Australia 
Brazil 
Canada 
Chile 
China 
Columbia 
Denmark 
France 
India 
Indonesia 
Ireland 
Italy 
Malaysia 
New Zealand 
Norway 
Panama 
Peru 
Poland 
Portugal 
Saudi Arabia 
Singapore 
South Korea 
Spain 
Sweden 
Taiwan 
Thailand 
United States 
Vietnam 
A diverse workforce that reflects the communities we work in means we enhance our capabilities and our capacity for innovation and optimum performance.
Aligning with that vision, this year’s Women in Engineering Day, taking place on 23rd June is focusing on the theme ‘enhanced by engineering’. The event celebrates women engineers around the world and the work they are doing to support lives and livelihoods. The aim is to highlight the people making a difference and building towards a brighter future.
At SYSTRA, we’re proud of the opportunities we provide across our engineering teams and the collaborative work with partners to create places that truly thrive. We spoke to some of our inspiring women engineers at SYSTRA and asked them how they feel their work is helping to enhance lives and build towards a better future.
Charlotte Woodhall-Jones, Discipline Lead (Geotechnics), has a career that spans multiple sectors. She said:
I have built homes for people to live in, provided energy for that morning coffee, and removed the water from washing the cup. I’ve provided capacity for multiple methods of commuting or taking that holiday, provided cultural balance to the day to day; and ensured homes, businesses and infrastructure are protected from the impact of nature and climate change. My discipline provides the foundation to engineering, and engineering provides the foundation for society.
Charlotte Woodhall-Jones, Discipline Lead (Geotechnics) at SYSTRA
Amee Shah is a Bridge Engineer with more than 15 years’ experience. She said: “SYSTRA gave me an opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping infrastructure that supports societal growth, economic development, and environmental sustainability, thereby contributing to a better quality of life for people now and in the future. It gives me a sense of gratitude and fulfilment for each day spent at work.
Alice Kimmitt , is a Delivery Manager in the engineering business who works on HS2. She said: “I make daily decisions on what I feel is the best course of action for my team and how we provide the best services and value to our client. These decisions all ultimately support the end goal of improved rail links.”
Lola Rodriguez is a Principal Engineer (Geotechnical) at SYSTRA. She said: “As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, I have not personally encountered additional challenges related to gender biases and stereotypes. I have always believed that competence and dedication are the true measures of one’s capability. I am proud to say that my contributions have been recognised and valued, paving the way for greater gender diversity in our industry. I strongly encourage other women to consider careers in infrastructure and engineering. The field is rich with opportunities to make a tangible difference, and diverse perspectives are crucial for innovation and success. I am grateful for the challenges I have faced and overcome, as they have shaped me into a more capable and confident professional. I hope my journey will inspire more women to step into the world of infrastructure development and make their mark.”
Jenny Jefferies, Technical Expert (Consents), said:
The work I do at SYSTRA, designing and in my case, consenting new infrastructure projects, including new railways, is a cornerstone of improvements to sustainability and social mobility throughout the world. New railways connect people to opportunities and get people off the road and onto a more sustainable mode of transport. Working in consenting also ensures that the projects we work on comply with the legislation protecting people and the environment whilst designing and building.
Jenny Jefferies, Technical Expert (Consents) at SYSTRA
Our ambition for our colleagues is to create a diverse, inclusive workplace which allows everyone to be themselves and give their best. An inclusive workplace means we’re better able to serve our customers and contribute to a more equal society.
As our latest report highlights, we continue to make positives steps to closing the gender pay gap, and we identify a number of specific strategies to further improvement. This includes actively engaging with women in our workforce, understand their experiences and promoting work experience opportunities via organisations that work with under-represented groups to tackling unconscious bias in our recruitment processes.
Our HR Director Suzanne Walker said: “As the business continues to grow and develop, we recognise that promoting equality, diversity and inclusion is a key priority that we need to drive forward with continued passion and energy.”