Post by Rheinmetall

This #InternationalWomeninEngineeringDay, we’re proud to spotlight Katherine, Rheinmetall UK’s Engineering Capability Lead and President of the Women’s Engineering Society (#WES). Katherine’s career began through a programme run by the Engineering Industry Training Board, designed to encourage more women into the profession. Starting with a technician #apprenticeship based at the Jaguar Cars training centre, she progressed through a number of automotive engineering companies in Coventry while studying for a BTEC ONC. Growing up in Coventry, a city with strong automotive engineering roots, Katherine was always aware of the opportunities within the industry. Her training programme provided valuable experience across a range of engineering disciplines and organisations, with placements in different departments and companies across the region. Recognising that a degree would be essential to pursue a career in Computer Aided Engineering, she secured a place at Coventry University, where she achieved an Engineering degree, an MSc and a PhD. As a woman in engineering, Katherine has always been aware she is part of a minority group within the profession. Throughout her career she has seen significant progress, with the numbers of women in engineering increasing from less than 4% to over 16%. However, she believes there's still more to be done to create a truly balanced workforce. Her advice to those starting out in engineering is simple: embrace opportunities when they arise. Having worked across different areas of engineering throughout her career, she has always sought to broaden her knowledge and experience. She also emphasises the importance of building a network of allies and supporting each other. This is one of the reasons she became involved in WES, which provides opportunities for engineers from different disciplines to connect, learn and support each other through its programmes, awards and networking events. Her journey highlights the importance of accessible pathways into engineering, ongoing development opportunities, and visible role models. Today, she continues to champion inclusion across the sector, both in industry and through her leadership within WES. Katherine is also a member of the Institution of #Engineering and Technology (IET), and the Institute for Systems Engineering (IfSE) and is an advocate for supporting women into engineering, helping those returning after career breaks, and encouraging progression into leadership roles. She said: “Strengthening diverse perspectives in engineering is essential to building resilient, high-performing teams. We must continue to create clear pathways into the profession, support progression, and ensure women are represented at every level of engineering. Diverse teams perform better and so this is a business imperative.” As her term as President of WES comes to an end in 2026, Katherine remains committed to driving progress for women in engineering and inspiring the next generation.