ICE accessibility ‘trailblazer’ named National Engineering Day 2024 role model

Meg Ginsberg, an ICE South West Future Leader, has been recognised as a role model by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng).

The accolade forms part of the academy’s National Engineering Day 2024 celebrations, which seek to encourage young people to choose an engineering career.

Ginsberg, 22, an assistant project manager working in infrastructure at South West Water, was chosen for her “passion for inclusivity and sustainability”.

The judges said: “Meg’s ability to adapt workplaces for accessibility and her championing of apprenticeships make her a trailblazer in opening doors for others.”

“I hope to inspire other women, care givers and individuals with disabilities that engineering can provide a supportive and progressive career for all,” Ginsberg said.

“I am excited to see where engineering takes me, having recently submitted my EngTech [Engineering Technician] application, and look forward to meeting the amazing people along the way.”

'Resilience and determination’

Based in Devon, Ginsberg became a mother during the pandemic. She had multiple surgeries that left her a wheelchair user by the age of 18.

She launched Construct Ability to encourage disabled people to pursue a career in engineering and construction.

The initiative also aims to support employers to understand how to make their businesses more accessible.

“Meg exemplifies resilience and determination and has overcome personal challenges to carve a successful career in project management within an engineering environment,” the judges said

“Her passion for often-overlooked fields, like wastewater management, and her advocacy for inclusivity through her [Construct Ability] initiative highlight her drive to create positive change in the industry.”

Ginsberg is also currently touring south-west England with fellow Future Leader Alex Buley, to deliver workshops on inclusive design.

These give attendees an opportunity to experience what navigating the world as a disabled person can be like, and the challenges this can present.

The goal is to encourage engineers to design with everyone’s needs in mind.

Sustainability-minded

Managing projects across the wastewater sector, Ginsberg works to reduce pollution and flooding. She often implements nature-based solutions, such as sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS).

She's currently pursuing a degree apprenticeship at Exeter University.

“Meg hasn’t followed a traditional route into engineering, in fact her journey into engineering is still ongoing,” the judges said.

“We felt this was important to highlight as it challenges the misperception that engineering is only something you can do if you’re a maths or physics graduate.”

About the engineering role models

Research by the RAEng shows that having engineering-specific role models can influence young people to take up engineering as a career.

Earlier this year the academy asked the public to nominate their engineering role models.

Out of over 90 nominations, five winners who demonstrate “leadership, perseverance, and a vision for a better future” were selected by a panel of judges.

As well as Ginsberg, the role models were:

• Alice Kan, a mechanical engineer who played an important role in the development of the Covid-19 vaccine. Kan is now supporting on efforts to manufacture vaccines for Ebola and Marburg disease. As part of its celebrations, the RAEng has commissioned a statue of Kan.
• Navjot 'Nav' Sawhney is an aerospace engineer and founder of the Washing Machine Project. He designed a flat-pack, manual washing machine that doesn't use electricity or a fixed water source. This eases the burden of handwashing clothes, especially for women in remote, low-income and displaced communities.
• Dr Shini Somara, a mechanical engineer who developed an innovative technique now used in hypersonic spacecraft modelling. She aims to bring engineering to all and hosts TV programmes such as Al Jazeera's Technow.
• Laura Hoang, a 'human factors engineer', working on a large nuclear energy project to help the UK reach net zero. Before that she was in the aerospace industry, designing cockpits and training systems.

The role models were celebrated with a digital illustration by artist Kelly Anna.

The academy said they are “inspiring the next generation to pursue their passions, overcome challenges, and use their talents to improve the world”.