Every year, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science highlights the vital contributions women make across the scientific community and calls attention to the importance of building inclusive, equitable pathways into STEM. The day serves as both a celebration of progress and a reminder of the work still needed to ensure equal access, representation, and opportunity for women and girls who aspire to shape the future of science. To honour this global event, we sat down with Michaela Radford, a dedicated professional whose career has been shaped by a commitment to safety, innovation, and supporting others in the life sciences environment.

Her journey offers valuable insight into what it means to thrive as a woman in a science‑based profession and how organisations can create workplaces where all talent has the opportunity to succeed. Below, she shares insights from her journey, advice for the next generation, and her perspective on building safer, more inclusive workplaces.

What inspired you to pursue a career in SHEQ, and how does a background in science shape the way safety is approached?

Like many other SHEQ-related employees, I fell upon my SHEQ career, and I wouldn’t look back! No two days are the same, and there’s always improvements to be made – whether results of technical advances, or the drive to maintain a positive culture across our sites. I suppose I’ve always been passionate about people, and having the opportunity to ensure my colleagues have a safe working environment and go home safely each day, provides me with great job satisfaction. I believe a background in science shapes a proactive, analytical, and evidence-based approach to safety, turning it from a tick box exercise into an integrated, foundational component of operation. This perspective emphasizes understanding the "why" behind safety procedures, reducing uncertainty through meticulous risk assessment, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

From your experience, what are the biggest safety challenges in our sector right now, and how do you use evidence-based thinking to tackle them?

BES-specific safety challenges revolve around the high-risk activities we undertake to deliver the high-standard, turn-key solutions that our clients require. These include activities such as working at height, people and plant interface, and temporary work. To help tackle these, we have a group-level strategy of 11 Minimum Standards, aligned to the Plan, Do, Check, Act methodology, and are supported by our ‘It Starts with Me’ campaign, empowering our employees to stop work if they feel it’s unsafe. However, I believe the biggest safety challenges across the design and construction sector are the need for rapid delivery, a shrinking talent pool, and the integration of new technology. To allow us to tackle these, our design team has reviewed alternate delivery methods and introduced modular construction to increase the speed of delivery, effective quality control, cost efficiency, and enhanced flexibility. To enhance the shrinking talent pool, we actively support apprenticeships to allow young individuals to see the fast array of STEM opportunities we can help support. And to ensure we stay up to date on new technologies, we are continuously developing our teams, providing them with opportunities to enhance their skill sets and drive innovation, with a clear focus on sustainable deliveries.

As a woman in a science-led profession, what barriers have you faced, and what has helped you succeed in this industry?

My most memorable barrier was from a college teacher, who took one look at me with my nails painted, made up, and dressed in formal attire and told me I wasn’t cut out for a construction site and that I should consider other options! For many who know me personally, this was seen more as a challenge than a disappointment – and here I am today! Thankfully, I don’t believe I’ve seen many other barriers regarding my personal experiences, but I am aware that there is still a lack of female progression in STEM careers.

 

I don’t know whether this is a result of unconscious bias, the gender pay gap, or the work-life balance mindset, where women predominantly take on the family responsibilities. Nonetheless, I do believe that a lack of women in senior positions limits the ability of mentorships and role models, and in turn feeds into the mindset that STEM is not for women. However, over my working career, I’ve been lucky enough to have had some fantastic leaders, who have taught me the key to success is to have confidence in my own ability, to never be afraid to ask questions and to always start with a positive mindset. Without question, having these mentors has helped me to progress and develop my career.

What advice would you give to young women and girls interested in pursuing careers in life sciences, safety, or engineering?

As I’m a mum of three daughters (one of whom is studying cancer science), I think the answer is simple – just go for it! The old-school mentality has largely shifted, and women are able to work in any field without limitation. And, if you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in an unhappy environment, that doesn’t mean you need to change your career aspirations; it just means you need to find a better leader!

 

The key to building a successful career in a male-dominated environment is to be confident in yourself and to not allow yourself to be intimidated; and to focus on your competence, working to the best of your ability, and allowing your passion to drive you – then, the world is yours to explore.