Join us at the National Ploughing Championships from 15 - 17 September. Full details at engineersireland.ie

Engineering culture remains trapped in outdated norms, risking the mental health and retention of top talent. Relying on diversity metrics alone fails to solve the underlying problem of workplace culture.

True success requires moving beyond surface-level attraction to fostering genuine inclusion and psychological safety. This shift is not just an ethical imperative; it is essential for team performance, innovation, and industry wellbeing.

Joining us to dissect how firms can build these inclusive cultures are ESB civil engineer Tymora Freeman-Stannett and OutEngineered representative Poggy Murray Whitham. They share practical insights on how to transition from empty policies to meaningful everyday changes that ensure every professional feels seen, heard, and valued.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Why traditional lad culture alienates LGBTQ+ professionals
Distinguishing tokenistic diversity from genuine inclusion
Connecting psychological safety to industry mental health
Real world impact of external political pressures on DEI
Simple everyday actions for effective allyship

GUESTS DETAILS

Tymora Freeman-Stannett

Tymora Freeman-Stannett is a civil engineer at ESB, where she actively manages the construction of utility-scale solar farms powering Ireland's green transition. Throughout her career, Tymora has been out and proud, serving as an active advocate within ESB’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group. Outside of hard hats and site plans, she is the Chair of the Irish Games Association, championing safe, inclusive, and accessible community spaces.

Connect with Tymora : linkedin.com/in/tymora-freeman-stannett

Poggy Murray Whitham

Poggy Murray Whitham is a prominent member and representative of OutEngineered, an organisation dedicated to connecting, supporting, and elevating LGBTQ+ professionals and allies across the engineering and tech sectors. Poggy's work centers on breaking down systemic industry barriers, driving corporate representation, and building active networks that ensure engineering offices and physical construction sites alike are welcoming environments for all.

Connect with Poggy: linkedin.com/in/poggy-murray-whitham
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/munya-bakasa (Senior Engineer, PUNCH Consulting Engineers)

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer.

https://www.engineersireland.ie/

Engineers Journal Amplified is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

Diversity without inclusion just leads to tokenism. Inclusion breeds diversity. - Poggy Murray Whitham

You feel like you've come into a truth as opposed to a facade. - Tymora Freeman-Stannett

Inclusion is making sure that all of those people are heard, are seen, and genuinely have a voice within the organisation. - Poggy Murray Whitham

Part of allyship is opening your mind to that. You can ask the questions, but understand someone might not be prepared to give you the answer. So you have to do the work yourself. - Tymora Freeman-Stannett

KEYWORDS:

#LGBTQinEngineering#InclusiveEngineering#EngineeringCulture#Allyship#EngineeringWellbeing

Join us at the National Ploughing Championships from 15 - 17 September. Full details at engineersireland.ie

Professional engineers often face the constraint of being pigeonholed into specific roles based on demographic factors, yet the most successful teams are those that dismantle these barriers.

When engineering is embraced as a truly gender-neutral career, it unlocks a powerful diversity of thought that drives innovation and superior project outcomes. Engineering problem solving requires a blend of scientific rigour and creative thinking to deliver impactful results. We explore how to break free from professional boxes, manage complex large-scale infrastructure projects, and incorporate social value into procurement.

Joining us is Gemma McCarthy, Vice President of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland and Regional Director at Mott MacDonald. Gemma shares her expertise on leading multidisciplinary teams and offers a fresh perspective on how inclusive, gender-neutral leadership paves the way for a more successful and dynamic engineering profession.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Solving the Celtic Interconnector challenge
Engineering as a creative discipline
Managing large infrastructure budgets
Implementing social value in procurement
The future generation of engineers

GUEST DETAILS

Gemma McCarthy is the Vice President of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland and a Regional Director at Mott MacDonald. She combines high-level technical direction with strategic leadership in the Irish engineering sector. Gemma is a strong advocate for diverse representation, leveraging her experience to drive professional development and infrastructure solutions for society. She has spent 15 years with Mott MacDonald overseeing major regional operations.

Connect with Gemma:
Website: https://www.acei.ie
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-mccarthy-5681a717/

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/
Engineers Ireland Amplified is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

I used to rail against the, are you creative, are you scientific? Engineering is very much the crossover of the two. - Gemma McCarthy

At the end of the day, we're problem solvers. - Gemma McCarthy

We are only as good as the currency of our own skills at the moment. - Gemma McCarthy

KEYWORDS #ProjectManagement #EngineeringTips #InfrastructureProjects #TechnicalLeadership #SystemDesign

Join us at the National Ploughing Championships from 15 - 17 September. Full details at engineersireland.ie

Talented engineers often fear that moving abroad means sacrificing hard-earned professional momentum. This mindset overlooks the reality that an engineering qualification is a borderless passport for innovation and personal growth. In this episode of our Global Engineers mini-series, we explore how top international talent selects Ireland as their professional base, bringing fresh perspectives that drive the industry forward.

We discuss how firms successfully integrate these new approaches, the cultural nuances of Irish engineering, and the actionable advice that will empower you to build a thriving career overseas.

Our guests are Munya Bakasa, a South African senior structural engineer spearheading major consulting projects, and Krystyna Dimtchev, a Polish project manager and chair of the Women in Engineering Society.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Choosing to base careers in Ireland
Challenges of technical language barriers
Irish culture of collaboration and trust
Managing complex structural engineering projects
Advice for engineers moving abroad

GUESTS DETAILS

Krystyna Dimtchev is an Associate Programme Manager at Arcadis and the current Chair of the Engineers Ireland Women in Engineering Society. Originally from Poland, she is an IPMA Certified Senior Project Manager with extensive experience in environmental engineering and building services.

She is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and mentoring the next generation of engineers.
Connect with Krystyna :

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/krystyna-dimtchev (Associate Programme Manager, Arcadis & Chair of the Women in Engineering Society)

Munya Bakasa is a Senior Engineer at PUNCH Consulting Engineers. Originally from South Africa, he is a key lead on major infrastructural developments. He brings structural and civil engineering expertise to the Irish market and is a strong advocate for active travel infrastructure.

Connect with Munya:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/munya-bakasa (Senior Engineer, PUNCH Consulting Engineers)

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/
Engineers Journal Amplified is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

One of the biggest differences I have experienced in Ireland is the emphasis on the collaboration of openness and trust. - Krystyna Dimtchev

You strike a better work-life balance in the local environment, as opposed to back home. - Munya Bakasa

I've learned from them, it's not if you have the book, you have the equations, you have the calculations, but just to understand makes you a true engineer. - Krystyna Dimtchev

Your perspective, both professionally and personally, is broadened beyond what you expect. - Munya Bakasa

KEYWORDS: #GlobalEngineering #IrishCareer #EngineeringAbroad #CareerGrowth #InternationalEngineer