A professionally registered engineer and a winner of the 1990 Young Woman Engineer of the Year award, Michelle began her career as an engineering apprentice.
She worked her way up from microwave design engineering to managing complex military projects for private companies before making the jump to work for a professional body after roughly 25 years in industry.
“As a female engineer and Fellow of the IET I feel it’s very important to use my position to open the eyes of those from all walks of life to engineering.”
Reporting to the organisation’s Chief Executive and Secretary, in her current position she oversees a directorate of more than 150 staff, who not only support engineers throughout their career but also encourage the next generation.
A professional home for life
“We provide a professional home for life and that covers everything from providing young children with their very first engagement in a science, technology engineering and maths (STEM) programme all the way through to working closely with retired engineers who give back to the community by volunteering. Oh, and everything in between,” she laughs.
This includes supporting the professional development of engineers via training and competency recording, providing professional registration services and also accrediting apprenticeships, degree courses and graduate schemes.
“Then there’s Education 5-19, where we show the next generation how fabulous a career in engineering can be! The job is so varied, which is wonderful,” she says. “Obviously, there are lots of meetings, as we have so many projects and products within my area, but I also get to go out and about and see the results of our work.
“For example, I recently attended an IET Power Academy event where I met students being sponsored to go into the power engineering sector. I also went along to an IET Partners event, where over 400 of our Corporate, Enterprise and Academic Partners came together to discuss how they’re supporting the professional development of their staff.
Supporting the IET’s charitable goals
Michelle’s role is integral to the IET achieving its goals, as the income her directorate makes through fees such as membership subscriptions goes towards the organisation’s charitable purpose.
“That’s really important,” she says. “We spend approximately £1.6m on our STEM enrichment activities each year, and this is where some of that membership money goes. It also supports some of our policy work, which helps the voice of our members to be heard. So, not only do we care for our members, we have a wider influence on national policy, which can help us promote engineering as a career and close the skills gap.”
A tireless campaigner on behalf of the engineering industry, Michelle was honoured to receive an MBE for services to engineering in 2019 and continues to use her position at the IET to promote engineering to a wider audience.
Developing a diverse engineering workforce
“As a female engineer and Fellow of the IET I feel it’s very important to use my position to open the eyes of those from all walks of life to engineering.
“I think it’s very special to work for a purpose-driven organisation that has society, and the engineering community’s best intentions at heart.
“I’ll keep working towards developing really diverse engineering workforce, in particular showing women how appealing a career in engineering can be and that it’s something they can achieve – and excel at.”
Within the IET this includes running STEM enrichment programmes that gives young people, and particularly young women, a more realistic and in-depth idea of what a career in engineering actually looks and feels like.
There’s also the IET Futures Fund, which helps young people from all backgrounds to progress in engineering through sponsorship, and the Young Woman Engineer of the Year award, which celebrates the successes of some of the UK’s most talented female engineers.
“This is a celebration of cracking female engineers, many of whom go on to act as ambassadors or role models for the industry, like myself,” she says. “It’s these kinds of people that will help us achieve a truly diverse workforce.”
The best thing about the job
Michelle’s enthusiasm for engineering is contagious, but she says a lot of this comes from the people around her.
“Simply put, the thing I enjoy most about my work is the people. I get a lot of energy from my staff, who share my passion, but I equally enjoy the time I spend mixing with the children at the Faraday Challenge Days and FIRST® LEGO® League competitions, and chatting with IET award scholars just starting their engineering journey.
“Then there’s the 2,500 volunteers who make so much of what we do possible,” she continues. “There’s just something about that engineering community and the people within it that gives me the most enjoyment from my work. I mean, you can do financial spreadsheets in any job, but you don’t get that same community feeling anywhere else!”
