International Women in Engineering Day 2023

At Brimstone UXO, we were proud to celebrate International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) on 23rd June 2023. This annual event recognises the achievements and contributions of women engineers worldwide, while also highlighting the importance of diversity in engineering.

The event, launched in 2014 by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), continues to grow in significance each year. Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in the engineering sector. In the UK, only 16.5% of engineers were women as of 2021. INWED serves as a powerful platform to raise awareness, promote role models, and inspire the next generation of women engineers.

As part of the celebrations, we caught up with two of Brimstone’s own engineers, Dr Sumana Basu, our in-house geophysicist, and Charley Hayler, one of our UXO engineers, to learn about their experiences, the challenges they’ve faced, and their advice for aspiring female engineers.

Spotlight on women in engineering at Brimstone

Dr Sumana Basu – Geophysicist

Dr Sumana Basu plays a vital role in Brimstone’s operations. As our in-house geophysicist, she is responsible for analysing geophysical survey data to detect potential signatures of unexploded ordnance (UXO). Her expertise helps us assess and mitigate UXO risks with precision.

Q: What do you find most enjoyable about your job?
A: “In my day-to-day work, I deal with real field data which, in most cases, are unpredictable and unique in their own way. I enjoy looking at the data and seeing things down within the subsurface which would otherwise not be visible. Working in the UXO industry is directly related to making the world safer, so that makes my job even more enjoyable and satisfying.”

Q: Are there any particular challenges or unusual aspects of your role?
A: “Anyone who has worked with real field data knows how challenging it can be at times. In the UXO sector, we work with data which can directly impact human safety, so being confident in what you do is extremely important.”

Charley Hayler – UXO Engineer

Charley is one of Brimstone’s UXO engineers, working on sites across the UK. She conducts UXO surveys, watching briefs, and search-and-clear operations – all of which play a key role in reducing the risks posed by unexploded ordnance.

Q: What advice would you give to budding female engineers?
A: “Be confident. It can be quite daunting but working in engineering is exciting and you can learn so many skills. Just be confident and hold your own. Go for the goal just like anyone else would.”

Q: What inspired you to become an explosives engineer?
A: “It’s hard to transition from the military into civilian life but being an explosives engineer meant I was able to put the qualifications I’d gained in the military to use. It’s also a gentler transition, as you are still working with like-minded people and others who are ex-military.”

Why International Women in Engineering day matters

International Women in Engineering Day is not only about celebrating the achievements of women in the sector – it’s also about inspiring future generations. Events like INWED challenge outdated perceptions and encourage greater diversity and inclusion in engineering.

At Brimstone, we recognise the value that diversity brings to the workplace. Women in engineering bring fresh perspectives, problem-solving skills, and innovative thinking – all of which are essential to advancing the UXO risk mitigation industry.

Women in engineering: shaping UXO risk mitigation

Engineering is at the heart of everything we do at Brimstone UXO. From explosives engineers working on clearance projects to geophysicists interpreting complex survey data, our engineers are central to providing accurate, effective, and safe UXO risk mitigation.

We are committed to fostering an environment where women in engineering can thrive, and we are proud to celebrate their contributions not only on INWED but every day.

Join Brimstone UXO – careers in engineering

Are you an engineer looking for your next challenge? Whether you’re ex-military or from a civilian background, Brimstone offers exciting opportunities to work in UXO risk mitigation and contribute to making sites safer across the UK.

Explore our current vacancies or get in touch to learn more about careers at Brimstone.

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