S2, E14: Focus on Female Engineers with Jo Parker

September 8, 2023

S2, E14: Focus on Female Engineers with Jo Parker

Once again, Constructive Voices, has been inspired by a former guest to create something new and exciting. Thanks to Emma Nicholson, we are collaborating to bring you a number of episodes that Focus on Females in the built environment.

In the second Focus on Females episode features , Emma Nicholson speaks to a trailblazing female engineer, Jo Parker.

Jo Parker is a chartered civil engineer who was awarded an MBE by the Queen, in 1994, for her services to the water industry.

Below you can hear a 1-minute teaser for the episode which will be available from Tuesday 12th September.

Here is the full episode of less than 30 minutes

What we talk about

Jo has had a fascinating career. She was originally inspired to be a civil engineer when she was only around 14 years of age.

It was the idea of being able to build dams and bridges that did this. And you can only begin to imagine where she has done this and under what circumstances.

Jo has had a remarkable career so this interview is one not to miss.

The interview also delves into the challenges women currently face as engineers in the built environment.

Jo also discusses biodiversity and sustainability with us.

About Jo Parker

Jo Parker is a chartered civil engineer, who works as an independent consultant having worked in the water industry for over 40 years. She has held senior roles with UK water companies up to Director level and has also worked in a variety of other countries as varied as Afghanistan and Australia.

She was awarded the MBE by the Queen in 1994 for services to the water industry and is an Honorary Life Member of the Pipeline Industries Guild.

She is also Chair of the Water and Sanitation Community Advisory Board for the Institution of Civil Engineers, Vice-President Engineering of the Institute of Water and a fellow of the International Water Association.

She was voted one of the UK’s top 50 women engineers in 2020

About Emma Nicholson

Emma is an award-winning Chartered Construction Manager and Chartered Environmentalist and has been a previous Board Trustee with the Women’s Engineering Society.

She is a Principal Sustainability Project Manager with a multi-disciplinary national UK consultancy with 25 years built environment industry experience.

She is also Chair of the EDI Specialist Interest Group for the Women’s Engineering Society and is an EDI Advisory Group member of the Chartered Institute of Building.

Emma founded the international LinkedIn Group, Women in Sustainable Construction and Property and has been Chair of the UNA-UK Harrogate Group since 2022.

Written by: Jackie De Burca