My route into engineering was via a four year indentured technician apprenticeship programme with Froude Consine, during which time I gained an HNC in Electronic and Electrical Engineering. Whilst doing my apprenticeship, my Managing Director packed me off to Birmingham one afternoon to ‘go and raise the awareness of careers for girls in engineering’ and I’m still doing it, 20yrs later.

On completion of my apprenticeship, I spent some time as a Systems Test Engineer – testing and inspecting engine test equipment (dynamometers and instrumentation) before actually going out into the field as a Commissioning Engineer – a daunting prospect being stuck on the other side of the world having to solve problems with limited or no access to expertise in-house - in the days before internet access and e-mail. Whilst with Froude Consine, I won the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award. I took a brief foray into research with Automotive Products working on an automated manual clutch mechanism, but soon went back to studying, gaining the extra units required for an HND. I then went on to design Machine Tools for the Automotive Industry before returning to the field of engine test. I then spent some time working for a privately owned Austrian company in the UK (AVL UK) project managing the design, build, installation and commissioning of engine test beds for UK Automotive suppliers (as well as designing a few myself) before taking a short break to have children.

Throughout my working career I have been involved in raising the awareness of women in and careers for girls in, engineering. So much so, that I joined the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) in 1998 – I desperately needed other women to talk to as I found more and more that I was on my own and my interests outside of work were different to those of my male colleagues. Four years ago I was asked to stand as Senior Vice-President for WES and in October 2005 I was elected to the position of President. Being President of WES has enabled me to meet other women from around the world who within their own associations have the same aims as WES. My involvement with WES has given me many opportunities outside work that I would not have been able to experience – I have chaired adjudicating panels for EES and Young Engineers for Britain as well as witnessing fantastic presentations from YinI finalists. I have also been into numerous schools to talk about careers in engineering as well as sitting on National Advisory Committees for organisations who promote engineering, science and technology as a worthwhile career. I am also a School Governor and Schools Liaison Officer for 2 branches of The IET.

Following the birth of my second child, I was asked to provide consultancy services to a local STEM Enhancement & Enrichment provider, so I decided to become self employed drawing on my knowledge from my work with WES and industry to develop links with local organisations and their engineers.

I have also worked for the RAEng, pulling together the ‘Shape the Future’ directory under the guidance of Matthew Harrison.

Dawn's datafile: