Profile

It was not until I completed my summer placement in the Environment Agency and doing my Civil Engineering degree that I decided that I wanted to become a Flood Risk Engineer.
When I work in a design office, I provide designs to reduce the risk of flooding and improve benefits to the environment. Before I develop my concept design, I go out on site to investigate and collect design information. I collect design information such as how my concept design can be built safely on site and do not harm the environment. It is important to collect as many design information as possible so that my final design can be built safely, fit for its design purposes, suit the location, on time and within available money.
Sometimes through these investigations, I have to change my designs several times. I have to make sure that my final design are acceptable to the environment, health and safety, owner of the project and member of public. To become a successful engineer, I cannot give up easily, but be willing to learn and improve my skills at a regular basis.  Figure below shows one of my final designs of an earth embankment to protect a community from the risk of flooding:

It is rewarding to know that I am working towards protecting millions of businesses, homes and lives.

When talking and meeting with public, I advise them on what they can do to to reduce the risk of flooding and educate them about the danger of flooding. Not many people know that six inches of rapidly moving flood water can easily knock a person down.
In a design office, I lead a team of engineer technicians who produce engineering drawings using computer-aided design software. I talk to colleagues from other specialisms such as environmental scientist to ensure that my design will not have negative impact on the environment.  These are useful to finalise my design ready for construction.
I always learn something new every day. I research into the latest technology of design, design codes, engineering products, solutions and new methods of construction. I learned a lot from senior engineers, attend lunch time talks, reading from civil engineering news and magazines.

Your votes will allow me to hire the 17m long and 3m high miniature version of Second Severn Crossing bridge kit and arrange to build the bridge at some public locations to raise awareness of the roles of civil engineers.  This activity has been carried out successfully in Wales and I want more people to feel inspired to become an engineer and share this exciting experience (see picture below).

I will involve a local Cub Scout so that they can also learn how to build a bridge using a simple method.  At the same time, wider public will be able to see what civil engineers do first-hand.  It is my hope that through this activity, I can dispel myths that women cannot be engineers, engineers do not have soft skills and that we only repair photocopy machines. This bridge-building activity will be supported by ‘construction ambassadors’ from the Institution of Civil Engineers (watch the video: http://youtu.be/iHSA9HIgZus).