Role model Rachel strives to inspire next generation of engineers

Twenty-three years ago, Rachel Pether joined RSK Group company Binnies and has gone on to forge an incredible career in a sector she is passionate about.

Responsible for Binnies’ UK water company consultancy portfolio, Director of Water Utilities Rachel mobilises projects and teams of engineers and project managers. She also spends time with clients, ensuring projects remain on track and that commitments made during the bid process are met.

Rachel’s interest in the water sector started as a purely technical one, and it wasn’t until she was immersed in her work that she came to fully appreciate what a critical resource water is. She said: “When I was at university in the late nineties, I don’t think the word ‘sustainability’ was mentioned once during my course. However, once you start working in the industry, you soon understand the impact water has on people and the environment and the need to ensure that it is managed properly.”

During her career, Rachel has achieved chartership and been named one of the Women’s Engineering Society’s Top 50 Women in Engineering. A parent to three girls, Rachel’s work and achievements are in part driven by her desire to preserve the planet for them. Alongside this, she hopes she can be a role model to women and girls to encourage them to pursue a career in engineering.

Rachel said: “The work we do isn’t work that only men can do, and that’s why there must be visibility. There are still fewer girls studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects at school and university, so, as an industry, we need to promote the benefits of a career in engineering because I know how incredibly rewarding it can be.

“Accessibility is also essential. Going to university full-time isn’t for everyone, so Binnies is working to create more apprenticeship opportunities to open up the industry to more people, which is fantastic, and I hope more become available in the future.”

Motivation is never in short supply for Rachel thanks to the impact her work has on clients and what it means for their customers. She describes herself as being privileged, as her position enables her to support people as they shape the careers they want, and she counts herself fortunate to have had such an interesting one herself.

She said: “When we win a major project or framework, I always think about the people who will work on it and how it might define their careers. We have people who start as graduates who go on to gain chartership and become our most senior engineers. It’s fantastic to watch them develop through the years and to support their journey.

“Recognising where you began and where you are now can be difficult. There are moments where I reflect, especially when I work with clients I first met when I graduated. I’ve had an interesting career and feel fortunate to have achieved all I have so far.”

As Binnies increases the number of clients it serves in the water industry, Rachel is looking forward to watching the business continue to grow and supporting water companies to meet their targets, which includes placing a greater emphasis on nature-based solutions. She said: “It’s a truly fantastic time to be working in the water industry, and it’s great to be able to provide young professionals with the opportunity to work on exciting and diverse programmes of work.”