A Sellafield technical specialist has won a major award.
Natalie Parker has been awarded one of the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year prizes.
Natalie, 30, who works for the Operational Technology Group at Sellafield, won the Women’s Engineering Society prize.
Natalie provides technical and assurance support to front line engineering teams and wider projects.
Natalie works to support and develop an offsite central location that allows engineers to share problems, innovate ideas and learn from experience.
As the co-lead of Sellafield’s Women in Technology group, Natalie has led on the development of a primary school workshop and rolled it out in a vast number of schools to introduce students to electrical circuits and programming through fun and interactive activities, showing them how STEM skills can be used in everyday life.
Natalie said: “I feel so proud to have won this award. The passion and enjoyment I have promoting a career in STEM to the future generation and helping to break down barriers as a woman gives me constant motivation. I hope to use this amazing platform to promote all the incredible work engineers do and encourage more women into the industry.”
The IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards celebrate women working in modern engineering – and aim to help change the perception that engineering is predominantly a career for men by banishing outdated engineering stereotypes of hard hats and dirty overalls.
As well as highlighting engineering talent, the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards seek to find role models who can help address the UK science and engineering skills crisis by promoting engineering careers to more girls and women. Just 15.7 per cent of those working in engineering occupations are women.
Head of equality, diversity and inclusion at the IET, Dr Laura Norton said: “Engineering and technology have been improving our world and shaping our future for centuries. Engineers make an ongoing difference to the world around us, and we want to celebrate those engineering a better world for us all.
“However, due a lack of understanding around what engineering is, perceived gender norms and not enough visible role models for the next generation, the UK has a shortage of women engineers.
“Our awards tell the stories of incredible women engineers who are changing our world for the better and I’d like to congratulate our fantastic winners and finalists this year. They are a real credit to the engineering profession and make excellent role models to young girls who might be thinking about a career in engineering and technology.
“It’s vital we champion engineering careers to the next generation – it’s a diverse, creative and exciting career, which offers the opportunity to change lives, or even the world.”
The winners were announced at the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards ceremony last night, December 9.
