Cat Connabeer
Senior Production Engineer

What initially inspired you to follow a career in engineering?

My Dad is my inspiration. He’s been an Electrical Engineer for coming up to 50 years and together we would quite often have little engineering projects at home as I was growing up. He’s supported me in my career choices since the start.

Have you faced any obstacles as a woman in your engineering roles?

At the start, as a young female I would get the occasional comment or disrespectful look in the workplace, but the World is forever changing and there is a much better acceptance of women, and diversity in general, in engineering now-a-days. I can’t remember the last time I faced an obstacle in my job because I’m a woman.

How would you inspire the next generation of women engineers to follow their dreams/ or what would you say to them?

If you have a passion or interest in engineering, go for it! There are so many amazing opportunities out there to do all sorts of engineering roles across the World; Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Aerospace, Biomedical, Marine, Nuclear and many more. Don’t let stereotyping put you off because you don’t want to regret not taking the opportunity to do something you love every day.

What do you love most about what you do?

As a Senior Production Engineer I get the best of both Worlds. I get to be involved in the up-front design work with Engineering, but I also get to be hands on with products during prototyping and productionisation, through to supplier support. It’s the best feeling knowing you’re making a difference. I’m also a member of Viper’s Health & Safety Committee, which includes attending quarterly meetings to review processes and continuous improvements, and have a background in Human and Organisational Performance which I apply daily in my role; therefore, I’m pleased to see that the focus for this year’s International Women in Engineering Day is ‘Make Safety Seen’.