This document profiles several women engineers from around the world and summarizes their careers and experiences. It discusses their educational backgrounds and roles in fields like planning, engineering management, software development, and quality engineering. The women describe finding challenges and enjoyment in solving problems through engineering. They note the importance of following passions and interests in science, technology, and math.

1. Celebrating International
Women in Engineering

2. Alessandra Cantarone
Planning and Logistics Manager
Hartlepool, United Kingdom
“Engineering studies give you the tools
and mentality required to analyse and
solve problems of all kinds, at all levels
and in several types of businesses.”

3. I am responsible for weekly reporting of Planning
and Logistics KPIs to senior management. I work
hard to maintain and improve existing logistics
and planning processes and standard operating
procedures. I am also responsible for demand
Planning and Master Scheduling supervision of
the warehouse team and planning team.
During secondary school I struggled with Maths,
Physics and Chemistry, however I still decided to
attend a high school that was focused on the
scientific subjects. I took it as a challenge and
studied hard to get the maximum scores, and
succeeded.
Alessandra Cantarone
Planning and Logistics Manager
After that I needed another challenge, and
decided to study Engineering because
engineering studies give you the tools and
mentality required to analyse and solve problems
of all kinds, at all levels and in several types of
businesses.
Alessandra has achieved several degrees,
including:
BSc in Environmental Engineering (2:1) –
Polytechnic University of Bari (Italy)
MSc in Civil Engineering (1:1 with distinction) -
Polytechnic University of Bari (Italy)
MSc in Project Management (1:1 with
distinction) – Teesside University (UK)
Hartlepool, United Kingdom
“Engineering studies give you the tools and
mentality required to analyse and solve
problems of all kinds, at all levels and in
several types of businesses.”

4. Lisa Dunn
Production Engineering Manager
Bedlington, United Kingdom
“Every day is different and there’s
always a new challenge to get stuck
into.”

5. I am responsible for Maintenance, Process and
Test Engineering within the Power and Hybrids
unit at Bedlington.
Every day is different and there is always a new
challenge to get stuck into. I get involved in
everything from technical issues, to coaching and
developing our younger engineers.
My parents brought me up to believe I can achieve
anything I put my mind to, but it was my brother
When I was choosing my A Levels, I chose Physics
as it was my favourite subject but always thought
I’d go down the Business Studies route. After
applying, and being accepted into university on a
Business Studies degree course, I realised that I
needed to follow my passion and reapplied to do
Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Lisa Dunn
Production Engineering Manager
Bedlington, United Kingdom
who was the biggest influence in my life. I spent
much of my childhood playing with his Meccano
and Lego, although my favourite-ever Christmas
present was a microscope when I was seven years
old.
Lisa holds a BEng (Hons) in Electrical and Electronic
Engineering and a PhD in Materials Science
“Every day is different and there is always a
new challenge to get stuck into.”

6. Emily Harris
CAD Team Leader
Barnstaple, United Kingdom
“This career path for me, is a way of
life – a natural step if you like. It’s not
about beating the ‘Social Norm’, it’s
about doing something that you enjoy.”

7. My first job was an Electrical and Electronics
Engineering Apprentice. I worked in all areas,
including the drawing office. I liked it, and it
seemed I was pretty good at it too, so the rest is
history really; that was the beginning of my
career as a designer!
I joined TT in 2014 as a CAD Engineer, later
promoted to Team Leader, where today I lead a
team of five CAD Engineers.
I support my team using up to date knowledge
and training for CAD packages in both 2D and 3D
to produce a system that suits set requirements
as well as often overseeing product manufacture
Emily Harris
CAD Team Leader
that is being undertaken on the shop floor.
I assist with any queries that may arise - including
design intent, electronics or mechanical issues.
Customer needs can often be demanding and
client liaison is also key within my role. It is
important for me to understand fully the end
objective and ensure that the results are
delivered in the most effective, efficient and
economical manner.
I enjoy working as an Engineer. There are always
new challenges and products on the horizon to
get your teeth stuck into. For me, it’s a great job
and a career path where you never stop learning.
Ever since I was a child I have always been
interested in how things go together – or in fact
how they go back together, after I’d borrowed my
Dad’s screwdriver and taken them apart!
Barnstaple, United Kingdom
“This career path for me, is a way of life – a
natural step if you like. It’s not about beating
the ‘Social Norm’, it’s just about doing
something that you enjoy.”

8. Shahrzad Khodayari
Software Developer
Kista, Sweden
“I love understanding how a digital
world can make a complicated
electrical thing more and more usable
for human life.”

9. As a teenager, I was interested in anything
related to Mathematics and Computing,
especially when they were applied to modern
technology.
Later I chose a Software Engineering path to
better understand how a digital world can make
a complicated electrical thing more and more
usable for human life and I decided to be a part
of it.
Shahrzad Khodayari
Software Developer
Kista, Sweden
“I love understanding how a digital world can
make a complicated electrical thing more and
more usable for human life.”
Shahrzad holds an MSc Embedded Systems
Today I work with an advanced technology
development team, making software and
firmware for hardware devices.
Connectivity and IoT are what I really enjoy
most, since you never get bored with them.

10. Jordan McCarthy
Engineering Apprentice
Bedlington, United Kingdom
“I love working with new technology,
learning how to improve processes,
and why it’s so important.”

11. I am responsible for collecting data to help make
improvements and modifications to processes or
parts, investigating process problems, and
scheduling and coordinating work to deadlines. I
am also responsible for producing technical
drawings for parts and layouts, purchasing and
installing equipment, and leading the team in
projects.
I love working with new technology, learning how
to improve processes and why it’s so important.
I was mainly interested in STEM subjects and
have always liked maths, technology and science.
I started looking into engineering
apprenticeships, because I could then learn and
do the job I wanted while earning money and
achieving further qualifications.
Jordan McCarthy
Engineering Apprentice
Bedlington, United Kingdom
I especially like to create new developments for
the site, such as processes, parts and layouts. It is
important to me to develop a knowledge and
understanding of the systems and parts, and
mostly to be part of a great team.
“I love working with new technology, learning
how to improve processes, and why it’s so
important.”

12. Araceli Nevarez
Industrial Engineer
Juarez, Mexico
“Working in Engineering is like an
adventure – where every day you learn
or experience something new.”

13. I am responsible for layout designs, lines
balancing, design and validations of fixtures for
production, line capacity and standards
measurement, as well as visual aids generation.
Working in Engineering is like an adventure –
where every day you learn or experience
something new. Finding answers to the unknown
is something that fufills me professionally and
personally. This discovery motivates me to move
forward every day.
Araceli Nevarez
Industrial Engineer
I have always liked working with numbers, and
enjoyed physics and maths in school. My grades
were higher in these subjects than in other areas.
My father has been the person that I have trusted
in all aspects. He said that I had the vocation to
be an engineer, and that was what led me to
make the final decision to pursue engineering as
my life’s work.
Araceli holds a Batchelor’s degree in Electro-
Mechanical Engineering
Juarez, Mexico
“Working in Engineering is like an adventure
– where every day you learn or experience
something new.”

14. Vicky Tao
Product Engineer
Dongguan, China
“I am very interested in electronic
engineering because I feel very good
after solving problems.”

15. I am responsible for electronic products,
identification and translation of customer
requirements into internal technical requirements,
solving technical problems in sample builds, and
pilot run and mass production. I also work closely
with customer and internal teams to improve
product quality and process efficiency.
I like my job, as I work with many professional
people and I can gain more professional
knowledge. It helps to develop a strong sense of
I am very interested in electronic engineering
because I feel very good after solving problems. I
am happy in my career as an engineer.
Vicky Tao
Product Engineer
Dongguan, China
responsibility and teamwork.
In my first job after graduation, my leader was an
experienced engineer, who shared with me his
technical knowledge, helping me to significantly
improve my technical skills.
Vicky holds a degree in Electrical Engineering
“I am very interested in electronic engineering
because I feel very good after solving
problems.”

16. Karen Thomson
Quality Engineer
Barnstaple, United Kingdom
“I’m hopeful that my story encourages
others to consider a long-term career in
manufacturing or engineering.”

17. I joined TT in 2012 as a Linear Winder on the shop
floor creating magnetic aerospace components. I
enjoyed this, and was always interested in how
the parts would fit into something much larger. I
was, and still am, very proud to have made parts
which could very well be in service today.
I was keen to learn and achieve more and was
very lucky to have the opportunity to join the
Engineering team as a Junior Production
Engineer. This role gave me the hands on
experience within the manufacturing
environment whilst being able to study at Petroc
College one day per week.
Karen Thomson
Quality Engineer
With the hands-on experience, classroom study
and support from the company and my
colleagues, I have now completed my Foundation
Degree in Electronics and Communications.
In 2015 I made the transition from a Production
Engineer role to Quality Engineer. This led me to
become more involved with the customer and
has given me the opportunity to travel to various
sites across the group including Tunisia and
Malaysia where I have made some incredible
friends!
When I left school I really didn’t know what I
wanted to do and where my path would lead. As
a child it was drummed into me that I would ‘end
up in a factory’ without a meaningful career. I
couldn’t disagree more and I’m hopeful that my
story encourages others to consider a long-term
career in manufacturing or engineering.
Barnstaple, United Kingdom
“I’m hopeful that my story encourages others
to consider a long-term career in
manufacturing or engineering.”

18. To learn more visit:
www.ttelectronics.com