International Women in Engineering Day - Q&A with Amy Fisher

International Women in Engineering Day - Q&A with Amy Fisher

In continued support of International Women in Engineering Day, we get the views of Amy Fisher, ADCAS Executive Committee member and Managing Director of Doby Verrolec.

  • Why did you decide to get involved in the ductwork industry?

I was looking to relocate back to the North East post COVID, and having spent the vast majority of my career in the building products sector, I was able to secure a new role that ticked my boxes which happened to be in the ductwork industry. My early career was spent in the HVAC sector, so it is an industry I have some knowledge and experience of.

  • What advice would you offer to women and girls interested in becoming engineers?

From my experience having worked in this sector for most of my career, it is a sector that can be very rewarding, and has allowed me to succeed in my career. Therefore, my advice would be to network with some of the fantastic successful women already in the industry and hear their success stories. Visit companies of interest and get a feel for their culture and see how that fits with what you are looking to do. More and more opportunities are coming up in many areas of engineering, so find something that interests you in a company that is aligned with your values and become another successful woman in engineering!

  • Why is it important that more women take up engineering?

The engineering sector is seeing more women join which is great and so incredibly important. As with any form of diversity, different mindsets contribute different ideas and view points and women have a big part to play in that.

  • What would you say has been the most rewarding experience in your career?

I have worked hard and climbed the ranks to reach the position I am in today, which is rewarding in itself. The most rewarding experience was taking on my first Managing Directors position two weeks before lockdown, and being able to successfully lead my team and the business I was in at the time through the pandemic, which was extremely challenging and something no-one had all the answers for. But most importantly, I can now share my all of experiences, advice and support to encourage and inspire more women to join the engineering sector and be successful in their own careers.

  • What changes would you like to see happen to encourage more women to get involved in the industry?

I would like to see more traditional engineering businesses being open to diversity and being more inclusive as many still have a very heavily male orientated workforce. I would like to see women being supported to their full potential so that their employers can benefit from their skills and mindset. I would also like to see schools and education establishments identify young female engineering talent and help them link with engineering companies so that the industry can benefit from their skills and contribution during their careers.