This International Women’s Day, we’re shining a spotlight on the talented female engineers in Glanua’s two-year Graduate Programme. These six aspiring engineers are gaining excellent experience through rotations across Design, Build, Operations & Maintenance, Tendering, and Quantity Surveying.
Meet our graduates:
- Jessica Ryan-Cosgrove – Environmental Engineering
- Grace Langley – Mechanical Engineering
- Anna Smith – Mechanical Engineering
- Hawa Saleem – Engineering
- Amy Colton – Physics with Energy and Environment
- Ann Mary Jacob – Electronics and Communication Engineering
We spoke to them about their experiences as women in the water and wastewater sector- an industry traditionally perceived as male-dominated, to hear their perspectives and experience.
Encouraging Engineering in Schools
For most of our graduates, engineering was not actively encouraged at school unless they took the initiative themselves.
Jessica recalled, “It wasn’t encouraged. I went to a mixed school, and I remember Home Economics and Art being suggested to the girls. I went on to study Law at university before switching to Environmental Engineering. I wanted to work in an environmental field and was interested in a technical role”
Grace had a different experience: “We got to try all the technical subjects in first year, like woodwork and technical graphics, which helped us see if we liked them. I definitely think more girls chose those subjects because of that early exposure.”
For Ann Mary “In my experience, even though engineering in general was promoted irrespective of gender in schools, my brain was always fed that construction was not something meant for girls. And as a result, I was also leaned towards the software side of Engineering.”
The group agreed that promoting engineering at both primary and secondary levels would encourage more young women to enter the field.
Choosing a Career in Water and Wastewater
A common theme emerged – water and wastewater careers are not widely promoted at university. While Anna and Grace had exposure to hydraulics, specific water and wastewater modules were rare.
Amy, who studied Science, hadn’t considered engineering until a DIY kit on phosphate removal sparked her interest. “I come from a farming background, and I learned how phosphate pollution affects watercourses. Now, working at Glanua, I see how Science and Engineering go hand in hand. I never considered engineering before, but my science degree is proving to be really valuable.”
Jessica and Amy were the only women in their university classes, which impacted their experiences. “There’s comfort in having other women around,” Jessica shared. However, since joining Glanua, they’ve found strong female role models and a more inclusive workplace. “There are definitely more women in engineering at Glanua than I saw in college, and that’s really encouraging.”
Ann Mary added “Honestly, it was never in my plan but life brought me here in the industry and now I am enjoying it very much. And seeing all the skilled and ambitious women in Glanua, inspires to be more ambitious and develops the feeling of ‘I can’ in every situation that comes up.”
Experiences in the Workplace
Jessica and Amy reflected on their college work placements in construction settings. “I was assigned an admin role immediately, while my male classmate a year below me was sent onsite. “, “Someone also assumed I was the cleaner!” Jessica recalled. Amy shared a similar experience, saying “I was questioned why I was on-site and if I was really qualified to be there.”
At Glanua, they credit excellent role models such as Mariana Filipe, Ruth McKenna, Raksha Melissa Balraj, Catarina Dias, Anne Marie Lynch, Aisling Slattery and Aine Healy for making a positive impact.
“I was truly grateful for the opportunity to work with Mariana Filipe, programme’s design lead for Minor MEICA. It was really encouraging to work with a woman lead who is exceptionally skilled in her role and across the varying areas of the business and has been an incredible support and mentor to me throughout.” Jessica said.
“Seeing Raksha Balraj and Aisling Slattery on-site has been an inspiration and has given me a new perspective on a career in project delivery. The respect they are shown onsite demonstrates the change in the industry,” shared Amy.
And role models extended beyond the workplace. Anna credited her mother, who built a career in the male-dominated pharmaceutical industry, as her biggest inspiration. “For me, it’s always been my mom. Watching her succeed showed me that there were no barriers for me.”
Recommendations for the Future
All six graduates would highly recommend Glanua to aspiring female engineers. “It’s a welcoming environment, and the rotations give us great exposure to all areas of the business. There’s real job satisfaction in water and wastewater—you’re challenged every day.”
Looking ahead, they would love to see:
- More female mentors sharing their experiences.
- Improved access to female PPE and onsite facilities, such as toilets.
- Continued efforts to challenge gender biases in the workplace.
They are committed to being role models for future female engineers and calling out gender biases when they arise. Amy and Jessica have already taken the initiative to attend graduate fairs on behalf of Glanua. “Female students relate to us, and it’s been a really positive experience being on the stand,” Jessica shared.
At Glanua, we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all engineers. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the talent, resilience, and determination of women in engineering and encourage the next generation to follow in their footsteps.