Julie Verrill, Junior Transportation Technician has been selected in the Top 50 Women in Engineering: Returners and Transferrers, compiled by the Telegraph, in partnership with the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) and in celebration of International Women in Engineering Day.
Julie joined Cundall in 2014 as an assistant in the HR Team. Her involvement in organising careers fairs and liaising with engineers daily exposed her to engineering and the impact it has around the world. Julie’s interest in engineering quickly developed and in 2017, following a short break from the company, Julie re-joined Cundall as a Junior Transportation Technician.
The WE50 campaign aims to raise awareness of the skills shortage facing the industry and the under representation of women currently in engineering professions, to change perceptions and encourage young women to consider engineering as a career choice. Julie is an excellent example of how more awareness of engineering at a younger age may have altered her career path, and one of the reasons she often combines her experience in HR and love of engineering to promote her experience to the younger generation.
Julie said “Changing my career from HR to Engineering wasn’t a decision I took lightly, it meant adapting my lifestyle, going back to college and basically starting from scratch! Having spent two years working alongside engineers from a range of disciplines and sectors and attending lunchtime seminars, I was really inspired by the work they do and the impact they have on communities across the world and I knew this was something I wanted to pursue. I don’t think I could have made the move without the amazing support I have had from colleagues and managers at Cundall, who have been so accommodating. To be recognised by the Telegraph so soon in my engineering career is so overwhelming and to be shortlisted alongside 49 inspiring women is an absolute honour. Everyday brings a new challenge and I look forward to seeing where my career as an engineer will take me.”
Neil McAlpine, Director of Transportation said: “Julie has had a positive impact to the team, brings fresh ideas and looks at problems from new angles to find solutions. This has shown us all different approaches and kept the team innovative, driving us all to improve. Many congratulations to Julie for being recognised in the Top 50!”
You can read more about her career transition in her blog “HR to Engineering (and I lived to tell the tale…)
Julie will be joining WES at the Royal Academy of Engineering on 26 June to receive her award.