Tractebel’s women in engineering
To celebrate International Women in Engineering Day on June 23, we caught up with two of our female engineers. Meet Christine Noret and Alice Lecocq!
Christine Noret, Technical Director at Tractebel in France
Q: Tell us about your background
My interest in both oceans and physical sciences led me to study engineering, specifically at the National Engineering School of Advanced Techniques (ENSTA) for its marine environment course (Ocean circulation and Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions).
After graduation, I’d planned to start my career in the offshore industry, but I was told that the positions I was applying for were not open to women. “We can't send women to platforms!” I was told.
I remained in my field, and completed my thesis at Paris VII University. The subject was the development of a method to quantify the differences between the currents observed and those predicted by general circulation models.
That experience in numerical modeling and statistics led me to join Tractebel, in its Scientific Computing department. I switched from seawater to freshwater!
Q: Why Tractebel?
Tractebel engineers create and build within multidisciplinary teams. Hydraulic development projects are complex. Each facility is a prototype that requires equal consideration of the mechanical, hydraulic, environmental, economic and social environments. A real challenge! Besides, these are works that contribute greatly to improving people’s living conditions and that is gratifying.
I have gradually gained expertise in the field of safety in operating hydraulic schemes, both in France and abroad. Today, I am one of the few female global experts in this field within the ENGIE group.
I currently take part in more than twenty projects per year, all over the world, mainly on hydraulic facilities in operation. This allows me to have a variety of assignments, meetings and contacts around the world, which makes my work extremely rich and rewarding.
Q: Is engineering a man's world?
Tractebel in France has long chosen to open its doors to female engineers and today, 23% are female. Being a woman has not been a hindrance to my career. Of course I have a few anecdotes, some amusing, about my interactions with colleagues, clients and contractors. Thanks to my position in Tractebel, I’m part of the French Committee of Large Dams (CFBR). I was the first woman elected to the Executive Board of the Committee. I am also part of the Ministry of Environment’s technical committee, as an expert in hydraulic works. I’m the only woman.
I think that nowadays there is still a lack of women in the engineering world, especially in high-level management positions. It’s a very slow evolution.
Alice Lecocq, Project Director at Tractebel in France
Q: Tell us about your background
I was interested in Applied Sciences, so I choose Physics, Technology and Engineering Science for my preparatory classes, a relatively new program at the time. The school was close to home and had an excellent reputation, so attending was a no-brainer.
Afterwards, I joined the engineering school ENSE3 in Grenoble for its Hydraulic Engineering and Civil Works course.
While studying engineering, I was very keen on working internationally. So I did all my internships abroad, and my first job was in Australia. After seven years overseas (Australia and East Timor) working on various projects in the water sector, and specifically in dams, I returned to France. That’s when I joined Tractebel.
Q: Why Tractebel?
Tractebel gives me the opportunity to provide tangible and sustainable solutions in direct consultation with the clients and the people who will benefit directly from our projects. Working on large-scale structuring projects is a great source of motivation for me. I enjoy taking part in the wide range of discussions that go from technical and economic to environmental and social issues, all with a large variety of stakeholders. We work and build together, capitalizing on the experience and the know-how of each party.
Q: Is engineering a man’s world?
I certainly work with a lot of men, but women have their place and are increasingly numerous. This evolution brings valuable diversity and improved performance within the company, as well as in the day-to-day teamwork.