---
title: Helping enhance the everyday – inspiring insights from SYSTRA’s women engineers on International Women in Engineering Day 2024
url: "https://www.systra.com/uk/helping-enhance-the-everyday-inspiring-insights-from-systras-women-engineers-on-international-women-in-engineering-day-2024/"
type: post
date_published: 2024-06-21
date_modified: 2024-06-21
schema:
  @type: Article
language: en-GB
word_count: 776
reading_time: 4 min
canonical: "https://www.systra.com/uk/helping-enhance-the-everyday-inspiring-insights-from-systras-women-engineers-on-international-women-in-engineering-day-2024/"
featured_image: "https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2024/06/women-in-engineering-day-2024-news-item.png"
categories:
  - Non classé
---

# Helping enhance the everyday – inspiring insights from SYSTRA’s women engineers on International Women in Engineering Day 2024

![Helping enhance the everyday – inspiring insights from SYSTRA’s women engineers on International Women in Engineering Day 2024](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2024/06/women-in-engineering-day-2024-news-item.png)

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
23^(rd) 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:

![](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2024/06/charlotte-woodhall-jones_dsc8661-copy-1024x1024.jpg)

> 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:

![](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2024/06/jenny-jefferies-_dsc8829-copy-1024x1024.jpg)

> 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](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2024/04/gender-pay-gap-2022-2023-v9.pdf)
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.”

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