International Women in Engineering Day - Shining a spotlight on NATS Engineering graduates

For International Women in Engineering Day this year we are shining a spotlight on some of our Engineering graduates who are currently with us on two-year post-degree schemes…

Now in its tenth year, INWED is the world’s biggest initiative celebrating the achievements of women in engineering and allied roles – one we are always keen to back as we look to help make the aviation industry more diverse!

Currently, women only make up around 12% of the engineering sector in the UK, and we’d like to help change that. We’ll be recruiting more engineering graduates later this year so keep an eye on our social media channels for news on when we do.

Josna Joies

1. In simple terms, describe your role?

Currently I am working with the Environment team on a project called DP-Enroute. My graduate scheme with NATS will involve three 8-month long rotations within the engineering practice.

2. What did you do before joining NATS?

I was at University of Leicester working towards my bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. During my time at university, I worked with Bosch Thermotechnology Ltd as a Manufacturing Engineering Intern for a year.

3. What achievement are you most proud of?

Being the head girl of my school during GCSE year. This role gave me an opportunity to represent my school at various inter-school events.

4. What is your favourite memory?

Going to the airport every year travelling with my parents were the best memories I ever had. Waiting at that boarding gate, I would stand so close to the windows looking at the planes on the taxiway and at the ones that took off. Even when we were on the plane, I would fight with my brother to get the window seat. As a 7-year-old kid back then, I kept staring at those wings as the planes took off and landed. I didn’t know what any of those things meant back then but I knew I could look at planes forever and never get tired of them.

5. What did you want to be when you grew up?

My passion for aeroplanes and my curiosity to take things apart and then put them together made me take aerospace engineering in university. Because of this I have broken many things at home and, I guess, that’s what happens when you have a potential engineer in the house!

6. Tell us something people might not know about you.

Outside work, I am also a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) ambassador working with young people in schools to inspire them to take STEM subjects.  Young people who attend STEM outreach activities are more likely to consider a career in STEM than others who don’t. I once heard a quote that inspired me: ‘If you can’t find a role model, then be one’. If I could inspire even one person with my STEM activities, then I will consider that as a success for me.

7. Why are you part of NATS’ Women’s Network, and why do you think national celebrations like International Women in Engineering Day are important?

The Women’s network provides me with a platform to network with women outside my team or project and also gives me an opportunity to learn from their experience and to grow my network.

Women are often underrepresented in the aviation sector. Growing up, I did not have role models who were female engineers. Having celebrations like these, increases global awareness and it also encourages and inspires young women to take up a career in aviation.

Olga Ursulica

1. In simple terms, describe your role?

I am currently an Engineering & Technology Direct Entry Graduate. I have just started my second placement in Airspace Change, while my first placement was as a Systems Engineering.

2. What did you do before joining NATS?

I graduated from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest with a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering (specialised in Air Navigation) in 2020. During my studies, I have done an internship at the Romanian ANSP (Romatsa), an industrial placement at Cluj Airport and finished my studies with my dissertation that studied the feasibility of implementing remote control tower operations at Cluj Airport.

Right after graduating I enrolled in a master’s degree and got a job at a local flight school/aerodrome. A few months after, I was offered a graduate position at an aviation consultancy in Yorkshire. I packed my bags, left my home country and worked in consultancy for two years before joining NATS.

3. What achievement are you most proud of (work or personal)?

Undoubtedly the achievement I am most proud of is me moving to the UK. This may sound trivial, but the context in which I did this was challenging. As this happened in 2020 and both my home country and the UK were in full lockdown, it meant that I had to do everything by myself, and it proved to be a great test of personal resilience.

4. What did you want to be when you grew up?

Funnily enough I had dreamt of working in the medical field (either normal medicine or veterinary) and all my studies until university were focused on this – I was studying biology, physics and chemistry, passed my A-levels (or Bac exam in Romania) in maths and biology, applied and got into the Faculty of Biology only to change my mind last minute and go to the Polytechnic University to study aerospace engineering, mainly influenced by my grandfather who had been a radar engineer his entire life. I’ve never regretted it for a moment!

5. Tell us something people might not know about you.

I’ve had an inexplicable fear of flying ever since I first stepped foot in an airplane, and part of the reason I decided to study aerospace engineering is to ‘heal’ this phobia. Did it work? It did for a while, and then it kicked in again, and now it comes and goes no matter how much I have learned and continue to learn about airplanes, flying and aviation in general. Strange!

Jessica Ferrington (she/her)

1. In simple terms, describe your role?

As a Systems Engineering Direct Entry Graduate, my current placement in Record and Replay involves working to support the service management aspects of the project including the technical reviews.

2. What did you do before joining NATS?

Before joining NATS I completed my degree in BSc Aviation Technology with Pilot Studies at the University of Leeds. I secured a role in Change Management Marketing working directly with the senior team to implement new marketing strategies before deciding it was time to find a role in aviation. I then worked briefly as an account assistant during a period of system change and went travelling in Central America before starting on the 2022 graduate scheme.

3. What achievement are you most proud of (work or personal)?

I am most proud of my work as Aviation Society President at University of Leeds. I led a team of seven officers, organised multiple industry and non-industry events utilising both university and personal networks, secured RAF funding, and raised money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Best of all we achieved my goal of being named the Best Academic Society 2019/2020 at the Riley Awards.

4. What is your favourite memory?

My favourite memory is backpacking around Central America. I love adventures, seeing new places, and challenging myself. Some of the highlights of the trip include canyoning and ziplining in Costa Rica, driving a moped across the runway at La Paloma Ometepe Airport in Nicaragua (below), and hiking Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala.

5. What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I grew up, I wanted to be Peter Pan because I loved the idea of flying! Which is ironic since Peter Pan never grows up – and similarly I have never lost my love of Disney and all things fun. My passion for aviation was sparked after a flight experience in a Cessna 172 when I was 13 and I decided I wanted to be a commercial pilot. Since then, I have enjoyed exploring the aviation industry through experiences such as representing my university at Pilot Careers Live, a week at FTEJerez flight school, organising various industry talks and events as Aviation Society President, and I even got my Private Pilot Licence! I look forward to continuing to explore aviation at NATS.

Flight training for Private Pilot Licence

6. Tell us something people might not know about you.

I’ve always enjoyed dancing and martial arts. Some dance styles I’ve learnt over the years include ballet, tap, jazz, commercial, modern, Irish, K-pop, and most recently salsa and bachata! I’ve had opportunities to perform in many places including my local theatre, the Liverpool Empire, as well as Blackpool Winter Gardens, and Disneyland Paris.

In martial arts I gained my black belt in taekwondo when I was 12 and went on to study karate before moving down here where I go to a mixed martial arts class.