Hi, I’m Katia Demirtzoglou. I am part of the ICE Ambassador for schools scheme. I love being an ambassador, and so will you. Here's why.
What does an ambassador do?
A STEMNET Ambassador promotes engineering, maths and science to young people mainly by supporting school events, career fairs, etc. We also demonstrate the different career paths that these areas have to offer.
Why did you become an ambassador?
Engineering is not seen as a popular career path for young women in the UK. This is something I would like to help change in order to improve diversity in the engineering professions. Not long ago, I had the opportunity, through ICE, to take part in a visit to a girl’s school in Reading. It was great to see their reaction as we talked about engineering and this experience made me being an ambassador very worthwhile.
Do you enjoy being an ambassador for the ICE? If your answer is yes, please explain your reason.
Yes! It is a lot of fun! I particularly enjoy events with interactive scenarios where the kids have to come up with solutions and implement them. It’s very rewarding having to deal with the honest and direct feedback from the kids. Through the events the ambassadors have also formed a close network of like minded engineers who now regularly keep in touch.
Who do you work for and what is your role?
I work for Atkins as part of a team of professionals charged with top to bottom design of tunnel projects – from the feasibility study stage, right through to detailed design. My current project involves designing tunnels which will cross under motorways and railways, and supply clean water to houses and other establishments.
Do you feel that being an ambassador will help you in your career?
Yes. At Atkins we work on a huge number of projects all around the world and deal with many different clients. As such communication skills are paramount, especially as you rise up the career ladder. As an ambassador you are regularly called upon to give presentations and that has given me many opportunities to hone the kind of skills that will benefit me going forward.
Why is it important to you to inform school children about civil engineering?
In recent times civil engineering has been the poorer cousin of some of the professions in the UK and that has led to a widely reported skills gap. Talking to school children about what I do has given me the chance to help address that. And even if the kids don’t choose engineering as a career they get to know a bit more about what we do and that also positive.
The skills you have learnt to become an ambassador, do you think that these are transferable into your job?
Absolutely yes, all skills are transferable. Understanding what fascinates young people, how to keep your audience interested and also promote your work are essential skills for any career.
Why did you become a civil engineer?
From a very young age I’ve always had great interest in construction and enjoyed seeing the results of good engineering in buildings, roads, bridges, and all sorts of structures. I tried internships in different industries but the range and variety of options civil engineering had to offer appealed to me a lot more. I certainly think I made the right choice now as I find being involved in solving problems during the design process and then actually seeing my designs built is extremely rewarding.
In your own words, what does it take to become an ambassador?
When you’re working with kids you have to be very enthusiastic and creative. I believe these are essential qualities that any ambassador should have.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to become an ambassador?
Just to attend an ICE event and see if it appeals to you. If it does, all the other skills can be learnt and that is the great advantage of being an ambassador.