Women in STEM IE - Q2 2021 by Mediaplanet UK&IE

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IN THIS ISSUE

Teachers are a crucial role model for getting girls in STEM

Building a sustainable pipeline of future talent

Siobhán Dean Executive, BioPharmaChem Ireland at Ibec

Page 04

As we celebrate the achievements of female engineers on International Women in Engineering Day, we must strive to achieve gender balance to develop a sustainable talent pipeline and meet industry demand.

A commitment to fostering inclusivity across the STEM sector Dr Ruth Freeman Director Science for Society, Science Foundation Ireland

Page 10

Supporting female leaders is a key driver of innovation and growth Ciara Finlay Medtech and Engineering Senior Executive, Irish Medtech Association

Page 12

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ngineers are at the forefront of innovation and deliver creative and sustainable solutions for some of the world’s most complex challenges. At a time when Ireland and the world begins to recover from the impact of COVID-19, Engineers Ireland’s latest report, ‘Engineering 2021: A barometer of the profession in Ireland’, has found that 79% of engineering organisations are planning to recruit new staff in 2021. The report also found that 71% of female engineers are confident about job opportunities in Ireland, with 84% agreeing that engineering is a rewarding career choice. However, according to OECD reports, in Ireland just 17% of bachelor’s graduates from engineering-related programmes are women, a ratio of one woman to five men.

Nurturing a sustainable pipeline of female talent Engineers Ireland has sought to address the gender divide at a grassroots and professional level. Through our nationwide STEPS programme, we have developed a number of hands-on initiatives that aim to spark children’s imaginations about STEM, by providing students with role models and real-world opportunities to engage with the engineering community. Additionally, our Women in Engineering Group has created a network to facilitate connections between women working in engineering roles to knowledge-share, exchange ideas and boost the number of women working in the engineering profession.

Collective efforts As we look towards the Ireland of I now see women at every level the future, greater representation by Addressing the divide who have similarly found limitless female engineers will be required to The percentage of women in ensure that we apply all our talents opportunities to innovate, lead engineering was even lower when I and a diversity of viewpoints to the and make a difference to the graduated with my degree in electronic challenges and opportunities that we world with their careers. engineering, a degree that started my face in areas such as climate change immensely rewarding career journey. and digital transformation. In my profession, I now see women at every level By working together, we can strive to nurture Ireland’s who have similarly found limitless opportunities future engineering talent and empower both men and to innovate, lead and make a difference to the world women to play their role to develop sustainable solutions with their careers. for society. As I look to the future, I aspire to meet and work with even more talented and creative female engineers and witness the combined mind-power of women and men working together in equal measure to address the major Professor Orla Feely challenges of our time. President, Engineers Ireland But to achieve this goal, we still need to work to inform young women of the many exciting and rewarding opportunities in engineering and to inspire and support them to pursue careers in the profession.

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Senior Project Manager Ireland: Lucy Harris lucy.harris@mediaplanet.com Head of Ireland: Ross Bannatyne Managing Director: Alex Williams Head of Business Development: Ellie McGregor Head of Production: Kirsty Elliott Designer: Thomas Kent Freelance Designer: Lottie Fox-Jones Digital Manager: Harvey O’Donnell Paid Media Manager: Jonni Asfaha Production Assistant: Henry Phillips All images supplied by Gettyimages, unless otherwise specified

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Women in STEM can help create a more inclusive and sustainable world Many companies say that they are encouraging women into STEM – but what does that mean in practice?

lobal drinks company Diageo has a ten-year action plan called Society 2030: Spirit of Progress, to help create an inclusive and sustainable world. One of its aims is to attract more women into STEM careers. Here three women based in its St James’s Gate site in Dublin talk about what that means for them.

Rachael Sulaiman Graduate, Diageo

Natasha Alves Distiller, St James’s Gate, Diageo

Marsha Donnelly Business Partner, Global Engineering, Diageo

WRITTEN BY Linda Whitney

Rachael Sulaiman, Graduate Scheme member “There are a fair number of women on our graduate scheme, and the company offers a lot of support and inclusion, which helps your learning at the start of your career,” says Rachael. “Senior women are willing to help you. Recently, in coaching training, I was paired with a woman who had been in a similar post to mine and we have talked since then. It’s comforting knowing that I am not the first to be in this position and that she is happy giving me her time. “My boss is female, so it’s easier to be candid with her about anything I might struggle with. Seeing women in senior positions helps because you can only become what you can see.” Rachael is currently working in manufacturing, trying to continually improve the flavour and quality of the beers brewed at St. James’s Gate. “It’s exciting to see the process and then the products on sale. Sometimes after a long day I pop out and buy some – the flavour is an inspiration.” Natasha Alves, Distiller After her microbiology degree Natasha Alves left her native Portugal for Ireland, aiming for a STEM job. Now she is a distiller, helping produce Diageo’s Roe & Co Irish Whiskey. “I’ve always been passionate about STEM, but my career with Diageo has only increased that,” says Natasha. Over the course of four years, she has worked in the microbiology lab, as a brewer, a continuous improvement brewer, a distiller and will soon move to project management. “I share my passion for STEM simply by showing that a young woman can move up the career ladder within the company.

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Women should know that you don’t have to make a final choice between science and arts at 16. Doing both gives you more options.

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“My friends and family assume STEM is a maledominated world, but this is changing fast. People in Portugal are impressed that I have had so many different roles within one company – hard to do in Portugal.” Natasha advises others considering a STEM career: “Grab any opportunity. Women often feel that they can only apply for jobs that they can 100% do already, but don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and try new opportunities.” Marsha Donnelly, Business Partner, Global Engineering Marsha works in Diageo’s central engineering function, supporting €10-200 million engineering and planning projects. “At present that includes setting up a new site in Brazil and moving a site in Turkey,” she says. “I was naturally curious, so I studied science at school. I was inspired by my brother, an engineer, to get a degree in chemical engineering, which gives you lots of career options.” After working for a building materials company, she moved to the company a decade ago. “First I had an environmental role, then moved into innovation, launching new products in Africa,” she says. Now she is helping expand Mexican tequila production. “My role models here are my line managers – especially one particular woman – who have inspired me with their values, integrity and passion,” she says. “I now do mentoring and coaching for university alumni and schoolchildren.” She adds: “Women should know that you don’t have to make a final choice between science and arts at 16. Doing both gives you more options.”

Find out more at diageo.com/en/ careers

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Some of the interventions included developing strong role models and profiling the different entry routes and career progression within science, technology, and engineering sectors.

Teachers are a crucial role model for getting girls into STEM STEM-related industry sectors continue to offer a significant portion of job opportunities in Ireland. However, according to the most recent CSO Figures, of the 117,800 people working in roles that require STEM skills, just 25% of these roles are performed by women.

W Siobhán Dean Executive, BioPharmaChem Ireland, Ibec

e need to ask why women are still underrepresented in STEM-related roles, when research has shown the benefits of a diverse workforce. Benefits include financial gain, better decisionmaking and problem solving, as well as improved innovation and collaboration. There has been some progress made in female participation rates at management level. According to a 2019 report conducted by Ibec ‘Inspiring girls, supporting female leaders’ there has been an 8% increase in female participation rate at management level between 2001 to 2018, but we have a long way to go.

In June 2019, a report conducted by Accenture entitled Girls in STEM revealed that teachers are one of the biggest influences in young girls’ lives. Encouraging stem at younger age Ensuring a strong pipeline of female graduates begins at the post-primary level. It is concerning that we are still seeing low numbers of female students choosing STEM subjects at Leaving Certificate. In 2020, the Department of Education released a report around best practice interventions for

gender balance in STEM in schooling. There was no single intervention identified as the preferred approach, rather it is important to recognise the interconnected factors influencing girls’ participation in STEM. Some of the interventions included developing strong role models and profiling the different entry routes and career progression within science, technology and engineering sectors. Value of female role models If young women can see other women developing successful careers, this can encourage them to pursue similar education paths and be confident that they too can aspire to a satisfying and well-paid career in these sectors. In June 2019, a report conducted by Accenture entitled Girls in STEM revealed that teachers are one of the biggest influences in young girls’ lives. The STEM Teacher Training Intern programme is an innovative programme started by DCU, with 30% Club and Accenture in 2016. It enables pre-service STEM teachers to gain a first-hand experience of what it is like to work in a STEM industry, the diversity of roles that are available to people who pursue these fields and a variety of paths that one can take towards working in the industry. Teachers can then bring this knowledge back to their schools to inspire their students to engage in STEM. Increasing second-level female participation in STEM should be a main priority going forward, highlighting the varied career opportunities in STEM-related fields early in secondary education, from first year onwards.

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Why it’s time to shout louder about the opportunities of STEM careers Three women from a leading biopharmaceutical company reveal what it’s really like to have a STEM career — and why it’s vital to persuade more girls to study STEM subjects.

So, we have to encourage parents to encourage their children. If parents say to their daughters: ‘You’re good at this!’ Then girls will be more confident about studying STEM subjects.

o attract more young women into STEM careers, it’s imperative to bust some myths about the STEM sector, believes Caroline Rocks, Senior Programme Manager at the Dublin office of biopharmaceutical company, AbbVie which employs more than 2,500 people in Ireland. For instance, Rocks is a chemical engineering graduate with a Master’s in biopharmaceutical engineering. “But if you asked many school children what an engineer is, they’d probably say ‘someone who builds roads and bridges’,” she says. “It’s far broader than that, of course; so we have to do more to connect STEM to the products that girls and young women use in their everyday lives. For example, the formulation of their make-up is created by scientists and made by engineers. I also think we have to do more to promote it as a good career that can offer young

people a well-paid salary.” It’s exciting, too. At AbbVie, Rocks supports the company’s multiple manufacturing sites around the world and enjoys the variety of her work. To date, her career has taken her to Singapore, India, the US and Malaysia, among other locations. “I came to engineering because I liked more logical subjects at school,” she remembers. “But early on I realised that to excel in this job you don’t need to know all the answers or be a straight A student. You just have to be interested in problem-solving and like collaborating with others.”

Making a real difference to people’s lives Lingli Lu, originally from China, is a process scientist at AbbVie’s facility in Cork, monitoring pharmaceutical products for worldwide markets. She became interested in science at a young age and believes her career in STEM was inevitable. She also believes the pandemic has highlighted the importance of science and is hopeful that more young women will be attracted to it as a result. “One of the best things about working in our particular industry is that we bring hope to patients by making medicines,” says Lu. “By utilising our knowledge and love of what we do, we can really make a difference to people’s lives. I’m only one small part of a huge industry — but that’s why I find it such a meaningful and rewarding job.” She admits that more women are needed in STEM roles, however. “So, we have to encourage parents to encourage their children. If parents say to their daughters: ‘You’re good at this!’ Then girls will be more confident about studying STEM subjects.” STEM companies can also play their part in promoting and supporting STEM-related projects and activities by interacting with schools, colleges and industry partners – something that AbbVie fully supports. The myriad opportunities of a STEM career Once women have a STEM career, it’s crucial they should be empowered to reach their full potential, says Joan Morris, Quality Assurance Director and Qualified Person (QP), at AbbVie in Westport, County Mayo. Morris notes that the company runs various initiatives and groups that support female members of staff. “There’s an ethos here of cultural diversity and encouraging women to work in STEM,” she reveals. “That’s good for teamwork, innovative thinking and problem-solving.” She also agrees with Rocks and Lu that the opportunities STEM provides need to be shouted about louder and more often. “There are multiple career options and sideways moves you can make in STEM,” she says. “We have to show young people that it’s a cool career. Like Caroline, I’ve travelled around the world with my job, which I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do otherwise. But also, you don’t have to live in a city to be involved in STEM because it can happen anywhere. I moved to the west coast of Ireland to have an exciting career, but also a better quality of life. That’s possible with STEM, because it caters for everybody.”

Caroline Rocks Senior Programme Manager, AbbVie Santry

Lingli Lu Process Scientist, AbbVie Cork

Joan Morris QA Director, AbbVie Westport

WRITTEN BY Tony Greenway

Find out more at abbvie.ie/ careers.html

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Supporting women in their STEM careers We must encourage women at all stages of their STEM career to come together and build their network.

o celebrate our 30th anniversary, WITS organised an ambitious eight week programme featuring female leaders from all aspects of STEM careers. Showcasing the incredible women in senior roles, the series gave our members the opportunity to learn about the opportunities and challenges faced by the panels. Each week reflected a different area of interest for our members and included conversations on taking your place at the table and leveraging your network. Each panel also recognised that despite the huge strides we’ve taken towards a more balanced STEM workplace, there is still a significant amount of work to be done. Building your network We have placed developing networks at the heart of our success. Working with third level universities across the country, COVID-19 has allowed us to support WiSTEM student groups, working with their members on career development strategies, highlighting opportunities in industry and helping them build strong relationships with their future colleagues. In order to further drive engagement with this important group and building on the success of the Leadership Series that took place earlier this year, planning is now well underway for a Student Series. This will spotlight the wide variety of careers available in STEM. Women in Technology & Science Ireland are working with the Department for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science (DFHERIS) on an initiative, called ‘Her STEM Skills: An Expert Think-In for Action’, to bring together a select group of academic and industry stakeholders with a national and international STEM reach. The purpose of the event is to spotlight initiatives that have funding to support more women into STEM careers and identify new ways of driving career and skills development. The focus of the think-in is to develop new collaborations and partnerships, advancing existing initiatives and ideation around some future opportunities. This is an action focused session that will allow senior decision makers advance this important agenda. The first of these sessions will take place later this month and will be attended by senior decision makers.

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How schools are helping inspire the future for girls in STEM An annual campaign is helping to promote engineering and the importance of the profession to children in Ireland. It enables all secondary schools to inspire the next generation of engineers and excites students about the possibilities a career in engineering can offer.

ECD figures indicate that in Ireland just 14% of bachelor’s graduates from engineering-related programmes are women. Since 2012, St Mary’s College (an all-girls’ mixed ability secondary school in Derry, Northern Ireland) have participated in the STEPS Engineers Week initiative with the key goals of encouraging their students to make informed subject option choices and to inspire increasing numbers of their students to enter STEM career pathways. There are many local STEM employers in the area who recruit new engineers regularly and St Mary’s College are dedicated to giving their girls the opportunity to enter the engineering industry.

In 2020, 90% of students surveyed felt that they were very interested or quite interested in engineering careers after the event. Collaboration is key Throughout the week, St Mary’s college host major events to promote engineering as a career for women. Students participate in engineering challenges and projects; attend fun engineering shows; visit local engineering companies and thirdlevel colleges for tours of their engineering facilities and gain an insight into the careers available. Coordinated by Mrs Clare Doherty, Head of Technology and Design at St Mary’s College, numerous engineering companies support the annual event as well as past pupils who now work in the engineering sector. In 2020, 35 visiting engineers, 20 employers and five third-level course providers attended St Mary’s College and more than 2,500 students took part in activities.

Andrea Johnson Chairperson, WITS (Women in Technology & Science Ireland)

Image provided by STEPS

Re-writing the narrative There has been a definite change in the attitude of students towards engineering at this all-girls school because of the focus on engineering careers for one week annually to increase their awareness. Evaluation of data has been completed and analysed since 2011 which conclusively shows there has been an increased awareness among all students of the many and diverse range of engineering and STEM careers available. In 2020, 90% of students surveyed felt that they were very interested or quite interested in engineering careers after the event. Parental interviews show an increased awareness and understanding of the opportunities a career in STEM offers their daughters. Past pupils are employed in several engineering jobs locally in companies including E&I Engineering, AE Global, Seagate, Bemis Healthcare Packaging, Gallagher & McKinney Engineering, Northstone and Terex.

STEPS Engineers Week 2022 takes place from the 5th – 11th March. The STEPS team will have free resources, including engineering activities, shows and documentaries available for young people to explore the creative world of engineering. For more information, visit engineersireland.ie/schools/engineers-week

Roseanne O’Leary Team Leader STEPS

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A powerful reason to work in energy The changing face of the energy industry affects everyone. These two women are playing an active role in this transformation.

I Doireann Barry Head of IT Strategy & Emerging Technology , EirGrid

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reland’s energy sector is going through a period of unprecedented change and EirGrid, the company that runs the national electricity grid, is at its forefront. Through its strategy, “transforming the power system for future generations,” the company is enabling a fundamental shift to clean, renewable electricity. Specifically, its goal is to change the power system so that at least 70% of electricity consumption in Ireland comes from renewable sources by 2030. This transformation involves opportunities for women who would like to work in STEM. Doireann Barry, Head of IT Strategy & Emerging Technology, and Sheila Nolan, Senior Lead Engineer, Future Markets, both work at EirGrid in Dublin, which has a strong commitment to attracting females to join the group. Doireann says: “EirGrid has a history and culture of enabling women and I have had strong role models all around me throughout my career. In my current role as a head of function in IT, I help to incubate cutting-edge new technologies and shape our digital vision and strategy, so our employees are enabled to deliver innovative solutions to achieve our business ambitions.” Doireann has worked in the engineering sector for over 20 years. At EirGrid she has taken part in initiatives to support women, acting as a mentor and championing International Women’s Day events. The company also seeks to help its female employees through a range of

initiatives, including education support and family friendly initiatives that enable females to balance their work and home lives. Qualities needed to work in STEM Sheila has also worked in STEM for years and has a very clear view on the qualities needed. “To succeed it is critical to be able to think logically, to work with numbers and make decisions based on data, as well as the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively,” she says. “If a person has those qualities, there are huge opportunities,” she says. “It is hugely exciting to be involved in the energy sector at the moment, particularly with the significant transition that is underway from fossil fuels to renewables,” she says. “My main role at the moment is very forward looking, with clear focus on 2030, studying the power system of the future.” So, what advice would she give women entering the field? “The same to women and men,” she says. “Think about your interests in school and your extra-curricular and try to marry the two. Then remember that STEM skills are inherently transferable and, wherever and however you start, it is the skillsets that you develop that are important and they are what will open up a huge number of opportunities. You will not be confined to one specific role, but doors will open where you can make an impact and create meaningful change.”

Sheila Nolan Senior Lead Engineer, EirGrid

Find out more at eirgridgroup.com/ about/careers/

Why opportunity knocks for women in engineering and construction Two women working at the sharp end of the engineering and construction industry explain why they joined the sector, what their jobs entail — and why they love what they do.

Jackie Quigley Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Dornan

Jackie Quigley, Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Dornan

Sorcha O’Sullivan, Apprentice Electrician, Dornan

Jackie — a biomedical engineering graduate who has a master’s degree in engineering with business — joined engineering and contracting group Dornan in November 2020. She is based at the company’s prefabrication facility in Coventry, UK, and manages a team of engineers.

Sorcha, who has a degree in psychology, joined Dornan in October 2020 and is based in Cork. Her four-year apprenticeship is in electrical instrumentation.

How long have you been interested in engineering? My dad has a dairy farm, so I’ve always been practical — although I went to an all-girls’ school so didn’t know much about engineering and construction! In my sixth year, I had a chat with a guidance counsellor who opened my eyes to it. It’s a male-dominated industry. Did that concern you? I’ve always been surrounded by men, so it has never fazed me. The guys here are great and very accepting. What do you like about your job? The variety. I can spend four hours at my desk looking at mechanical specs, then another four with a spanner in my hand helping the guys on the workshop floor. What we build varies, too. Recently we built an entire chilled water plant room.

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From the classroom to the boardroom: Building alliances in STEM

I’m not a ‘woman in science’, I’m a scientist I never really thought about having a “career in STEM” – I just followed what I enjoyed doing. I always liked asking questions and trying to figure things out. Science has allowed me to do that.

How can we make better use of our resources and ensure that our inputs into STEM and gender progress activities lead to better outcomes?

y parents always said: “the world is your oyster” I took that to heart and never thought about barriers. I just did what I do: ask questions, try and find answers and then move on to the next puzzle (occasionally leaving a broken radio in my wake when I couldn’t put it back together!) I was one of the first generation of my family to get a degree but that was just the start; I still had lots of questions and wanted to keep going, so I did.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, that’s how we learn best. Don’t be afraid to fall down, it’s the getting back up that’s the most important. Finding role models While studying for my doctorate under Professor Finian Martin at University College Dublin, Ireland, I met one of my role models, mentors and best friends; Dr Ruth McMahon. Ruth was tenacious, if something didn’t work, she would figure a way around, over or under the obstacle and it would get done. That’s what you need in science – a lot of grit, almost obstinate determination and a great dollop of hard work. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, that’s how we learn best. Don’t be afraid to fall down, it’s the getting back up that’s the most important. Looking beyond limitations I don’t see myself as a “woman in science.” I’m a scientist. That, to me, is the norm. There should be no barriers to what you can achieve because of who you are, so never look to the limitations, look beyond them. Through the pandemic response, we have seen how “the impossible” became “the reality” achieved through collaboration, hard work and imagination. We’ve shown that when we work together, we can achieve the impossible. We need to remember that hard-learned lesson to keep the future bright.

Teresa Lambe Associate Professor, University of Oxford

Gillian Harford Country Executive 30% Club Ireland

Karolina Pietkiewicz Communications Lead, Connecting Women in Tech

e are very fortunate in Ireland to have two things in abundance – companies that are genuinely committed to initiatives that increase the pipeline for diverse talent in STEM careers; and groups of volunteers that willingly give their time to make this happen. How do we make sure we do this in a way that makes the best use of these important resources? This is the question we asked recently in a discussion between CWiT (Connecting Women in Technology) and the 30% Club, a global campaign supporting greater gender balance in senior decision-making roles. We came up with three great answers. Find your niche and excel With so many initiatives directed towards the STEM agenda, all equally valid, it can become a scatter gun approach. Working out what you do best, and doing it really well starts to drive results. For CWiT, we have a strong in-school presence through programmes including Digital Futures, Teen Turn and we work with third-level students within Tech Starter. Within the 30% Club, our focus is on building a senior pipeline within businesses so a strong focus on mentoring, scholarship programmes and board ready initiatives. Collaborate rather than compete Companies, and their people, only have so much bandwidth to support initiatives, so we can help our CEOs in allocating resources when we come together to ask for help rather than competing separately for airtime. When

we came together, we found that of the 20+ companies supporting CWiT, almost all were also part of the 270 companies supporting the 30% Club – so a great opportunity to collaborate on key topics.

With so many initiatives directed towards the STEM agenda, all equally valid, it can become a scatter gun approach. Working out what you do best, and doing it really well starts to drive results. Find areas of mutual partnership While finding a niche is important, so too is finding areas that work at a mutual level. The DCU STEM Teacher Intern programme is something we already work on together and by pooling our resources we’ve grown the programme from 6 placements a year at the outset to almost 50 this year. We’ve identified great opportunities to work together in a new alliance to drive gender progress in tech roles. Between us, covering STEM from the classroom to the boardroom!

For more information contact Gillian Harford, 30% Club Ireland or Karolina Pietkiewicz CWiT Communications Lead.

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Empower, educate and mentor for STEM Women are still under-represented in STEM. What is being done to help improve female representation in the industry?

T Alana Storan Senior Manager, Advisory Consulting, PwC WRITTEN BY Virginia Blackburn

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he face of STEM is changing: after years of effort, a greater number of women are entering the industry, but preconceptions persist that this is not a career for females. Many firms are actively encouraging women to get into tech these days. One of them is PwC Ireland, which has established a Women in Tech network that is led by Alana Storan. “The purpose of the network is to empower, educate and mentor women,” she says. “We want to provide support and encourage open discussion. Currently, only 5% of leadership positions in the tech industry are held by women and we want to show that the industry offers opportunities for people with a problem-solving mindset and a broader set of people skills beyond pure tech expertise.” Alana feels positive about the future. “There’s a lot more awareness now of having more women in tech” she says. Digital disruption While PwC is supporting a number of initiatives to drive Diversity & Inclusion, they are also facilitating digitalisation disruption. “PwC has made a huge investment in technology upskilling, globally committing over US$3 billion over four years, and in Ireland aiming to be the leading digitally enabled professional services firm.”

Professional support Megan Maguire is a co-founder of the Women in Tech network. “When I was a teenager, I had the preconception that tech was a male dominated industry with little teamwork involved,” she says. “There were no female role models and I didn’t consider a career in tech. Since I left school, there are new subjects on the curriculum, including Engineering and Computer Science, which Megan Maguire gives students a greater insight.” Senior Associate, Even so, Megan plucked up the courage to apply to PwC. Advisory Consulting, PwC “We had a number of companies come and speak to us. I envisaged working in a problem solving and technology focused career: I applied to the firm, was interviewed by a male and female panel and received an offer that week.” Working in technology today involves working with others in teams solving problems and Megan feels she has been supported throughout her career. “In line with its values, supporting diversity across all disciplines is a key ambition for PwC. You are given a career coach to guide you through your career path. For International Women’s Day we ran a Women Who Lead Campaign. It turned out to be the most successful campaign to date for PwC Ireland, with over 500 nominations.” Find out more at pwc.ie

in environmental biotechnology and sustainability, and it’s so exciting to be a part of that progress.

STEM brings people together at the frontier of sustainability and innovation

R Paid for by NUI Galway

Find out more at stories.nuigalway. ie/women-in-stem/

esearchers and educators from different backgrounds are coming together to tackle the big problems of this century. Women across STEM are working to understand and shape the world around us, with the aim of creating a better and more sustainable future. Two researchers in the College of Science and Engineering at NUI Galway are working at the forefront of sustainability and innovation. Dr Alma Siggins, Microbiologist, NUI Galway After my Leaving Cert, I studied for a microbiology degree at NUI Galway, followed by a PhD also in Galway. I became fascinated by how microbes, like bacteria, in the environment can actually be used to our advantage, such as in cleaning polluted soil

and water. My research is a little different as it blends both science and engineering to find sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. With this approach I can start with scientific discoveries and continue right through to technology development. It’s very rewarding to see my research having a real impact on the health of our environment. As many countries face similar environmental challenges, I have had opportunities to travel all over the world and work with some incredible researchers. As well as shorter trips within Europe, I spent six years in New Zealand, before bringing that knowledge and experience back to Ireland. This international, collaborative approach is driving huge advances

Dr Magdalena Hajdukiewicz, Civil Engineer, NUI Galway I am a chartered engineer investigating the carbon footprint of buildings and how they impact people’s health and comfort. I have always had a curious mind and liked trying new things. I always had to understand exactly how things work, and was better suited to problem solving than repetitive tasks or learning by heart. I graduated as a civil engineer in Poland and continued my postgraduate studies at NUI Galway. I have studied how poorly designed and how uncomfortable buildings can be. For example, one in six Europeans live in homes that make them sick and buildings account for 36% of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions. That’s when I realised that the sustainable built environment was an area in which I wanted to investigate more and make an impact. Bringing together science and engineering is critical in meeting major challenges, such as climate change, the energy crisis and biodiversity loss. We are both members of the Ryan Institute at NUI Galway, which allows scientists and engineers to work closely together, solving problems and innovating for sustainable development.

Dr Magdalena Hajdukiewicz Civil Engineer, NUI Galway

Dr Alma Siggins Microbiologist, NUI Galway

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We aim to improve diversity and inclusion in science, by broadening participation both geographically and amongst less represented voices in science.

A commitment to fostering inclusivity across the STEM sector Equality should be promoted at every stage of the career path. New initiatives are helping to make STEM accessible to all.

A Dr Ruth Freeman Director Science for Society, Science Foundation Ireland

s an organisation, we are continuing to build upon our significant work to improve gender balance, equality, diversity and inclusion across the research ecosystem in Ireland. We support many fantastic women researchers and in collaboration with the higher education sector. We have made progress in recent years, in 2015 only 21% of researchers who were awarded grants from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) were women. By 2020, 29% of SFI award holders were women and 38% of the scientists employed and trained on those grants were women. But equally we recognise that there is still much more to do. Improving diversity throughout career paths Early this year we launched our new strategy – Shaping Our Future. This recognises the need to improve equality, diversity and inclusion, including gender diversity, at all stages of the research career path. A key part element is the need to increase engagement with under-served and underrepresented communities to understand and remove the barriers that exist to undertaking careers in STEM. Through our commitment to education and public engagement we aim to improve diversity and inclusion in science, by broadening participation both geographically and amongst less represented voices in science. Some of the initiatives supported recently target a wide range of ages including young children, teens and adults as well as some initiatives designed for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and attending DEIS schools and those living with sight loss.

An example of some of our recent initiatives: • Irish Sign Language STEM Glossary Project National Expansion. This project aims to promote and support STEM education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) people by developing an agreed lexicon in Irish Sign Language for STEM terms. The absence of agreed signs for STEM vocabulary inhibits the teaching of STEM subjects at all levels of education and presents difficulties for those working in interpreting. • Girls Coding – CodePlus seeks to address this imbalance by encouraging, facilitating and providing opportunities to teenage female students to engage with computer science. This project includes an expansion to the Galway and Limerick areas, in addition to the Dublin based activities funded under the SFI Discover Programme in previous years. • Science 4 Sight Loss. The co-creation group and planned workshops will help stimulate engagement and curiosity in STEM, provide insights into STEM-related careers and inspire this underrepresented group to have confidence in their ability to tackle the barriers of diversity and inclusion in STEM. Across all areas where we have engagement and programmes we remain committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion in the STEM sector. Working with those in the sector we hope to make significant improvements and impact over the coming years.

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Why diversity enhances creativity and productivity Three employees from leading medical device company share their career journeys in STEM so far and how increasing diversity across the industry can help provide better solutions for all.

Philippe Le Tutour, Director of Manufacturing Engineering & Sponsor of STEM Program at Boston Scientific Galway How does female participation in STEM contribute to your work? Having diverse teams helps to foster meaningful innovation which is one of our core company values. When it comes to problemsolving, process improvement, new therapy development etc our increasing number of female STEM professionals at all levels bring varied perspectives that enhance creativity, productivity and the culture of the organisation. What do you think can be done to increase the uptake of STEM by females? Research by our STEM team shows that early intervention is a key enabler. This is why we tailor our STEM activities to focus on children in 5th and 6th class. Making STEM meaningful and building confidence in girls to pursue these subjects is key to increasing the uptake of STEM by females. One of our key STEM programs is providing information to students and their parents to encourage subject choices aligned with STEM careers. Our female STEM professionals actively support these activities and become role models that inspire the next generation. Recruitment policies on pay equity and gender diversity ensures the next generation of innovators enjoy the benefits of having more females in STEM.

Fiona Deegan, Production Team Leader, Boston Scientific Cork Why did you decide to pursue a STEM career path? From a young age, I was interested in maths, and this helped my decision to do Mathematics through Arts in UCC. I also loved working with people so in finishing my degree I looked for a job where I could apply these skills too. I applied for the Graduate programme at Boston Scientific as the criteria met what I was looking for. Describe your current role I have been working here for the past two years, only recently finishing the Boston Scientific Graduate Programme. I am a Production Team Leader managing the Product Builders who manufacture the medical devices, while also supporting the Manufacturing and Quality Engineers in the area. I thoroughly enjoy this role as I can apply the skills I learned throughout my degree while also continuously learning through problem-solving and process improvements. What is one piece of advice you would give to a young girl looking to pursue a STEM career? My advice would be to pursue your passion and this will lead you in the direction you want to go in the future.

Philippe Le Tutour Director, Manufacturing Engineering, Boston Scientific Galway

Fiona Deegan Production Team Leader, Boston Scientific Cork

Eithne Lynch Senior Process Development Manager, Boston Scientific Clonmel

Eithne Lynch, Senior Process Development Manager, Boston Scientific Clonmel Why do you think is it important to have women in STEM? There are many cases of technological development that could have been greatly enhanced by the inclusion of a diverse thought process and mindset which is brought about by the inclusion of women in STEM. A different perspective can add to the development, design, and ultimately, the success of a given product, which is advantageous to the company and the customer and in our case, the patient. How can women help to increase young girls interest in STEM? Quite often, girls don’t have role models of women who work in STEM in their direct families and so they can’t imagine what a career in STEM is like. I know from my own two daughters (10 and 12) that the interest is there at an early age but maintaining that without role models is difficult. Visiting primary schools and letting young girls know that engineering, science or maths careers are open to them is really important to keep the interest levels up through the transition to secondary school – see it to be it! What do you enjoy most about your role? Since joining Boston Scientific Clonmel 15 years ago, I have worked across a number of departments and I am continually learning and developing new skills while progressing my career. Visit: jobs.bostonscientific.com

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Supporting female leaders is a key driver of innovation and growth The medtech and engineering industries are tackling horizontal and vertical segregation in STEM careers by sharing best practice and industry foresight through a business group.

Ciara Finlay Medtech and Engineering Senior Executive, Irish Medtech Association

omen represent the largest pool of untapped labour in the world. Our ambition is to make Ireland a world leader in gender leadership for STEM. We are driving this work through the Ibec Medtech and Leadership Development Taskforce. Established in 2017, the taskforce set the goal of increasing the number of women working in medtech, polymer technology, and engineering and progressing into leadership. Inspiring girls, supporting female leaders Ibec research revealed that the number of women at head of function level for manufacturing dropped from 15% in 2001 to 3% in 2018 compared to other sectors like HR and finance. To tackle this, we set out our strategy of ‘Inspiring girls, supporting female leaders’ strategy with business case studies from a number of leading organisations. In the report we identified three key capabilities:

Career guidance: Facilitating business engagement in educational initiatives and encouraging girls to pursue STEM subjects.

Diverse slates: Holding senior leaders and hiring managers accountable while encouraging them to actively pursue hiring from under-represented groups.

3 Flexibility: Encouraging companies to adopt flexible

Additionally, the Irish Medtech Skillnet developed the ReLaunch programme to help female returners develop career goals, self-confidence and pitch themselves to progress in the workplace. The Ibec ‘CEO Survey Priorities 2021 – 2024’ revealed that 76% ranked ‘promoting an inclusive culture in their organisation’ as very important/important. However, the Ibec HR Update, October 2020, revealed that one in 10 (9%) expect to have difficulties retaining female staff following COVID-19. Policy priorities for the future As we look to the future, businesses will continue to invest in supporting better representation and we are calling on policymakers to create right environment for gender equity with recommendations to: • Make gender leadership a priority: Tackle challenges such as occupational segregation; gender stereotyping; division of caring responsibilities; and the gender imbalance in decision-making. • Support labour market participation: Don’t disincentivise work with unfair tax treatment of second earners in married couplesand invest in measures to address the lack of affordable childcare. • Don’t cut girls off from careers: Expand subject choices in secondary school, currently subjects like engineering are more likely to be offered in boys or mixed schools.

working programmes and measure employee impact of these policies. The Ibec Medtech and Leadership Development Taskforce is led by Chair and Alcon Ireland Site Head and General Manager Jackie Murphy and Vice Chair and Medtronic Senior Product Development Director Ronan Rogers. It brings together members of the Irish Medtech Association, Polymer Technology Ireland and the Ibec Engineering Network.

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STEM skills deliver rewarding medical devices careers At West, a global leader in innovative solutions for injectable drug administration, 37% of global team members are female and its Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) aims to attract more women. Here two women discuss why and how they got into their STEM careers.

Emma Kennedy Senior Specialist, Value Stream Lead, West Pharmaceutical Services WRITTEN BY Linda Whitney

Find out more at westpharma.com

Q: How did you get into in the medical devices industry? A: Emma Kennedy, Senior Specialist and Value Stream Lead says: “I never imagined I’d work in this industry. At school I didn’t have a clear career in mind, but I liked science and problem solving so I researched engineering, then I completed a mechanical engineering degree. We did modules on all kinds of engineering and I chose to use my engineering skills to work in medical devices.” Q: What is your favourite thing about working in medical devices? A: Emma: “It’s rewarding because our products improve patients’ lives – including my mam’s. I also like solving problems and working with a diverse team and it’s fun!” Q. Did you ever think you would have a career in STEM or medical devices? A: Mary Mulcahy, Quality Engineering Manager at West: “At school I didn’t know what STEM was, but I liked home economics, so I studied food science at college. I soon discovered that a science degree was a key to a broad range of careers. I have worked in technology and engineering and now help ensure the quality of components used by patients, which means my work is making a difference to people’s lives.”

Q: Do role models help inspire girls and women into STEM careers? A. Mary: “Yes, I think it’s important for young women to see other women in STEM roles, as it will encourage them to consider STEM careers.” Q. Could more be done to encourage school-age girls into STEM? A. Mary: “I recently returned to my old school to talk about my STEM career. We need to see that happening at all schools around the country. I think interaction between women with STEM careers and school-age girls will certainly have a positive influence. At school I thought all science careers meant laboratory work, but I soon found that STEM skills do not limit you to one kind of role and it’s important to understand that when considering career options.” Q. Why should more women think about a career in medical devices? A. Mary: “Many people know very little about careers in the medical device industry and STEM in general, so women don’t hear enough about how rewarding the work can be. More businesses within the industry should be sharing information about the opportunities these careers on offer.”

Making a difference in a male world: A female perspective in engineering

including Croatia, Belgium and the States.” Yvonne was not so concerned about male domination: “Some men doubted me but that was down to them, not me. And adding the female dynamic can be very beneficial. You just have to be willing to learn.” She also loves the variety: “No two days are the same. You may be playing a small role yourself but you are making changes, for example by working in life saving projects. And I love passing on my experience to others.” Of course this could not be more topical: the pharmaceuticals and vaccines industry crop up in talking to both Yvonne and Elaine.

Female school leavers have more opportunities than ever before and a career in engineering is one of them. Here is what they could be looking at.

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or the latest generation of women currently leaving school, engineering may not be their first choice of career, but for many it should be. Traditionally seen as a male field, it actually offers huge opportunities for women, as Yvonne Lynam, HSE Director, Advanced Facilities, Jacobs and Elaine Clarke, Project Engineer, Jacobs, can both attest. “I was interested in science and maths at school,” says Elaine, “and I was advised to study engineering. I’d been at an all girl’s convent school and it hadn’t been factored in at all. But when I was 17 I had a good maths teacher and I enjoyed problem solving, so he suggested I apply.”

Yvonne had a slightly different way in. “It’s not that I chose the career but it chose me,” she says. “I left school at 17 and started in admin for Jacobs and I enjoyed the site work, but I looked at the men around me and knew I could do that. So I went back for a part time qualification. Previously I’d had a brief exposure to metal work and technical drawing at school but that was it.” Engineering remains a male dominated field: was that a concern? “Yes,” says Elaine frankly. “There were 30 women on my engineering course and 200 men. But it didn’t stop me and I came to love the job because I get to work on different project and different locations,

Mary Mulcahy Quality Engineering Manager, West Pharmaceutical Services

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Yvonne Lynam, HSE Director, Advanced Facilities, Jacobs

Elaine Clarke Project Engineer, Jacobs

Engineering remains a male dominated field: was that a concern? “Yes.” So what would their advice be to female school leavers thinking about a career in engineering? “Do it,” says Elaine. “If you are even thinking about it you have the inclination and you will not be narrowing your options.” Yvonne agrees. “Go for it,” she says. “The industry opens so many opportunities for you. It broadens your horizons, takes you out of your comfort zone and helps you to grow.”

WRITTEN BY Virginia Blackburn

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The sky is the limit in software engineering

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Supporting STEM students to transition into tech careers

Since graduating from university in 1999, Edel Kelly has been working in software development and now works at a global leader in cloud customer experience and contact centre solutions.

uring my career, I have designed enterprise grade applications for multinational companies. I am now responsible for leading a team of talented engineers. We are developing software that is transforming the experiences consumers have when they connect with their favourite brands through artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies. A career in software engineering will provide individuals with high levels of job satisfaction and is suitable to those who enjoy problem solving and creativity. There may be a misconception that a career in software engineering suits men better. If my 20-year career in the industry has taught me anything, it is that it is suitable for everyone and needs more female participation. It is important for women to influence change in the industry and take part in designing and building new technology innovations. A range of options for careers in technology There are a variety of roles in technology, making it a rich and varied career option. Software engineering has evolved over the years and covers topics from user experience design to development. It is a collaborative discipline that will see people with skills in coding, design and data analysis create the next generation of business applications, or the next big social networking application. The sky really is the limit. Those considering courses in computer science can look forward to a rewarding career upon graduation. Whether the goal is to stay closer to home or have an international career, software engineering is one that can fulfil these objectives. In the IT industry, there is a lot of change and every day I continue to learn and grow my skillset. Companies, such as Genesys are seeing continued growth, in Ireland the company is aiming to have 300 staff by the end of 2022. For graduates, and women in particular, the opportunity to design and build the next generation innovations in AI that transform customer experiences is here and one that will lead to a rewarding and prosperous career.

Edel Kelly Senior Development Manager, Genesys

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A diverse workforce is the key to unlocking innovation and inclusion in the industry. We’re encouraging STEM students to consider tech as an attractive career choice.

he continuous growth of STEM industry jobs means an increasing demand for experts. Although Ireland has the second highest percentage of STEM graduates per 1,000 students in the EU, the percentage of females within that group remains low. A recent study found that 40% of female engineering graduates never enter careers in related fields, similar patterns occur in other STEM courses.

By inspiring new generations of students to take up STEM careers, we contribute to building a more inclusive and diverse workforce in the Irish technology sector. Retaining female talent in the industry Connecting Women in Technology (CWiT) is committed to building a diverse and inclusive technology sector. Our goal is to attract and retain more diverse talent to study and work in STEM. In 2019, in partnership with Hardwired.ie, we launched our flagship programme Tech Starter to present the plethora of career options in the tech sector to university graduates. The objectives of the programme are to reduce STEM dropouts and increase the number of graduates in technology professions. The programme started as a series of panel discussions, during which speakers shed light on their own experience of transitioning from university to workplace and navigating their career within the industry. We have now expanded to a wide array of activities with member companies and partners from panels or fireside chats to workshops that help develop practical skills.

Unlocking the potential of a diverse workforce The ‘Why Diversity Matters’ report points out that gender diverse companies are 15% more likely to financially outperform their counterparts. CWiT supports member companies with issues related to recruitment of skilled females to their organisations. By inspiring new generations of students to take up STEM careers, we contribute to building a more inclusive and diverse workforce in the Irish technology sector. This will lead to even greater impact and better results of the organisations that also translates into a socioeconomic development of the country. What’s next? We worked with universities, student organisations and partners to deliver nine events so far. The pandemic forced us to pivot to fully virtual delivery, which turned out to be an excellent opportunity to scale the programme. Our online events record a much bigger audience, as each of them is open to all universities at the same time. It is estimated that ever since the launch of the programme, we have reached over 1,000 students in 2021 only. We are planning a new series of events starting in September 2021.

For more information about Connecting Women in Technology and Tech Starter visit cwit.ie and hardwired.ie

Karolina Pietkiewicz Communications Lead, Connecting Women in Technology

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Huge opportunities are opening up in STEM

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Not many women realise the opportunities a career in STEM can bring. One woman reveals how a love of maths took her into the world of 5G.

O Máiréad Cullen IT Director (CIO), Vodafone WRITTEN BY Virginia Blackburn

ne of the factors that increasingly draws women into engineering is the multiple choices of career it offers. Máiréad Cullen is a case in point. She is the IT Director (CIO) of Vodafone and unlike many of her female peers who became interested in the area, she knew she wanted to work in engineering right from the start. “I was interested in the maths side of it. I didn’t understand exactly what a career in technology involved at that point, but I loved maths and the logic of it.” Her school did not exactly encourage her into a career in engineering per se, but it encouraged her interest in maths,

with some teachers acting as role models. This has led to her communicating her passion for STEM in a number of different ways. “I talk about what I do to colleagues internally,” she says. “Externally, I have taken part in outreach programmes to schools. We make it clear the possibilities of what people can do in the industry: a STEM career sets you up for variety and flexibility in a fast-moving area. I have had a very varied career, moving from 2G to 5G, operating in Networks and in IT domains.” Great variety in work opportunities Máiréad is keen to emphasise the variety involved in what she

does: “No one day is the same. There are lots of exciting things always cropping up. I have never been bored.” And has she been concerned that the industry is so male dominated? “I’ve been very lucky to work in organisations that have been diverse and inclusive,” she says. “I’ve been fortunate not to have experienced significant bias over my career.’’ Máiréad mentions the many paths to take within a career in STEM – technical, management, within small companies and corporations – and the fact that diversity is increasingly important as it helps companies attract the best. She benefitted from mentors over the years and in 10 years time sees herself as a champion for the industry. She is proud her company has played a part in spearheading diversity and inclusion. “At Vodafone, diversity and inclusion matters during all phases of a career including recruitment, promotions and returning from breaks’’ she says. “For example, we have an advanced maternity policy, whereby for six months after returning to work a parent – male and female – can work for four days but get paid for five. We ensure our employees get support.”

The ‘Why Diversity Matters’ report points out that gender diverse companies are 15% more likely to financially outperform their counterparts.

Find out more at vodafone.ie

~Karolina Pietkiewicz, Communications Lead, Connecting Women in Technology

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How your passion for STEM can positively impact millions of people The technology sector provides limitless opportunities for women and girls to break the ‘geek’ stereotype and find a career path in STEM that suits their strengths and interests.

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Deirdre Hogan, Software Engineering Manager, LinkedIn Q: Are there any myths you’d like to dispel about women in engineering? A: There is a perception that computer science is for a particular type of person: a “geek” who has been coding away since they were 10 years old and that it’s often not something girls or women see as being an interesting career choice. It’s a real pity because the field is vast and varied both in technical areas and functional roles, so there is lots of opportunity to find something that aligns with your strengths and interests.

because they didn’t know anything about computer science or software engineering. They were worried that the working environment wouldn’t be friendly to girls. However, now that they can see I’m doing great and I really enjoy it, they are super happy for me.

Deirdre Hogan Software Engineering Manager, LinkedIn

Q: How do you share your passion for STEM with others? A: I’m always happy to share my stories and experiences with people, especially those looking to pursue a career in STEM. I often talk about how I became a software engineer and how amazing it is to be one. I also helped a lot of people progress in their STEM careers by sharing my experiences, doing reviews of CVs and mock interviews, amongst other activities. It’s really rewarding.

Lydia Xu Senior Software Engineer, LinkedIn

Q: What do you like most about your job? A: I really enjoy coding and tackling real-world problems. Figuring out the design of a new system or application, bringing it ‘live’ and seeing its impact on people’s daily lives make me feel proud. Coding itself also calms me down because I become so focused and concentrated on the task at hand.

Elena Vergou Data Scientist, LinkedIn

Elena Vergou, Data Scientist, LinkedIn Q: What do you like most about your job? A: It’s a long list; for the first time in my career, I feel I can be exactly who I am and totally fit in. Additionally, the support and encouragement I’ve received to grow my STEM skills further since I started working at LinkedIn has been amazing.

For the first time in my career, I feel I can be exactly who I am and totally fit in. Additionally, the support and encouragement I’ve received to grow my STEM skills further since I started working at LinkedIn has been amazing.

Q: What do you like most about your job? A: I love the interface between technology and product and getting to work with multiple teams to figure out how best to apply Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning to make improvements in LinkedIn’s products. It’s exciting to see a product or feature that our team has been working on being released and having a positive impact on millions of people. Q: Who has inspired you in your career journey? A: I find it encouraging when I see other women succeed and take on leadership roles in the tech industry; it shows you there is a path forward where others like me have succeeded, and it makes it easier to imagine your own career progression.

Lydia Xu, Senior Software Engineer, LinkedIn Q: What do your family and friends think about your role? A: My parents were nervous initially

Q: In many ways, tech is a maledominated industry, did that concern you? A: I came from finance, which is also male dominated, so that was not really a deterrent for me. I think the only thing that concerned me – which turned out to not be true at LinkedIn - is the stereotype that men are perceived to be more technical. I feared that would impact my working environment but that’s not been the case at all. Actually, all the managers in my team have been women so far, so it’s pretty clear that the culture here of helping people succeed has nothing to do with gender but is more about recognising skill and empowering everyone to be the best they can be. Q: How important is a diverse and inclusive workplace? A: Immensely. I really didn’t imagine that a workplace could be as fun, open, inclusive and progressive as it is here at LinkedIn. I thought that it was just something companies promised because it was the right thing to say but in reality, fell short on action, but at LinkedIn you really feel the sense of inclusion.

Find out more at careers.linkedin. com/Locations/ Dublin