June 2007
Eileen McDermott, a Consultant Engineer at systems and engineering technology company Frazer-Nash Consultancy, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Young Members Railway Division Committee of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
Her new role on the Committee will allow her to reach out to young people and help them to consider an engineering career in the railway industry. She strongly believes that the profile of the industry must be raised – both to retain skilled engineers, and to attract top engineering graduates that the sector increasingly needs.
The Committee exists to address the interests and needs of young engineers in the railway industry by enabling them to meet other individuals and providing support for career development. It also encourages industry support for events such as the annual Young Engineers’ Railway Seminar and training initiatives like the Engineering Passport Scheme.
Eileen said: “The rail sector in Britain is facing several complex challenges for the future such as reducing environmental impact of rail travel, growing passenger numbers and increasing demands on reliability and performance. Meeting this challenge will require enthusiastic and talented young people to enter the industry to find solutions for the future – and I relish the opportunity to support this cause through being on the IMechE’s panel”.
Eileen first became interested in engineering when she spent two weeks during her school holidays on the WISE (Woman into Science and Engineering) Insight programme, shadowing a female engineer. This inspired her to study Product Design Engineering at Strathclyde University and she went on to complete a graduate training programme with Bombardier Transportation.
Last year Frazer-Nash funded a visit to New York, as part of the IMechE Railway Division’s Summer Technical Visit, which allowed Eileen to find out more about how different railways operate in other countries. It was on this visit that Eileen learnt about the role of Chair of the Young Members Committee and considered the opportunities this role would create.
Notes to Editors
Frazer-Nash Consultancy has its roots firmly in Mechanical Engineering, providing systems and engineering technology expertise to its clients across a range of industries from defence, to rail and offshore. |