
When I was at school I loved the sciences and was good at maths, but I didn’t
pursue it as a career. I started a law degree, but didn’t finish it as I was more
interested in politics and justice.
It was only years later, as computer use grew, that I became involved in technology
on a professional level. I worked as a desktop publisher, then as a database administrator
for a pharmaceutical software company. I completed my degree with the Open University
(OU) in 2006 by studying databases, web development and systems thinking. I was
then able to combine my political interests with technology when I worked for
Rolls-Royce, lobbying government for more funding for research and technology
and for skills training.
That job then led to my current role as the Project Manger – Skills for
A|D|S, the trade organisation advancing UK AeroSpace, Defence and Security Industries.
I am responsible for the
UK Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKAYRoC) , and I support A|D|S’s subsidiary, Farnborough International Ltd,
in the co-ordination of
Futures Day at the Farnborough International Airshow.

The UK Rocketry Challenge is the largest model rocket showcase in the UK. Young
people aged 11-18 take part in teams. The challenge for 2010 is to design, construct
and launch a rocket carrying a raw egg to an altitude of 825 feet, then return
the egg safely to earth. Up to 100 teams participate every year. I’m always delighted
to see girls getting involved and in 2009 an all-girl team came third. They’ve
promised to win the competition this year!
Futures Day at the Airshow is aimed at children between the ages of 7 and 17. It has lectures, demonstrations
and hands-on activities, and a careers fair with opportunities to meet key people
from aerospace and defence and young people starting out.
We do need more women engineers: it’s not an “oily rag” industry, which is evidenced
when you walk around aerospace factory floors and see light, bright, clean environments
to build and make aeroplanes.

I’ve just completed a
Diploma in Economics with the OU. I don’t have much spare time. I relax by playing computer games or surfing
the internet. I remain fascinated by new media: the internet has turned out to
be a life-changing revolution. It is comparable to the Industrial Revolution in
how it is changing how we work and how we interact with each other.