Kate began her career working in oil and gas on a platform in the North Sea. At the time, gas was perceived as a clean fuel; however, as time went on, she spoke about the ethical dilemmas she faced in this role. Though she initially worked with the mindset that staying ‘behind the scenes’ meant she could ensure things were done ethically and correctly, she eventually chose to follow her morals and moved into greenhouse gas prevention, using her knowledge and skill set for good.
She spoke about the key decisions that put her on the right track for her career, starting with her A Levels, subjects she chose because she was ambitious and wanted a challenge. Following her interests, she also achieved an undergraduate degree in social sciences and psychology, alongside a Masters in project management.
Kate discussed the challenges she faced and how a career may start in one direction and end up in another. She encouraged the girls to be curious, to follow their passions, find organisations they care about, and use their personal values to make decisions, echoing our ethos of Forging Your Future.
Kate also spoke on the importance of knowledge and the responsibility of sharing it. She noted that knowledge isn’t always straightforward, it is collaborative, changeable, contested, iterative, transferable, and, above all, transformative. Seeking knowledge, she explained, means being willing and able to change your mind.
To close, she reflected on how, for many years, she was often the only woman in engineering settings. While this is now starting to change, she emphasised the importance of having empowered women in these spaces. A closing statement which resonated with our budding Year 9 engineers.