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3/14/24, 12:47 PM International Women’s Day Q&A: Heather Butler | World Pipelines
generally, they have been exceptional in their field with a real drive and passion for what they do. It seems that
we still need to normalise the concept of women in engineering. Challenging the status quo can be difficult, and
in some of the more site-oriented engineering fields, the effort of accommodating women can be enough to
make businesses cautious when deciding between candidates.
Q: What advice would you give to women interested in a career in this sector?

A: If anyone wants a career in any engineering field – Go for it. Enter your profession as an engineer with the
expectation and confidence that you belong. Learn from your mistakes and challenge anyone who challenges
you for your gender rather than your skills. Expect to meet many great people and have a lot of fun.

Q: Could you tell me about an interesting project you have worked on or a personal
achievement in your career?

A: There is often a difference between prestigious projects and memorable projects, and some of the projects I
most remember are the ones where we were able to make a significant and immediate impact. For example, we
were called into a half-built power station that was sinking and in danger of falling. We had to devise a way of
getting engineering information in and around the half-constructed buildings and devise a stabilisation solution.
Less than a year later, the buildings were stable and straight, and the project was back on track. I still see it
from time to time, just as I see the offshore wind farms I worked on when I fly back to the UK and the roads and
infrastructure that I, and a whole army of engineers from different disciplines, played a small part in creating.
Q: How do you think we can encourage more women to go into the engineering industry?
And why do you think it is important that more women choose this career path?

A: We have to start with schools and universities. Engineering is such a multi-faceted field, and we need to be
better at getting this across. Companies must ensure they welcome women and realistically challenge
themselves where recruitment and retention are problematic. We need more women in engineering because we
are good at being engineers, and we can make a difference. We need to have diversity and balance across the
engineering disciplines because it is from these different perspectives that the best solutions come.
Q: Have you noticed any recent changes for women in the field and looking to the future, do
you think more will come?

A: By its nature, engineering is constantly evolving. Integration of data, use of remote technology and increased
use of AI and modelling are fundamentally changing the way we do engineering in many fields. This is moving
the focus from the site, increasing flexibility, and potentially opening up more opportunities for women. In the
field, legislation is helping to remove barriers, and companies are beginning to see the advantage of having a
diverse workforce. All in all, I am optimistic that we continue to see positive change.

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