Upper Sixth lecture: building a career in sustainable engineering

It was a pleasure to host Jane Wright FICE, Principal Engineer for Infrastructure Carbon & Resource Efficiency at Transport for London (TfL), at our Upper Sixth lecture today. Jane opened a fascinating window into TfL – a Fortune 500 company responsible for operating or regulating most transport in London – and shared her inspiring journey of combining engineering and environmental responsibility.

Jane recounted how her path began with a Master’s degree in Engineering at Cambridge University. An interest in ‘things that moved’, together with a fascination for electric vehicles, led her to specialise in transport. Internships at LJR and Arup proved instrumental in securing a graduate role as an engineer at TfL.

Describing her role as both varied and rewarding, Jane shared details of a typical ‘day in the life’, from developing carbon reduction plans and reporting on emissions targets to recruiting new team members. Alongside technical expertise, she highlighted teamwork, problem-solving, creativity and curiosity as being key to success in her field. For those less interested in engineering but keen to pursue a career focused on sustainability and climate change adaptation, Jane outlined a wide range of alternative pathways, including ecology, town planning, landscape architecture, journalism, policy work and environmental law.

The lecture offered pupils valuable insight into the many ways individuals can contribute to a more sustainable future, regardless of their chosen field. We are really grateful to Jane for sharing her experiences and for encouraging pupils to think broadly about the opportunities and impact that careers in sustainability can offer.