In celebration of the International Maritime Organisation’s 2023 International Day for Women in Maritime, we have put together profiles of three of Anemoi’s women in wind to hear their take on working within the maritime industry in a various job roles from engineering to finance.
Stephanie Ryder, Senior Mechanical Engineer
Tell us about what you do at Anemoi and your previous work experience
I started my career working in the oil & gas industry on large scale FEED and EPC engineering projects. In these early years I gained a great foundation of experience working on the equipment design and construction of offshore oil platforms and LNG vessels. I then joined Anemoi as a Mechanical Engineer shortly after the company was incorporated and have had the privilege of seeing the company grow to where we are today. I’m now a Senior Engineer and work with our growing engineering team on the design and production of our Rotor Sail Systems.
What is it like working in the maritime industry in your role?
Working on wind propulsion technology within maritime industry is a very exciting space to be in right now. We have the benefit of regulatory and CSR drivers working to our advantage, but the technical engineering challenges require innovative thinking and close collaboration with stakeholders across the industry, including class societies, ship designers and vessel owners. It’s incredibly satisfying to see the tangible results of our efforts, knowing that the solutions we develop have a real impact on improving the sustainability and performance of maritime vessels and I’m very proud to be part of the team working to tackle these issues head-on.
How did you get into engineering for the maritime industry?
Having a previous background in offshore oil & gas, the maritime industry was a logical side-step which allowed me to build on the foundation I gained working in similar environments. I was drawn to the opportunity to contribute to the development of sustainable technology in an industry which, at the time, was still at the beginning of the sustainability journey and it has been an extremely rewarding experience.
Misha Piggott, HR Manager
Tell us about what you do at Anemoi and your previous work experience
I support the day to day running of the HR function at Anemoi and support the Company to meet its goals through its people by implementing appropriate HR strategies to support the full employee life cycle.
My background and career prior to Anemoi brings together the Anemoi notion of technology and maritime. Directly prior to joining Anemoi I worked for an insurance tech company to setup and establish the HR function whilst growing the HR team and supporting the business through rapid growth. Prior to this I spent several years working in HR in the maritime industry for an international Japanese shipping company, where I worked my way up to HR Business Partner partnered to various subsidiary companies within the associated group to support and execute the HR strategy.
Before settling in maritime and tech I worked for a HR and training consultancy where I was very fortunate to be exposed to all HR areas on an incredibly steep learning curve following my HR studies.
What is it like working in the maritime industry in the role you’re in?
In general, the maritime industry is an old one which stems from conventional shipping which comes with some old practices and traditions. Its fantastic working in HR in the maritime industry as you have the opportunity to challenge some of those traditional views and practices and educate peers whilst making an impact by influencing and implementing processes, practices and procedures which attract and develop talent. At Anemoi this is amplified even more by the fact we a seeking to innovate one of the oldest industries with our wind propulsion technology!
What advice would you give to anyone considering a career in the maritime industry?
I would encourage anyone seeking to pursue a career in the maritime industry to acquire knowledge and learn about the industry to ensure they have good general knowledge, I would recommend signing up to shipping news services such as Tradewinds. Also attending forums and networking events will provide additional exposure and may present opportunities.
Depending on the nature of the role I would also suggest studying towards engineering qualifications and shipping accreditations such as The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. I’d also recommend spending some time sailing to increase your knowledge and exposure. For those not operating in engineering or a technical role like myself, it is definitely well worth a ship visit to increase your knowledge within the maritime industry!
Finally, I have learnt throughout my career to take all opportunities that come your way, including putting your hand up and volunteering to do wok that no one else wants to do.
Lin Gao, Senior Finance Business Partner
Tell us about what you do at Anemoi and your previous work experience
I look after commercial finance in Anemoi. I have been working in the energy industry since 2008 with a great passion for renewable energy finance. I am aware that shipping in the marine sector, particularly long-distance freight carriers, is one of the biggest greenhouse emitters in the world, and also one of the most challenging areas to provide a feasible technical solution for. I hence came to Anemoi, a start-up green technology company, to help drive forward the commercialisation of Rotor Sails.
What is it like working in the maritime industry in your role?
It is great fun to work with marine industry specialists to develop in-depth costing models. It is very rewarding to work out the economic return for ship owners or charters when deploying Rotor Sails alongside the % of fuel saving and reduction of CO2 emissions.
What is your biggest career achievement to date?
My greatest career achievement is a successful fund-raising for a solar photovoltaic technology start-up during its commercialisation journey.