Sponsored Content
Engineering at JE is a space for creativity and innovation, says Dawn Hodgson, the firm’s skills development business partner
OUR people are key to JE’s success and to the delivery of our vision, which is to enable life’s essentials and inspire a zero-carbon future for all Islanders.
It is essential that we have the right talent and capabilities in place at the right time so that the Island can achieve its net-zero carbon ambitions.
We must therefore attract, engage, support, train, motivate and retain the best people we can.
A diverse workforce and inclusive culture are essential to achieving our goal of being an employer of choice. With a broad range of roles available, dynamic developments on the company’s agenda and our comprehensive diversity and inclusion strategy, JE is a truly exciting place to work.
The energy sector is fascinating and fast-paced. Developments in digital, technology and renewable energy put JE at the epicentre of this interesting industry. To meet the challenge, we are investing in our organisation and our people.
Women in leadership
We are proud to have five women in our senior leadership team, as well as more than 20 women employed in our energy and engineering teams alone. We understand the energy and engineering sectors have traditionally been male-dominated, and this is something we are proud to see shifting.
Two women have places on JE’s board and we also have a female board apprentice who is supporting more women to take up senior leadership roles and to help with succession planning.
We recognise that for the company to prosper, the greater variety of people we have contributing ideas, perspectives and skills will create new solutions and possibilities.
To mark International Women’s Day, we are proud to introduce two of JE’s engineers who are both making a positive impact on the business, excelling in their careers, and are excellent examples of women making strides in the engineering industry.
Elissar and Tessa, alongside numerous other women, bring integral skills to JE’s engineering teams and are valued employees.
Elissar El-Khatib is a planning engineer
‘Engineering allows me to have a positive impact on multiple fronts,’ she says. ‘The theoretical planning and work we perform results in Islanders benefiting from a reliable electricity supply which is essential to our quality of life. Our decisions, made in collaboration with other departments, also have an important environmental impact by reducing carbon emissions to help combat global warming.
‘Women in engineering dispels the notion that it’s a man’s world and contributes towards women’s empowerment and equality. It’s no longer a job “for the boys”. It is a place for creativity and innovation.
‘My advice to other women considering a career in engineering is to follow your instinct. Do what you love, strive for the best, work on fulfilling your dreams and achieving your goals. Don’t let anything stop you. It won’t at JE.’
Senior asset engineer Tessa Ryan
‘I completed my BASc in Engineering in 2015 and began a four-year apprenticeship to become a licensed Professional Engineer with a major power utility. I saw opportunities for business improvement if we could address uncertainties around underground cable conditions and installation environments,’ she explains.
‘I started an MSc in Engineering Management to research how best to manage the tricky primary cable asset class. My research grew to a PhD level, and I joined JE as a senior asset engineer in January 2022.
‘Employers, like JE, are recognising that diversity leads to better creative and financial outcomes. You are valued for who you are and the unique perspective you bring to problems. Engineering is a great career for the curious, and the skills you develop enrich your life outside work, changing how you look at and understand the world around you.’
We value the benefit that having a diverse workforce brings to JE. Whether it is our engineering and asset experts, IT or HR, customer care or marketing and communications, JE has an inclusive culture that puts the individuals’ skills first in our recruitment and employee approach.
Multiple perspectives and experiences will help to improve our services, deliver on the company’s objectives and vision and, ultimately, provide the best service to customers.
