International Women in Engineering Day (23rd June 2023) is upon us again and reminds us to celebrate the fantastic women excelling in the field of engineering.
Over the last decade, engineering and broader STEM careers have been a much more attractive proposition for young women entering their careers than ever before. But we must do more to create balance and encourage more women into the sector.
What better way to do this than to meet the amazing women doing incredible jobs in the sector to hear about their experiences.
Meet: Joanne Fensome, Wastewater Site Supervisor, Alpheus Environmental
What is your current role, and how did you get there?
“I started 18 years ago working for Alpheus Environmental in the recycling department. We run a treatment plant in Milton Keynes where I am Site Supervisor. I am responsible for compliance, health and safety, checking in and managing the waste as it arrives and where to direct it. I ensure waste is treated compliantly within the Environment Agency and Trade Effluent consent. Before I took this role, I had a vested interest in Environmental Science and took further education in the subject, which opened the door to this role.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
“I am a lone worker, so I am responsible for the day-to-day running of the plant. I interact daily with our delivery drivers as the waste arrives; I ensure the waste is handled correctly. Although I work alone, I communicate with colleagues in the business to break up the day, but the most interaction I have is with the drivers. As I have sole responsibility for the site, there is some pressure on me as I am answerable for everything around its operation, which includes maintenance and ensuring equipment is functional. We have all the tools and materials we need. But ultimately, my role is to effectively manage our waste operations for the benefit of the environment, and I love it.
Was it always your dream to get into a role in the engineering sector?
“I struggled at school as I was dyslexic and left without any real qualifications. As life went on, I did grow a deep interest in environmental science. So, off my own back, after having children, I decided to do a higher education access course, followed by a degree in Environmental Science. During the degree, I became fascinated with waste management; as a coincidence, I visited Anglian Water’s Waste Recycling Centre while studying which happened to be on part of the site I operate now.
“I think my love of nature and the environment led me here, I am a big nature lover and beekeeper and enjoy walks often. My degree course and my tutor’s passion for waste management sparked something in me, and that passion and excitement stayed with me, and here I am.”
Did you worry about, or have you experienced, any issues being a woman in your role?
“When I completed my degree, I took a job in tarmacking. A very male dominated environment. I was working on the weighbridge, and I was promised an environmental role as my career progressed; that didn’t happen as the site was closed. I was treated no differently working with the men in that sector, so I had fewer concerns than most women would have when I got this job.
“I still get the occasional eye-opening moment with some visitors to the site. Whilst being polite to me when they arrive, I still see the men looking around me to see who is in charge – even approaching another man on site – often other customers. I remember a while back, two young men came to the site, and one asked me, ‘So what happens if there is a problem? Do you get someone in’ and before I responded, the other lad said, ‘Look, her coat is dirty; you can tell she does all the work. It doesn’t bother me; it still happens but has improved over the years.”
Have you met or worked with other influential women in engineering who inspire you?
“Strangely enough, my first boss was a woman in this industry. It was a great way to begin the role, especially as a 40-year-old woman as I was back then. She greatly supported me and left the door open should I ever have any issues. I am confident in myself and my abilities, so I wouldn’t have naturally flagged sexism, I would deal with it myself. However, as part of her education, my daughter was taught how to deal with prejudice and misogyny. I realised my generation never was, but I thought it would be useful for my career. So, I took it upon myself to do a course dealing with ingrained social situations. Whilst interactions were fewer in my day-to-day role, it did give me more confidence to highlight situations where women are poorly represented. For instance, typically, senior people – especially at the board level – are men. Some decisions – especially after the pandemic when social values were in the spotlight – had been made without fair gender representation, which is something I am proud to say I have had the opportunity to change – for the better! I do feel that we are starting to see improvements in female representation.
What can the engineering sector do to inspire and attract young women to the profession?
“Young ladies need inner confidence to know that they have a voice and will be heard. They must feel fair and equal in any role, not just STEM. While I agree we need to get more women into the roles, the answer is not simply quotas. In all areas of the industry, we need to demonstrate that women are doing amazing things in challenging roles – and they are doing it with ease. Wastewater management and recycling will become more exciting as Gen Z and future generations enter work, so we must open the door for roles that make a difference. That will excite them – catch them early, get them excited about science, and help them realise they are as much a part of the future as any men.”
To find out more information about roles available to women in Wastewater Management, visit the Alpheus website.
