In offices across the world today, collective conversation and shining spotlights will be honing in on International Women in Engineering Day. Our industry is a niche one, and the people nestled within it have a vast amount of knowledge, skill, and talent. Today (and every day!) we’re drawing attention to the women in our team. Engineering is still a male dominated profession, but we’re increasingly seeing an uprising of female talent joining the industry and making an impact. We’re proud to champion women, empower them and highlight their value.
The Women’s Engineering Society (WES, founders of International Women in Engineering Day) started in 1919 after the First World War, when soldiers returned home and reprised their previous engineering roles. In their absence, women had proved themselves to be just as proficient, skilled, and influential. Throughout the 100 years after women were recognised to have astounding capabilities in engineering, WES have strived to provide equality for women in the industry.
The good news is, the tide is turning, and our number of female employees is growing by the day. The industry has a responsibility to inspire the women who stand ahead of us, promoting education and the application of engineering to the future generation.
At AVK, we are committed to driving greater gender diversity and inspiring more women to join and thrive in the data centre industry. We were lucky enough to sit down with some of our team and learn about their experiences navigating the world of engineering. Natasha Hill, our Mechanical Engineering Lead, is “proud to [be an engineer], because there aren’t really that many other women doing it. It’s just a fantastic thing to do that loads of people shy away from”, while Lilly Rankine, our Mechanical Engineer Intern, reflects that “gender doesn’t matter – diversity is nothing but a help to everyone.”
Engineering provides a wealth of career opportunities – it creates the ability to “learn something new each day and challenge yourself… With engineering there are constant learning curves, you’re meeting new engineers each day, and that learning never stops” (Hannah Hoswell-Sims, Project Manager). It’s a rewarding career that benefits the wider society; this is what entices so many young engineers aspiring to enter the industry after education.
“My work contributes to a better society.” – Lilly Rankine
Our Lead CAD Engineer, Megan O’Connor, importantly notes that “you can put a gender in front of it but at the end of the day you’re just an engineer. The job requirements don’t change just because you’re a woman doing it.” This equality is exactly what International Women in Engineering Day strives to create, and every day at AVK sees our internal departments benefitting hugely from the contributions and capabilities of our female colleagues.
AVK is a strategic partner of the Forum for Women in Data Centres (FWD) – we’re proud to support a movement that celebrates women at all stages of their careers. Co-founded by our own Charlotte Berry-Selwood (Chief Delivery Officer) and Lynsey Paltrow (Service Director), the Forum was created to build a strong, supportive community where women can connect, grow, and succeed through mentorship and collaboration. It tackles the lack of a dedicated community in our industry, allowing women the feeling of belonging and support.
Together with FWD, we can break down barriers, challenge norms, and ensure every woman in data centres has the opportunity to lead, influence, and thrive. We’re grateful to the women in our team for working so diligently to defy stereotypes and create a supportive environment within our AVK walls.
If you’re eager to learn from inspiring women in construction and engineering, our team at AVK is undergoing rapid growth and would love to hear from you. Explore our opportunities and work with the best.