INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY We need to do more at school level, particularly around STEM subjects, to showcase
Are perceptions part of the challenge? Absolutely. If you asked someone to draw an engineer, they’d likely sketch a man in a blue overall and yellow hard hat. Even my sister, who’s grown up knowing I work in engineering, would probably default to that image. We’ve still got work to do in reframing what engineering looks like. The reality is far broader and more creative than people think. What career achievement are you most proud of? Early on, working in core network engineering at Virgin Media was incredibly rewarding – you could see the tangible impact of your work on the backbone network. Later, in a commercial role at Corning Optical Communications, I helped grow the BT Openreach account significantly during the fibre boom. That was a proud moment. More recently, I’ve been involved in graduate recruitment and mentoring at VIAVI. Seeing one of our graduates – who came from a fashion background – now thriving in telecoms is incredibly satisfying. That’s the kind of long- term impact that really matters. How do you see the future for women in the industry over the next decade? I’m optimistic; there’s greater awareness around diversity targets, return-to-work support, menopause conversations, and flexible working. The shift to hybrid and remote models post-COVID has made careers far more accessible, particularly for working parents. We’re also seeing more open conversations around wellbeing and empathy in leadership. That cultural change is significant – and overdue. The more we normalise these discussions, the more inclusive the industry becomes. Where do you see the broadband sector heading more broadly? It’s an exciting time. We’ve seen rapid FTTH buildouts, the rise of altnets, and now consolidation. When I joined Virgin Media, it was the product of dozens of
Did you have mentors along the way? The graduate scheme at Virgin Media had a strong mentoring culture. People like Bill Ironside and Mike Jones were hugely supportive. In fact, I’d say the industry as a whole is supportive of new entrants. It’s still male-dominated, but I’ve generally found people want to help the next generation succeed. That’s been my experience throughout. Have you faced challenges as a woman in what is traditionally a male- dominated industry? Engineering and telecoms are undeniably male-heavy. On my university course, fewer than 10% of us were women. So, in many ways, I’d already grown used to that environment before entering the workplace. There have been the odd comments over the years – often framed as jokes – but nothing that felt like a systemic barrier. I think intent and culture matter. Most colleagues have daughters, families, and genuinely want to see women succeed. That said, challenges can be different for women working in field engineering roles. There’s been positive progress around practical considerations – from facilities access to better policies around health and wellbeing – and that’s encouraging. What do you think would improve opportunities for women in broadband? Awareness. Telecoms isn’t a career many young people – especially young women – actively set out to pursue. I certainly didn’t wake up thinking, “I want a career in broadband.” I fell into it. We need to do more at school level, particularly around STEM subjects, to showcase what careers in telecoms really look like. It’s not just hard hats and digging roads. There’s architecture, planning, design, commercial strategy – the list goes on. Organisations like the SCTE have a real role to play in raising that profile and supporting initiatives such as Ada Lovelace Day and university outreach.
cable companies merging. We’ll likely see similar patterns again. And just when you think the infrastructure is built, something new emerges – AI, hyperscale data centres, new fibre technologies like hollow-core or multi-core fibre. There will always be a next wave. That’s what keeps it interesting. What advice would you give to young professionals entering the industry today? Take every opportunity. Go to trade shows. Visit sites. Join mentoring programmes. Get involved in organisations like the SCTE. Build your network. Don’t get blinkered into one niche too early. The industry is broader than you think, and your career doesn’t need to follow a straight line. Most importantly, aim for work that doesn’t feel like work. There will always be tough days – but if the good outweighs the bad, you’re in the right place. And finally – what would you say to your younger self? I still don’t have a rigid five-year plan. But I’d tell myself this: if you’re getting up in the morning and genuinely enjoying what you do, keep going. Careers don’t have to be perfectly mapped out. Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you didn’t plan for. what careers in telecoms really look like. It’s not just hard hats and digging roads.
Volume 48 No.1 MARCH 2026
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