How can we support, develop and empower this generation of women to become future leaders?

On International Women’s Day, we asked Sallyanne Lewis about her career journey, the challenges she encountered along the way, and how she inspires female colleagues to progress.

Sallyanne Lewis is a director and structural engineer at Buro Happold. Over the last 19 years, Sallyanne has worked on numerous high-profile projects with clients such as the King Salman Foundation Library, Museum and HQ, Jaguar Land Rover, Bristol Aero Collection, British Film Institute and large cultural projects in Saudi Arabia.

Sallyanne Lewis is a director and structural engineer at Buro Happold.

What inspired you to get into engineering?

Discussing her experience, Sallyanne said “When I was a teenager, I was always inspired by the huge Reading Room dome at Manchester’s Central Library. I would think to myself – how is that built? How do you get to be part of something like that? My favourite subjects at school were Maths, Science and Art, and I grew up in the industrial North so engineering felt like a natural fit!”

In your view, what are the main barriers for aspiring female engineers?

The preconceived idea that engineering is a messy, hands-dirty, and unrefined job is probably one of the biggest stereotypes to overcome. The media loves to show images of Civil/Structural engineers wearing hard hats and high-vis jackets. This is such a small aspect of the job.

There is still a stereotype that girls who excel at Maths and Science are the exception. Girls, subconsciously or not, are not encouraged to question or go against authority. This is a really important skill for an engineer.

Rather than focusing on STEM, we should position engineering as a “Science”, “Technology”, “Design” and “Art”. It should be considered a people-focused, highly skilled and sought-after profession.

Which female engineers have you/do you draw inspiration from?

To be honest, I didn’t know any female engineers growing up and I’m not really aware of any in the wider media now which is quite telling. I would say that engineers in general are not really celebrated. I do, however, draw inspiration from many amazing female engineers in our practice, at all levels, and from our architect collaborators.

How do you support junior female engineers in the workplace?

I make sure that they are aware of, and equipped to pursue opportunities, and that they know they will always have my support.

In the past, I have heard comments, albeit given in good faith like “she won’t want to work in that country or on that project because of…” or “she has just come back from maternity leave, let’s not overload her”. I work hard to make sure this bias is removed, and that everyone is given the chance to choose what is best for them. I help them forge their own career path and recognise that needs and aspirations change over time. It’s important to keep checking in with your team.

What are your proudest achievements to date at Buro Happold?

I have many proud moments but more recently I had the opportunity to visit the Royal Arts Complex site, a project I helped lead through Covid. The structure is approximately 60% constructed and is awesome in scale and complexity.

“It was a real thrill to see the Museum of Civilisation cantilevering across the skyline, and all our hard work on show. I felt like a small child skipping from mammoth structure to structure, photographing and recalling the design challenges for all the teams, and delighted in sending the photos to them to show the progress.”

At Buro Happold, I can be who I am, and I feel recognised for what I bring to the practice above all else.