What is your current role?

I am a Transport Engineer at Energy Systems Catapult. That means I help design and improve the way people and vehicles travel.  I work with lots of different experts, like those who build electric chargers, store energy in big batteries, or create clean power.

When I talk about “transport systems,” I mean everything that has to work together so we can travel safely and smoothly. For example, cars, buses and lorries use roads together and need traffic lights, petrol stations, charge stations and bus stops to keep moving, so everything must work together efficiently and safely. Transport systems are constantly developing, sometimes I'm more of a research engineer, spending a lot of time researching and developing my knowledge.

Most of the time my work is all about vehicles and the energy that powers them. I work on a variety of sustainable transport systems projects that make transport cleaner and better for the planet. Recently I’ve helped to design electric-powered heavy goods vehicles, like tractors, that are fit for purpose but do not emit carbon like traditional heavy goods vehicles that run on petrol or diesel.

Sometimes my work takes me overseas to visit sites where specific vehicles are needed for certain jobs, for example, at mining sites. However, most of the time I work on a laptop from home or at the office.

How does your work contribute to society?

My work is helping to make sustainable transport more accessible for everyone. I have worked on collaborative projects with inventors to help bring their ideas to reality and speed up manufacturing. I have also carried out research for UK and international projects to learn more about how we can use our cars as batteries for home appliances, how we can use electric lorries to supply power to local communities, and studied mathematical models to see how we can make vehicle chargers easier to find and more accessible. 

By thinking about the energy needs for the transport sector now, we can prepare for a shift from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicle systems more smoothly in future.

How did you get into engineering?

When I was growing up, I saw how useful it is to be able to fix things. It saves money, reduces stress, and makes life easier. Engineering felt like the perfect way for me to help my family, solve problems, and also become more independent.

At school I took electronics GCSE and designed a money box with a circuit board which would light up whenever money was put in and it had a thoughtful design in support of a children's charity. This was one of my highest grade subjects and I was really proud of my moneybox and keen to create components with ethical purposes.

My mum inspired me to become independent and resilient. As a teenager, she was the only person I could talk to about my career ambitions and encouraged me to research and find which career I liked the sound of most. She helped navigate my thoughts into finding a career with longevity and a good reputation.

What inspired you to work in the transport sector?

When I was little, I didn’t have much say about what we could watch on the TV on Sundays so my Dad put the Formula 1 racing on. The Formula 1 cars sounded cool and I liked the one who had the same name as me - Kimi Raikkonen. At the time the F1 was shown on the BBC so it was more accessible to watch at home. This boosted my interest in cars.

Later, when I started learning to drive, my mum encouraged me to keep going and I passed on my second attempt. Driving gave me freedom! I didn’t have opportunities to participate in go-karting due to how expensive it is and was at the time. But that feeling inspired me to dive deeper into engineering and transport.

University experience

I decided to go to University to study engineering because it matched what I was looking for; for the first time I could study exactly what I was interested in, move away from home, access new opportunities as an adult and I could fit my part time job around my studying. 

I studied Automotive Engineering with Motorsport at university, it felt like the best decisions to maximise my opportunities in the future. I was new to engineering at the time, by choosing this course I knew there would be chances to switch courses later down the line if I decided to. 

Tips for getting into engineering

Explore as much of the industry as possible to find what might interest you. The industry is broader than it may seem. Finding out what you don’t like is just as helpful as finding out what you do like.

Everything can be learnt with time and dedication. Do not underestimate your potential or limit your dreams. Aim for the stars and you'll reach the moon!