Caerphilly County Borough Council’s chief executive, Christina Harrhy, has been an ICE Fellow since 2005. Here's what it means to her.
I remember the moment I decided to become a civil engineer.
I was working in insurance and saw an advert in the weekly newspaper for a role in the highways department at the county council, with training provided.
I remember thinking ‘that’s my job’, and I became the first female highway technician they had appointed.
My route to chartership
My career started in the drawing office, and I studied part-time.
It took ten years to gain my first-class honours degree in civil engineering – but it made me a more rounded individual by the end.
Shortly after my degree I went for chartership with the ICE.
With a BSc, it was tricky because the alternative routes that are available now weren’t back then.
With lots of perseverance, the combination of my qualifications and experience eventually got me through.
Always wanted to be a Fellow
I have wanted to be an ICE Fellow from the start.
I remember going to ICE headquarters in London to receive my Chartered Engineer (CEng) certificate.
While I was really proud of my CEng status, I couldn’t help but look across the Great Hall at a select group of people. I knew I wanted to be over there – I wanted to be a Fellow.
[Being a Fellow is] about what you bring to society, not just your engineering skills.
Christina Harrhy
Becoming an ICE Fellow meant using my networks, and the institution is good for that.
I was mentored locally by a couple of engineers from within ICE and became the first female Fellow in Wales.
My career has been very broad and ICE Fellowship is about the whole person. It’s about what you bring to society, not just your engineering skills.
Tips for preparing your Fellowship application
It can be difficult to condense your life experiences into the required number of words, but brevity is a skill that has to be learned.
It took me a few re-writes before I was happy with my application.
It’s a case of less is more and focusing your efforts upon where the most impacts can be made.
Don’t be afraid to have other peers look at your application to ensure it’s pitched at the right level.
Keep your CV and CPD up to date because it’s surprising how much you learn and how much of it you will forget.
Help from your peers
Get involved with your sponsors early because they need to know you as a person. My sponsors were also my mentors, and some still are today.
Have the confidence that you’re good enough; that goes back to me looking across the Great Hall and wanting to be on the other side of the room.
Your peers will tell you when you’re ready. At the time I went for my Chartership, and later for my Fellowship, I was the most senior engineer in my organisation.
My support came through professional groups and my wider network within local government across Wales.
Confidence shows in different ways
Early in my career, I would mirror how male engineers dressed, in dark suits.
When I became Chartered, I grew in confidence as I’d ‘earned my stripes’. Now, if I walk into a meeting, I’m more likely to be in a bright pink jacket because that is who I am.
And I’m comfortable being me!
Having people who encourage you to grow personally and professionally is really important and the networks, like ICE Connects, that exist now are fantastic.
Getting the FICE postnominals doesn’t happen overnight, so you need patience.
Christina Harrhy
The diversity is almost unrecognisable from what it was, but there is still more to do.
I believe it’s important that we, as women, should always remain true to our core values and work to find our best fit.
Getting the FICE postnominals doesn’t happen overnight, so you need patience. But you should enjoy the journey, nurturing your skills and growing as a person along the way.
ICE Fellowship will come if you want it enough, just always keep your goal in sight.
I still enjoy the variety the industry brings – no day is ever the same – civil engineering is a fantastic career.
How being a Fellow has benefited me
Fellowship reflects the drive I had to get to the top and my desire to make a difference societally and professionally.
Two years ago, I visited London with my family and took my daughter into One Great George Street, which was an emotional experience for me.
The building itself is grand, but it was great to talk to her about all the famous civil engineers, including Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
I could show her that she can get to the highest levels if she aims high and works hard.
In my current role, being an ICE Fellow has allowed me to influence and shape policy nationally.
I live in Wales and am passionate about public service. My credentials speak loudly not just within the ICE, but also at government level.
Celebrating civil engineering
Being an ICE Fellow means I’m able to platform and celebrate civil engineering.
That is something I actively do – nurturing others coming up through the organisation, and reinforcing that civil engineering is exciting, rewarding and a career for life.
The span of civil engineering is so far-reaching. It can take you wherever you want.
For any young people who are unsure what to do, I always recommend they consider civil engineering as a degree.
