AHEAD of International Women in Engineering Day (June 23), CDE is highlighting the success of its own female workforce, from graduates to installation engineers.
The supplier of wet processing solutions for the waste recycling and minerals processing sectors is aiming to encouraging more young women and girls to pursue a career in engineering.
Ellen McGhee joined CDE in 2022 as part of the firm’s graduate development programme before securing a full-time role as a graduate technical engineer working on the development of washing solutions for customers in Australia, the Middle East and Africa.
“My first year at CDE has been an all-round great experience,” she said. “They have excellent systems in place to help with the transition from university to working life whilst facilitating growth, both personally and professionally.”
Born into a family of engineers, Ellen was encouraged from a young age to pursue her interests and help break down the stigma of gendered careers.
“I was given the confidence to pursue my interests in a male-dominated industry,” she added. “The men in my family were advocates and allies, providing encouragement and support.”
Commenting on the need for greater diversity in the industry, Ellen said, “Diversity is proven to generate more innovative, creative and inclusive decisions and is essential to building high performing teams.”
Graduate design engineer Rachael Harris remarked on the different routes into the industry that are available.
“It wasn’t in my plan to enrol in a foundation degree before university, but I did and it has proved to be one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done,” she explained. “I completed multiple placements during this time and these learning experiences cemented my passion for engineering, something that dates back to my days spotting planes and trains with my dad.”
Installation Support Engineer Beth Teggart, meanwhile, joined CDE in 2021. Initially stationed at the company’s fabrication facility in Monkstown, Northern Ireland, Beth is now based in Australia.
“I have a love for travel and the opportunity to work in-market, gain experience and build expertise is a real perk of the job,” she commented. “As engineers we provide solutions to problems and having more women around the table will bring a fresh perspective to complex problem solving.”
Beth recently completed her first project install as a standalone supervisor. “CDE trusts in my ability to travel across our markets, providing technical advice and guidance on the safe and efficient installation of our solutions,” she added. “I firmly believe this is reflective of the value placed on women and their roles in the business.”
Product design engineer Saoirse Nash was inspired by a school teacher during her formative years to pursue a career in the industry.
“She pushed me to further develop my investigative and problem-solving skills, to be more confident and embrace my passion for STEM,” Saoirse remarked. “That source of encouragement was instrumental in those early years. It led me on a path of discovery and I subsequently developed a love and curiosity for engineering.
“Women are able to approach a problem from a different point of view. Adding this range of opinion and perspective to a team can be really transformational. Studies have also shown that women, on average, tend to perform better on multi-step problems, whereas men are apt at solving problems that require a sudden flash of insight. The combination of both skills leads to better idea generation and execution.”
The contribution of women to science, mathematics and engineering was a source of inspiration to lab engineer Laura McNeill when she was exploring her career options.
“Women such as Marie Curie, Ada Lovelace, Hedy Lamarr and Edith Clarke paved the way for this generation of women in STEM,” she said. “Their impact is empowering and helped to enhance women’s agency in these fields.”
Laboratory process engineer Ada Szymanska added, “Women’s voices are still underrepresented in the industry but by encouraging more young women and girls to pursue a career in engineering we can ensure our voices are heard. I feel very proud to be part of this generation of engineers, helping to break down barriers and pave the way for the next.”
