Name: Yasmin Ali

Job Title: Project Development Manager (Batteries)

Company: RWE

Yasmin Ali is a chartered chemical engineer dedicated to developing renewable energy projects, and the author of Power Up: An Engineer’s Adventures into Sustainable Energy. Having worked in coal and gas fired power stations and oil and gas, Yasmin transitioned away from fossil fuels into more sustainable energy systems over the course of her career – working on heat networks, energy innovation funding, green hydrogen project development, and now battery project development for RWE. In addition, Yasmin has given over a hundred talks about engineering and energy, written for the BBC and Metro, and featured in TV and radio programmes. In recognition of her public engagement work, she has been awarded and shortlisted for multiple industry awards, including the 2020 Women’s Engineering Society’s top 50 female engineers in sustainability.

When did you realise that a career in engineering was right for you? Was there a particular moment in your life?

Not until I started working. I took a chance on doing an engineering degree after not getting into medicine for two years in a row, even though I wasn’t sure exactly where it would lead me. I knew after a few years into working in the energy sector that I had made the right choice.

What does an average day look like for you?

At the moment, my days are either in the office in London working with colleagues to assess battery project opportunities, at battery conferences and industry events, or travelling to Germany to meet and work with the wider team. I also spend some of my time doing engineering engagement – from speaking at schools, to attending trustee meetings for NMITE and the Spectris Foundation, two engineering education-focused charities I am involved with.

In previous jobs, I visited electrolyser and hydrogen equipment manufacturers, travelled around the UK to visit energy innovation projects, spent time on offshore oil and gas installations in the North Sea, and worked in power stations.

How did you get into this career? What qualifications did you get?

I have a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nottingham. During my time at university, I did a summer work placement at a gas fired power station, which got me into the energy sector. After graduation, I got on a 2-year Engineering and Leadership graduate scheme with E.ON. I have now been in energy for 15 years!

Have you faced any particular obstacles/challenges in your career due to being a woman?

It’s difficult to answer that question as I can’t compare it to any other experience! I don’t feel that I have, in general I feel welcomed by my colleagues in the energy sector. At times, being a woman has been an advantage – being one of the few women in the room makes me more memorable!

What advice would you give to young girls considering a career in engineering?

Learn more about engineering. Look up women like Yewande Akinola, Krystina Pearson-Rampeearee, or Alex Knight. Be curious about the world around you and the part that engineering plays in every aspect of our lives. Try it out, engineering opens many doors, not just to engineering careers!

Do you have any standout memories from your career as an engineer?

I love doing public engagement about engineering and energy, this has thrown many fun and unusual opportunities my way! Having my book, Power Up, published in 2024 will always be a proud and memorable moment for me. Appearing on the Christmas alumni version of University Challenge was also a fun and nerve-wracking experience! At the other end of the scale, I like talking to primary school students about engineering and always enjoy their uninhibited questions – some recent ones were ‘how old are you?’, ‘are you famous?’, and ‘how much do you get paid?’!!

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