Profile
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Emma Fife
Curriculum Vitae
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Education:
Burnside Primary – Craigholme School – Strathclyde University
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Qualifications:
Standard Grades: 6 (A); Intermediate 2: 2 (A); Higher: 6 (A x2, B x3, C x1); Advanced Higher: 1 (C) – BEng Hons Chemical and Process Engineering (2.2), MSc Advanced Chemical and Process Engineering (distinction)
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Work History:
INMEL – Colombia Internship (Energy and Telecommunications Company), Taytech Environmental – QSHE Engineer (Chemical Solutions Company), BAE Systems Weapon Systems – Product Safety and Environmental Engineer, BMT Defence and Security – Safety and Environmental Consultant
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Current Job:
Safety and Environmental Consultant
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Employer:
I currently work for BMT Defence and Security, a consultancy that specialises in supporting the defence industry. With this employer I have been able to work projects for a number of customers that includes the MoD.
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About Me
The quote: "Though she be but little she is fierce" comes to mind...
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I currently split my time, living between Glasgow and the Lake District with my boyfriend. We have two dogs (working cocker spaniels) who are full of energy and love the beach. I enjoy many outdoor activities like mountaineering, bouldering, mountain biking and skiing. Probably the most notable interest of mine is my extreme passion for travelling having travelled, volunteered and worked in a number of different countries that includes: Colombia, Seychelles, Japan and Thailand.
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My Work
I ensure the products used by the military are safe for use and look for new ways to design them to improve safety and environmental implications.
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The defence industry can be very secretive, often with its work classified which has two main benefits:
- No one can ask you what you specifically did that day and;
- You are included in a select group of people with inside knowledge, unknown to anyone else.
A safety and environmental engineer or consultant are often referred to as a “Jack of all trades, master of none”. This means I have to have a broad understanding or most engineering applications i.e. mechanical, software, control, structural etc. to develop a structured body of evidence in support of the product. I can be involved anywhere in a design lifecycle from the concept of a new design to the maintenance of an old one meaning no two days are the same for me, keeping me on my toes.
I have been technical (safety) lead on a variety of tasks focused on military combat systems and explosive safety. For example: I was key in the production of the body of evidence in support of the medium calibre gun on the newly designed Type 26 (see image), capable of long-range firing without a line of sight. Support for this task involved various trips away from Bristol to America.
Additionally, I have been responsible for the safety and environmental maintenance of the AS90 Howitzer (see image) where I have supported numerous assessments that required further product testing.
As a safety and environmental engineer, I am expected to thoroughly check all aspects of design and operation taking consideration of product pressures, stress, fatigue, material wear, noise and vibration (to name a few). Fundamentally, it is my responsibility to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of any military product I work on, without which could result in damage to property or even loss of life.
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My Typical Day: With my role it is difficult to have a 'typical day' however, usually I can arrive to work between 7:30-9am where I spend the day in the office. Usually I have meetings most of the day where we discuss task progress/upcoming tasks. I have lunch with friends and then progress any documentation and prep for the following day.
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One of the main benefits about my role is the variety in work and flexibility in schedule. With this flexibility means I do not have a structured start or end to my day meaning I can organise my day to best suit me.
As I have mentioned above, I am usually an office worker however, due to the nature and responsibilities of my role I do often have to travel for meetings, testing/trials and assessments off site.
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What I'd do with the money
I would use the money to better promote STEM with relevance to defence activities.
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I would put the money towards better promotion of STEM in defence with the creation of defence related experiments that could be taken and utilised as demonstrations within schools.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Opinionated engineer and travel lover.
What's the best thing you've done in your career?
Travelled 1st Class to America to witness a product prototype.
What or who inspired you to follow your career?
I wanted to study a subject at university that would allow me to have a variety of job options when I left as I really did not know specifically what I wanted to do yet.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Chemistry.
What did you want to be after you left school?
A doctor.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Yes! - I used to get told off for falling asleep in class.
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Probably a medical professional of some sort.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Paramore.
What's your favourite food?
Anything with pasta!
What is the most fun thing you've done?
I went for a skydive over NASA's VA building, where they assemble the rockets for launch.
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
1.To be able to travel anywhere in the blink of an eye, 2. To live somewhere sunnier, 3. To have more days off!
Tell us a joke.
What is the definition of an engineer?... Someone who solves a problem you didn't know you had in a way you don't understand.
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