Women in Industry – SUT Oi Session

SUT Women in Industry – Session at Oceanology International 2024.

1430-1530hrs | Ocean Futures Theatre

This panel session will feature women engineers, scientists and technologists from the subsea and wider marine sector sharing insights from their experience and consideration of the present and future opportunities, challenges and solutions.

Speakers:

• Sue John, Chair, SUT – Welcome and Introductions
• Ila Glennie, VP Subsea Operations, BP – Leadership Impact on Women in Industry
• Phoebe Lipp, Offshore Geotechnical Engineer, Arup – Women in Offshore Geoscience from an Early Careers Perspective
• Katie Cross, Principal Marine Consultant, ERM – The Aspiration of an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Kola Otekalu, Human Resources Director – EMEA & India, Oceaneering – Breaking Boundaries: My Career Journey and Insights

Sue John, Chair, SUT – Welcome and Introductions

A varied career and working life have led to my current role as Chair of the Society for Underwater Technology. From joining Barclays Bank and working through their career pathways, I have worked in many areas of South Wales. My next career move was to HMRC which allowed me to access adult education classes which rekindled my interest in science and engineering. Eventually I became a mature student and by the off chance a science communicator who worked in education.

I have worked in all Key Stages, specialising in primary education, but also with universities supporting students and academic staff under- and post-graduates in their outreach programmes. My area of research explored the various roles women played in NACA, [NASA’s precursor administration]. I also examined how they were viewed by their male colleagues and how they viewed themselves

I am a committed volunteer. I am a volunteer Apprentice Master, with the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers, supporting an Arkwright Scholar and I am a Trustee of The Worshipful Company’s Charitable and Educational Fund. I was one of the first Science and Engineering Ambassador, now STEM Ambassadors.

My roles with the SUT have included: Chair of the Education and Training Committee; Committee Chair of the Education Support Fund; SUT Member of Council and Trustee. I was elected the first female Chair of the Society in December 2021.

Ila Glennie, VP Subsea Operations, BP – Leadership Impact on Women in Industry

Ila Glennie is the VP of subsea operations for bp, leading the global operations and engineering organisation that operates and maintains bp’s subsea production systems and manages survey and positioning operations for the company. In her 28 years with bp she has been an engineering leader in operations and on multiple major subsea projects around the world and spent some time as a senior lecturer in subsea engineering at the University of Aberdeen. Ila is a director of bp shipping, a Fellow of the IMechE and graduate of Strathclyde University.

Phoebe Lipp, Offshore Geotechnical Engineer, Arup – Women in Offshore Geoscience from an Early Careers Perspective

Phoebe is an Offshore Geotechnical Engineer currently working at Arup in their Energy Geotechnics team. Her primary focus is on offshore renewables, with particular interest in offshore wind (fixed and floating). Though early into her career, Phoebe has been involved in various phases of windfarm projects, ranging from early feasibility studies and concept development through to decommissioning. Her expertise spans several key areas including Site Characterisation, Ground Modelling, Cable Assessments and Foundation Design. Additionally, she sits on the SUT’s Early Careers Offshore Site Investigation, Geoscience and Geotechnics (ECOSIGG) Committee.

Katie Cross, Principal Marine Consultant, ERM – The Aspiration of an Effective Work/Life Balance

Kola Otekalu, Human Resources Director – EMEA & India, Oceaneering – Breaking Boundaries: My Career Journey and Insights