The EMA Empowering Women in Energy Management and Environment Group provides an informal network for women in the energy management, facilities management, sustainability and environmental industries that can assist in supporting career development for professional women, mentor aspiring women to pursue energy management education and careers in the energy management and associated fields. The panellists share their views and experiences on entering and progressing their careers in the energy management industry.

1. Empowering Women in Energy Management and
Sustainability
Wendi Wheeler, Energy & Carbon Strategy Manager
Network Rail
Ashley O’Neill
Energy and Compliance
Manager
Hilton
Gillian Brown
Energy Manager
University of Glasgow
Roederer Rose Lyne
Graduate Energy Engineer
University of Aberdeen
Panellists
Panel Chair:
Panellists

2. Ashley O’Neill
Energy & Compliance Manager

3. Background
• BSc Meteorology and Climate Science at University
of Leeds
• Year in Industry at DECC in Energy Price Statistics
• Dissertation “How can Climate Change affect the
UK’s Energy Mix by 2050?”
• Post University – Summer Carbon Internship at Mott
Macdonald
• November 2015 – Energy Analyst at Hilton within
Engineering Operations, EMEA
• September 2017 – Assumed more responsibility as
Energy and Compliance Manager at Hilton, EMEA
Hard work is rewarded regardless of gender

4. My Current Role
Responsibilities
• Procurement and tendering of energy contracts and services
• Navigating volatile energy markets, understanding fundamentals and drivers
• Data analysis of consumption, costs and performance across utilities
• Financial reporting and budget setting
• Management of the companies legal and compliance reporting under the UK’s
CRC, Heat Network, ESOS and EU Article 8
Benefits/Challenges
• Varied workload, every day is different – wide skill set required and developed,
can lack stability
• Reactive role in terms of energy procurement – can be stressful
• Travel – work life balance

5. Opportunities
• Coaching on Call pilot programme - designed to
extend professional coaching to women earlier on
in their career
• Careers@Hilton, University Presentations
• Conferences and Events
• Exposure to Executive Team and Senior Leadership
• Annual celebrations of Women in Engineering
• Women’s Team Member Resource Group
• “Developing your personal Brand”
• “Leadership, Ambition and Career Development”
• “Flexible Working Panel Discussion”
• Diverse Team – “Engineering Family”
2nd Place
Paulina Godfrey – Director
of Energy & Environment
UK Top 50 Women in
Engineering 2016

6. • Lack of awareness on Energy Management and the opportunities
throughout education
• Usually sits within Engineering – predominantly male
• Lack of awareness of skills required
However,
• More of focus on equal opportunities for women than ever
• Perception is starting to change
We should accept the challenges, use our skills to our advantage and
empower each other!
Potential Barriers

7. Gillian Brown
Energy Manager
University of Glasgow

8. Background
•2005-2006
•Environmental
Engineer
•2006-2013
•Energy Officer
•2013-2017
•Energy Manager
•2017 - present
•Energy Manager
University of Glasgow
BSc (Hons) Geography
University of Reading BSc
(Hons) Building Surveying
Heriot Watt University MSc
Carbon and Energy Management

9. Career Highlights
North Lanarkshire Council
• BMS development
• Residential energy
• Renewable installations
• M&T utility analysis
• Staff Energy Awareness
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Development of large scale renewables and associated RHI/FIT/ROCs
• LED lighting conversions
• Carbon/compliance reporting

10. Career Highlights
University of Glasgow
• Energy Strategy Development
• BMS Strategy and expansion
• Project development
• CHP and DHN Management
• Budget management
• Energy design for new building constructions
• Compliance and reporting – EUETS/CRC/RHI/FIT

12. Roederer Rose Lyne
Graduate Energy Engineer
University of Aberdeen

13. Background
• Studied Mechanical Engineering MEng (Hons) at the University of
Aberdeen (Awarded 2:1)
• Started as an Energy and Carbon Management Intern in Summer
2016
• Energy and Carbon Management Assistant during final degree year
• Started Graduate Energy Engineer scheme following graduation in
June 2017

14. Responsibilities
• Degree day and CUSUM analysis
• Maintaining energy and water indicators
• Carrying out energy audits
• Researching and calculating energy, carbon and financial savings from
potential projects
• Monitoring the impact of the University’s 5 year carbon management
plan
• Compiling and submitting emissions data for EU ETS, CRC and Scottish
Public Bodies Reporting Duties

15. How did I get into energy management
Fell into it ….
But decided to stay once I graduated!

16. Experience of the industry
• 3rd generation engineer
• Went to a secondary school where heavy influence was put on STEM
subjects
• 1 of 2 females in a class of 200 engineers
• Very fortunate to work in an organisation where opinions are based
on the level of work I produce rather than my gender

17. Best and worst parts of energy management
Best parts:
• Project research and analysis
• Being able to apply my degree to real life situations
Worst parts:
• Not being able to fix everything instantly
• Lack of knowledge about what energy management means and
involves

18. Barriers facing women
• Lack of information about what the role involves
• Lack of encouragement in schools for girls to look at technical
subjects
• Traditional preconceptions of engineering being a male environment

19. Empowering Women
in Energy Management
and
Sustainability
Panel Chair
Wendi Wheeler, Energy & Carbon Strategy Manager
Network Rail
Ashley O’Neill
Energy and Compliance
Manager
Hilton
Gillian Brown
Energy Manager
University of Glasgow
Roederer Rose Lyne
Graduate Energy Engineer
University of Aberdeen
Panellists
Discussion and Questions
Panellists

20. Thank you