Belinda Swain

Winner of the 2012 Women of Outstanding Achievement for Lifetime Achievement

30 November 2012

Paying tribute to women’s achievements over their career lifetime, who inspire future generations of women to pursue a career in science, engineering, or technology.

Belinda studied Physics at Oxford and joined Rolls-Royce in 1985. She has three children and has proved an inspiration for women balancing career and family, as her interest in civil aviation safety led to her current role.

My proudest moment - My proudest moment was getting the job as Rolls-Royce Chief Engineer for the EJ200 turbofan engine, the engine that powers the Eurofighter Typhoon. It was a job I’d coveted from early on in my career and having responsibility for such a high-tech product proved the company’s confidence in my abilities.

My advice to girls - Always do the best job you can and just go for it! Having pride in your work is important for your personal job satisfaction and when your achievements are appreciated by others it’s even more worthwhile.

My advice to the UK - Change the way society treats girls and boys differently and assumes they will have different interests from the moment they are born – a very easy thing to say, but difficult to do.

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