23 June 2014

Costain is celebrating today National Women’s Engineering Day by sponsoring a lecture from four high-profile women in the engineering industry.

The event was organised by Costain’s Lilli Craemer, Requirement Manager at ABC Electrification, the Alstom Babcock Costain company formed to deliver major parts of Network Rail’s National Electrification Programme including the Valley Lines. The Welsh Government and Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Wales Cymru have also sponsored the talk, which will be held at Cardiff University.

“The aim is to celebrate the achievements of women in engineering and raise the profile of women in the profession,” said Lilli. “It’s important that we as an industry attract more women to help address the skills shortage, and it will be interesting to hear our speakers’ experiences and also their vision and expectations for women in engineering. The lecture will have relevance for everyone – not just women.”

Economy Science and Transport Minister Edwina Hart, said: “The construction sector is currently in a good position to exploit a number of opportunities in response to the economic recovery, and from the Welsh Government’s investment in infrastructure and capital projects. Boosting the number of women in engineering and the construction industry is a vital element of developing a highly skilled workforce able to meet the current and future requirements of the industry.

“It is very important that women and girls realise the construction industry is a potential career for them when they are considering their futures. It shouldn’t be seen as a no-go area and I am therefore delighted the Welsh Government is supporting this event to raise the profile of women in the industry.”

Keith Jones, Director, ICE Wales Cymru, said he was delighted that the ICE was able to hold the meeting. “Engineering and civil engineering in particular is not just for men. The ICE currently has approximately 10% women members and we need to grow these numbers. Civil engineering is an exciting, interesting and rewarding career and available to all.”

The speakers are:

Sally Sudworth, the Environment Agency’s Deputy Director for the National Learning and Recovery Programme, and past Chair of ICE Wales Cymru. Sally will share the latest information on this challenging civil engineering programme and will describe the devastating impact experienced by communities around the country.

Sarah Kendall, Network Rail Area Director for the Wales Route. Sarah will talk about how Network Rail managed the extreme weather during the winter of 2013-14 and how it managed the recovery of services and infrastructure.

Sarah Hopkins, Director of Human Resources for Wales and West Utilities, the gas distribution network covering Wales and the South West of England. Utilities is traditionally a male-dominated sector, and Sarah will discuss gender diversity at Wales & West Utilities as a case study and consider what issues and opportunities this presents the organization, along with an action plan for the future.

Sheena Hague, Deputy Director, Network Management, Welsh Government. Sheena will share some of the asset management and daily operations approaches that gain best use out of the road network to ensure a safe and reliable public service.

After the presentations there will be an open forum discussion on how individuals and organisations can best raise the profile of women in construction, and increase the participation of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) careers.

This is a free event and all are welcome. It takes place on Monday June 23 at 6.00pm at the Trevithick Lecture Theatre (T2/09), Cardiff School of Engineering, The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3AA.

To book your place, go to www.ice.org.uk/wales/WomenInEngineering. (You do not have to be an ICE member).

 

Ends

 

 

Media Enquiries
Costain Communications Department
01628 842585
[email protected]