INWED 2024 Kezia

Yesterday marked International Women in Engineering Day, a celebration dedicated to recognising the outstanding contributions of women in the engineering field.

This day aims to raise awareness about the achievements of female engineers and inspire future generations to pursue careers in engineering.

Despite historical setbacks, women continue to break barriers and drive innovation in this crucial industry.

Join us as we highlight the successes of our very own team and our ongoing efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in engineering.

We asked our Women some key questions about their inspirations, how they found a passion for engineering and the behind the scenes of their day to day.

Here is Kezia our Graduate Engineer for the Rail team’s story!

Can you tell us about a key project you’ve worked on and its impact?

A project I felt proud to work on was the RISQS audit. The team passed the audit allowing us to continue with operations and avoid cease to all rail operations.

When it comes to introducing innovation in my field it’s a team effort. I start with focusing on compliance alongside encouraging the team to be compliant to rail standards.

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

As a technically inclined woman I want to do my part and show how I can contribute to infrastructure that benefits society. Fuelling my passion starts with commonly being a lone female on-site and having to prove my skills and ability to my male colleagues who have in the past assumed my ability to be less of theirs, my focus is always to keep going and focus on what I love doing.

What excites you the most about engineering?

What excites me most is how the Rail industry continually adapts to global changes through innovation. Also being lucky enough to travel from place to place and showing people what team, I was part of whilst working on each site gives me a thrill.

What are your future goals in your engineering and how do you plan to continue enhancing your field?

My goal for the future is to be a Chartered Engineer. However, in the next few years I would like to be a Contractors Responsible Engineer or Project Manager.

The best way I will be able to achieve these goals is by continuing to ask questions, pursue my career development to educate myself and make an impact in my field.

Can you describe a typical day in your life as an engineer?

A typical day for me now is filled with focusing on my studying, making sure I understand the rule books and standards outlined by the Network Rail and check whether my team is compliant with the legislations. I like to think of myself as a team player, helping keep everyone understanding of the standards we must follow to perform in a safe and responsible manner on site.

What does your workspace look like and how does it support your work?

My workspace is always the same, I have my heater on because I’m always cold, my notebook and sticky notes to remind me of my tasks and I always have a tropical tea at arms reach.

Who has inspired you the most in your career?

I have to say John Allsop our Engineering Director for Rail has to be my day-to-day Inspiration. He has set a standard in my books and continues to push me to make solid decisions, helping me to ensure I make the most of my career, teaching me to know that every step is a milestone.

How do you mentor the next generation of engineers?

I hope that by sharing my journey of breaking gender and racial norms, I can empower other young women, with a special focus on empowering young Black women, to pursue careers in engineering and make significant contributions in their respective fields.