Meet the pioneering female Allanians who sparked their engineering careers at Dame Allan's

Revolutionising public spaces, working on next generation energy sources, and designing innovative buildings are all part of a day's work for Anna Thompson, Charlotte Keenan and Nicola Lines, all of whom pursued their dream careers in engineering after attending Dame Allan’s Schools.

The trio are passionate about the engineering sector. Anna, a Civil Engineer who works as a Senior Planning Manager at Laing O'Rourke in Sydney, Australia, said: “Civil engineering is one of the oldest engineering disciplines, I love that my job in construction can provide public spaces that everyone can enjoy - my first project was the Eldon Square redevelopment, then the Metro Centre IMAX.  I’ve also worked on bridges, tunnels and underground stations… I was so proud to show a recent project to construct an underground station to my daughter.”

Anna added: “I often surprise people who ask what I do for a living, who presumably don’t expect engineering to be a natural fit for a small woman, but why?!  I’d like to see the stereotype disappear in the same way it has for other professions.”

Charlotte, an Aerospace Engineer with a Masters degree in human factors in aviation safety, echoes a similar sentiment, saying: “Being female isn’t relevant in engineering – you are as capable of being successful as any male engineer. One key thing I have learnt is to have the confidence to speak up for yourself, remember that you are as good as anyone around you, if not better. Try your best to gain access to programs that lets you see engineers in action and use the internet to see successful female engineers at work. The Institute of Mechanical Engineers, like many organisations, has lots of information available for you to see.”

Before taking on her Masters, Charlotte studied Aerospace Engineering at the University of Liverpool. She was one of only 25% of her university course to pass on the first attempt, but has no regrets about her challenging choice of subject: “The key thing I would say to any person thinking of engineering is: if you like solving problems, especially those relating to science, you should seriously think of this area. Please remember engineering is a vast area and the roles and opportunities are diverse and varied.” Charlotte is a living example of this, currently working on engineering projects at UKAEA (United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority).

Speaking further about her time at Dame Allan’s Schools, Charlotte added: “I had some excellent teachers in my teenage years, in particular my maths teacher at Dame Allan’s who did all he could to help me with tougher subjects. One thing I would highlight is to work in engineering you really have to be good at maths!”

Nicola works as a Structural Engineer in London, liaising with architects to design elegant and innovative buildings. She said: “I love that my job is different every day. No structure is exactly the same, so with each project there is a new opportunity to problem solve and come up with new solutions, it's impossible to get bored! Due to the climate crisis, in which the construction industry is a large player, we are also at a very important point and need to come up with innovative methods to meet our Carbon Targets, where there is opportunity to really make a difference.”

Speaking about her female role models, Nicola spoke passionately about her Mum, Jenny: “I’m lucky to have her as such a great role model, she was a practising engineer and then actually worked as a maths teacher at Dame Allan’s! Her enthusiasm in describing how Engineering fits into everything around us when I was young has inspired a lifelong interest in the subject.”

Nicola added: “For any girls who are considering a career in engineering, I’d say go for it! It is such a diverse career, with endless opportunities to keep you on your toes and engaged. Grab any industry experience you can, and be assertive and confident of your abilities.”

Offering a different perspective, Allanian Susie Wood is also enthusiastic about the opportunities that an education in Engineering can bring - even once you have left the industry. 

After studying A Level Chemistry, Physics, Maths and German at Dame Allan’s, Susie graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Cambridge University. After working in chemical engineering roles, Susie moved to Sydney, Australia to complete a PhD in the area of sustainable resource development and climate change - in particular technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy and mining industries.

This PhD encouraged Susie to pivot in her career. She now works for Rabobank, a large Dutch multinational bank focused on lending to the food and agriculture sectors, as the Head of Sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Risk for Australia and New Zealand.

Susie commented: “While I no longer work in an engineering role, my academic background in chemical engineering has set me up well for my current career. A lot of my job is about defining and solving open-ended real-world problems – which is exactly what engineering teaches you. Working in sustainability also involves getting to grips with a wide range of complex technical material from lots of different fields, so analytical skills and the ability to structure and communicate information is also key.”

Speaking about the advice she would give current Dame Allan’s Girls’ School pupils, Susie added: “Women are still hugely under-represented in engineering degrees, and in the engineering profession. Most of the industries I’ve worked in (energy, mining, agriculture, banking) have also been very male-dominated. Personally though, I have never thought that my gender had much bearing on my experiences either studying or working. It certainly hasn’t influenced my career choices. 

Even if your career ends up taking you in a different direction later on, as mine has done, a ‘chem eng’ degree is a sought after qualification. Many sustainability colleagues I’ve worked with – and recruited – have a similar background to my own.”