Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day

International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) marks a significant moment to celebrate and recognise the extraordinary contributions of women in engineering. Organised by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), this annual event emphasises the importance of women in this field and aims to inspire future generations. This year’s theme, #TogetherWeEngineer, highlights how collaboration drives innovation and excellence.

At NESO, we’re committed to supporting women in engineering, showcasing their achievements, and encouraging more young women to pursue careers in this dynamic field. Here are some inspiring women at NESO who are leading the way to a better future in the energy industry and engineering.
 

Shubhi Rajnish: Leading digital transformation

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Shubhi Rajnish, Chief Information Officer at NESO, has always been passionate about problem-solving. Her journey from civil engineering to software engineering shows the power of adaptability and innovation. Shubhi has been instrumental in driving digital transformations, focusing on sustainability and the integration of AI. Her leadership in launching the Connections Portal and expanding our data analytics platform showcases her commitment to engineering excellence.
 

Anna Carolina Tortora: Pioneering the Digital Energy Sector

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Anna Carolina Tortora, Head of AI, GB Energy Industry Digitalisation and Innovation, is leading Great Britain’s journey to a digitalised energy system. Inspired by her dream of becoming an astronaut, she transitioned to aerospace engineering and has since been a driving force behind the creation of the world’s first Digital Energy Sector. Anna’s ability to apply high-level STEM concepts to real-world problems underlines the creative and versatile nature of engineering.
 

Hannah Kernthaler: Navigating Power Systems

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Hannah Kernthaler, Head of Power Systems & Power System Manager, has followed in her father's footsteps with a unique twist. Despite initially resisting a career in electricity, her background in mechanical engineering has not held her back. Hannah is proud of her role in maintaining power system security and thrives on cross-functional collaboration to ensure homes and business across Great Britain have a secure and reliable supply of electricity.
 

Natasa Dinic: Leading with diversity

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Natasa Dinic, Head of Power Systems, System Operations, broke new ground when she became the first female Operational Manager in our Electricity National Control Centre. Her work on the Distributed ReStart project highlights the importance of diverse expertise in tackling complex engineering challenges. Natasa’s leadership has paved the way for a more diverse workforce with three more female Power System Managers and an increasing number of female Operational Managers and engineers at NESO.
 

Bridget Hartley: Leading on regional planning with a diverse perspective

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Bridget Hartley, Head of Regional Energy Strategic Planning, brings a wealth of experience from various engineering roles. Her strategic approach of delivery emphasises the integration of engineering with environmental, economic, political factors and of course, the people. Bridget's leadership in building a diverse team focused on regional strategic energy plans is a testament to her visionary approach to engineering.

Cathy Fraser: Crafting the future of energy

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Cathy Fraser, Head of Market Requirements, has always been fascinated by how things work. One of Cathy’s career highlights has been playing a key role in developing the GB Restoration Standard, showcasing her ability to break down complex problems and build comprehensive solutions. Cathy is passionate about continuous improvement and sustainable energy and believes engineering excellence is thinking widely, broadly and diversely around a problem – being curious to explore ideas but absolutely being focused on delivery and improvement.

These examples of innovation, leadership and achievement highlight the importance of having a diverse workforce throughout engineering roles. Although we celebrate these achievements today, our inspiring women in engineering roles continue their work every day to develop a sustainable and secure energy future for Great Britain. 

Feeling inspired?

Has reading these stories inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, or join an organisation where you can grow, thrive, and make a real difference? View our roles to start your journey towards joining a purpose-driven, inclusive organisation that nurtures collaboration and innovation, while benefiting from industry-leading training and development.

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