International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Aisling Crowley, Technical Support Officer at Salix Finance

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Aisling Crowley, Technical Support Officer at Salix Finance

In support of International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11th February, Salix are celebrating the important challenges that face the planet, as an effect of the climate emergency and the critical role that women and girls across the world are playing in taking action and making a difference towards a net-zero future.

We chatted to Aisling Crowley, a technical support officer who has worked with Salix since 2018. In that time, Aisling has supported clients and funders by providing technical due diligence for carbon saving, energy efficiency and renewables projects.

Career

I spent the best parts of my childhood in the countryside, developing a strong sense of connection to the environment, this quickly became something I valued as an adult. I went on to read Chemistry at Bristol University, a course which gave me an understanding of the causes and effects of anthropogenic emissions. 

During my time at university, I saw climate change as an increasingly relevant issue and the possibilities available to challenge it if engineers and scientists worked together. This experience inspired me to take my first role at Salix as a technical support officer, supporting and providing due diligence for carbon saving, energy efficiency and renewable projects across the public sector.

My career at Salix

My position requires me to have an aptitude for processing data and understanding technical concepts.  I enjoy having the opportunity to meet enthusiastic energy managers who take pride in their carbon-saving projects and learn about what projects they are developing. My passion for sustainability aligns with the values of Salix as an organisation and this motivates me to play a small part in support of a much bigger picture.

A woman in science

The training opportunities available at Salix allow me to constantly learn and adapt to the ever-changing energy sector and engage with new, innovative technologies that can support the delivery of energy-saving projects.

I am passionate about the environment, I aspire to grow professionally and have an impact in my field, creating positive change for the environment and share knowledge within the industry. I think it’s important to be connected to the sustainability agenda and stay curious about new research and solutions being developed.

There are a growing number of roles within the sustainability and energy sector and I believe it’s essential to be adaptable to these as they evolve to meet the challenges and demands of the climate emergency. I predict the next 10 years in the energy industry is going to get bigger and scale up massively. Specifically, I believe the decarbonisation of heat is going to become a household phrase as it becomes increasingly important as we address climate change challenges leading up to 2030.  

I have found an increasing number of women within my organisation and across the sustainability sector really engaging with the industry. However, I can often find myself in a room full of engineers and, as a younger woman, this can be intimidating at times.

If I could share any advice with other women in the industry, or the younger generation of women and girls looking to enter this (or a similar) industry, it would be to trust your expertise, passions for science and sustainability and have confidence in taking a lead in these important conversations.