Booking for this WISE event has now closed.

With a steadily increasing population, the world will always need power and as a result, the Power & Energy sectors offer women the chance for a lengthy and stable STEM career.

Energy could also be considered as the backbone of the Technology industry; technology only works with power, whether that’s from a typical transformer or stored battery power. With the rise of electric cars there is even more opportunity for dynamic thinkers to find new ways to store larger amounts of electricity. Innovation is one of the main challenges in this industry and increasing the number of women in technical roles and with a STEM background could be the key to new, different and innovative ways of thinking.

We will hear from inspirational women from a variety of companies who have forged a career for themselves in the power sector. They will talk about their career choices and experiences in the field, offer some guidance to those interested in a career in the power sector, looking for a new career, or advice on how to progress their own careers. An open panel discussion will follow, offering all attendees the opportunities to ask questions and talk openly about the advantages, challenges and rewards of being involved in a fast moving, competitive field. The programme will conclude with an open networking session.

Speakers

Dr Colette Grundy, Senior Advisor for Advanced Nuclear Technology, Environment Agency
Colette has 20 years’ experience of working in the nuclear industry with BNFL, Nuclear Regulation Group of the Environment Agency, and with the National Nuclear Laboratory as a Laboratory Fellow in Nuclear Regulation where she led the Safety, Security and Safeguards Team.

Colette’s work since 2017 in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Advanced Nuclear Technology, ANT team has contributed to the development of an enabling policy framework to support SMRs and AMRs. In her new role as senior advisor for the Environment Agency, Colette will oversee the next generation of nuclear reactors for the UK.

A mentor for younger people working in the nuclear industry, Colette believes that emotional intelligence, kindness and empathy are skills that should be better recognised and is a strong supporter of continuous professional development.

Meriel Griffiths, Capacity Market Manager, RWE Supply & Trading GmbH (RWEST)
Meriel Griffiths is a manager at RWE with over 20 years’ experience in the energy industry. She has worked for Montagu-Smith & Co Ltd Gas Consultancy, then National Power, then International Power, RWE Npower and currently RWEST CAO). This includes 11 years as an International Fuel Manager (gas supply for new build CCGT projects and M&A acquisitions in countries such as Italy, Spain, Russia, Bangladesh, Mexico, Thailand, etc); Commercial Innovation Business Development Manager (installing temporary gensets on existing sites, trying to develop commercial scale Solar PV projects, trying to develop commercial scale greenhouse project using heat from flue gas from Tilbury 2 biomass project, etc); Capacity Market Manager (RWE enters 8 GW of UK assets into the UK Capacity Market each year) and most recently, setting up and running Edgware Energy Limited, as a licensed UK electricity supply subsidiary of RWEST, and looking after RWEG’s portfolio of Zephyr wind farm power purchase agreements).

Meriel also takes part in local secondary schools careers fairs to talk about careers in the electricity industry.

Amanda French
Amanda, a mechanical engineer, has worked in the nuclear sector for almost 25 years and is both a Fellow of the IMechE and a Member of the Association for Project Management (APM).  She started her engineering career on the Magnox sites before leading inspection and repair projects for continued generation and lifetime extensions across the fleet.

Amanda left Wylfa power station to join the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) in 2005, initially as part of the oversight team responsible for a number of sites, before becoming Head of Portfolio Assurance, where she led work across the whole estate.  During this period Amanda also acted as Vice-Chair for the international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Decommissioning Cost Estimation Group.

After leading changes in project and programme delivery for NDA transport subsidiary INS, Amanda returned to the NDA, focusing on business case production for the Magnox Transition programme, and other government approval requirements.

In the last 12 months, Amanda has been acting Head of the NDA’s Waste Management Programme, overseeing the performance of Radioactive Waste Management Limited, including the Geological Disposal Facility, and the Low Level Waste Repository contract.   She is now concentrating on Magnox reactor decommissioning options.

Amanda’s husband is a Programme Director, and the couple have three boys and a girl.  The eldest two are pursuing engineering careers and the other two still have time to decide; although they are already interested in STEM – day trips nearly always have an engineering bias.

Bola Sangosanya, Electrical Engineer, Renewable Energy Systems Limited
Bola is a Chartered Energy Engineer with over 12 years experience in the Renewable Energy sector covering sustainable power and heat generation, grid and transmission assets and energy policy. Bola’s experience includes design and delivery of fuelled (biomass and waste) generation plants, wind farm projects, and more recently battery storage technology. She started her career with a 3-year consultancy in KPMG which provided baseline commercial and business processes/strategy skills. Bola has a first-class degree in Electrical Engineering (Power Generation) from Tver State Technical University (Russia) and a MSc in Renewables Energy Systems and Technology from Loughborough University.

Outside of work Bola enjoys hiking and exploring the great outdoors, running (recently ran the London Marathon), and loves to experience new cultures hence her travel wanderlust.

Registration – Please book your place in advance
This knowledge sharing event is for Core level and above WISE members who are interested in hearing from career professionals. There will be a particular focus on the Energy / Power sectors but attendees from any industry or background are welcome. Places are strictly limited and admission will be subject to availability. Registration is essential.

Visitors will be required to sign in at reception and be escorted on site.