering.
International Women in Engineering Day is celebrated on June 23rd every year around the world. Its purpose is to shine a light on women working in the field of engineering and raising the profile of women striving for change in the industry. Anturas is proud to contribute to this positive change as a female led organisation with balanced gender representation in senior management. Cath Leech our Managing Director and Chartered Engineer is striving to create a more inclusive and diverse face of construction. Only by getting a broader range of influences joining the discussion can we create a place that all of society can enjoy. This is reflected in the thoughts of three of team members below.
This June 23rd, Anturas would like to highlight the role the Project Management profession plays in promoting gender diversity by creating a pathway for people from diverse backgrounds to enter the field of engineering. Principal Consultant Emma Baker, Senior Consultant Virginia Munoz Rucian and Consultant, Jade van Blerk share their perspectives on their experience as project professionals within the Engineering sector as well the recent Association of Project Management Change Changes Conference which they all attended.
Emma Baker
Principal Consultant
I have always loved art and design and it felt very natural for me to study a degree in Architecture with my inspiration drawn from Gaudi and the architecture of Barcelona. I wanted to understand how design and engineering could come together to create a rich built environment. Through my Master's degree I became more interested in city landscapes and how strategic planning brings together transport routes, places to work and play and most importantly creates the places where we call home.
How does this link to a career in project and change management? I found I am a problem solver and a people person at heart, and I wanted to be part of the implementation of these environments rather than only the designer and planner of them. Being a Principal Consultant at Anturas allows me to do this.
The APM Conference tilted Change Changes reminded me of what drives me to work in the project management profession and why the “Why” of what we do is so critical to communicate to all stakeholders in way that resonates with them. Its people’s passion which drives forward any form of change and this is even more apparent in the infrastructure sector as this is the environment which surrounds us and delivers are livelihoods and lifestyles. The word passion was used throughout Carmel McConnell ‘s keynote speech to open the conference and a quote I found particularly powerful was “take action in line with your values even outside your comfort zone.” This resonated with me as I am currently supporting the delivery of a colossal amount of infrastructure to drive Ireland’s sustainability targets, in the electricity grid which is a sector I have never worked in before. I want to be part of a sustainable environment which continues to drive innovation to support our lives and the lives of those who come after us.
My next step is to read Carmel’s book the Change Activist and understand better how I can influence others to use their skills towards the purpose which is set out. The 3 “P”’s was described as “passion, purpose, plan” and this approach fits with my experience that you can have the best project management approach but if you haven’t understood the people involved or surrounding the change then the project will not succeed. I am looking forward to continuing to find ways to influence projects, programmes and portfolios to deliver the infrastructure we need to thrive.
Virginia Munoz Rucian
Senior Consultant
I have always been interested in materials and infrastructure, so it was a natural choice for me to pursue a Mechanical Engineering Degree in my home country of Spain. After successfully making it through a tough programme, I graduated into an unstable and uncertain job market. I was able to secure an internship at a well renowned Spanish civil infrastructure company which then led to a role in facilities management and improvement projects within an Airbus factory. When I was offered a role as a as site manager in Scotland to deliver the M8 Motorway Improvements project, I did not hesitate to make the move. From there I transitioned to my current position as a Senior Consultant, after working in multiple other industries as a project manager.
In my view, the requirements for being a good project manager include being organised and methodical and having good communication skills. I strive to embody all the above and I have utilised the Association of Project Management (APM) and the Project Management Institute (PMI) as a pathway to invest in and development my career. I have attained my PMP certification, and I am currently in the process of pursuing Chartership in Project Management via the APM. The PMP certification aligns with my aspirations as an international project professional while the APM is the principal PM institution in the UK where I currently work.
I have always wondered why the PMI and APM have not previously pursued collaboration opportunities among themselves, however this appears to be changing as we speak. I recently attended the Change Changes APM Conference in Birmingham the 8th of June where there was a panel on which APM and PMI leaders discussed the need for these organisations to find greater opportunities for synergy. They announced that going forward, both organisations will work together to provide greater resources for project professionals across the globe. This is such an important development as we need to see more knowledge leaders influence project professionals in an international, collaborative, and flexible context. I hope to pay it forward and share my own knowledge and experience as I work towards becoming a ChPP PMP project manager..
Jade van Blerk
Consultant
My route towards becoming a project manager within the infrastructure and engineering sector has been unconventional and peppered with multiple twists, turns and caveats. I started my academic career at the University of Cape Town in South Africa where I was initially admitted to an Environmental Science programme. I elected to pursue Media and Journalism instead. After graduating I worked in South Korea for a couple of years until I returned to South Africa and worked for the National Government in the areas of National Security and International Relations.
I had always planned to study abroad, so I made the decision to study a Masters in Transportation in Belgium at Hasselt University. It was here that I developed a strong interest in transport and mobility and more specifically active and sustainable travel. During this time, I completed a transport policy focused internship in Brussels and completed a course in Environment, Sustainability and Society at the University of Oslo Summer School.
I began my career in Scotland in sustainable transport consulting with a focus on behaviour change. I then went on to work on a research and development project focused on the development of a biometric fatigue detection device for lone workers operating public transport.
My role at Anturas has led me into the infrastructure and engineering sector which has been an exciting challenge and growth opportunity which I never imagined I would have. I now support the delivery of sustainable transport projects and have also had exposure to mass rapid transit projects. This demonstrates the transferability of project management skills as well as how the profession can bring people from diverse backgrounds together within a professional context.
My takeaway from the APM Change Changes conference was that project professionals need to continue knowledge sharing and contributing to the community to reinforce project management as a profession much like other recognised professions. By doing this we can grow the range of opportunities open to project professionals by allowing ease of movement across industries. I continue to increase my engagement with the Association of Project Management, and I am working towards becoming a ChPP project manager.
