Dr Esu used to work for Cundall, a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy in Birmingham. She worked within the Building Services to undertake surveys of existing buildings and engineered electrical services for new builds, refurbishment and fit-out projects. This role involved designing the electrical services for buildings.
Currently, she works at the Building Research Establishment. In this role, she researches topics around smart buildings, whilst writing proposals for new projects. This role allows her to use her PhD to build smart cities.
Dr Esu grew up in Nigeria, where she often didn’t have electricity but moved to the UK in 2008 when she was 17. Dr Esu graduated with a first from Loughborough University with a BEng and then started work as a graduate engineer for Cundall whilst finishing her PhD, also at Loughborough, in electronic and electrical engineering.
In an interview, Dr Esu commented on what she finds most exciting about her career:
“The diversity of projects I get involved in and the different project teams I get to collaborate with excite me. Developing a new method, improving an existing engineering method, mastering a new software, technique, opportunities to travel for work, and successfully managing a project from concept design to construction also excite me about my job.”
– The Guardian
Her advice for any woman from a BAME background is simple:
Ozak is passionate about sustainable design, agriculture, renewable energy, and international development. She works with schools and organisations in Nigeria to prove that poverty can be eradicated through engineering, knowledge-sharing, and the empowerment of women.
In 2017, she won the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year. The IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards celebrate women working in modern engineering – and aim to help change the perception that engineering is predominantly a career for men by banishing outdated engineering stereotypes of hard hats and greasy pipes.
She was also one of the Top 50 women in Engineering Under 35 in 2017.
Congratulations Dr Ozak Esu, you really are a role model.
“Go for it! Stem subjects provide so many career disciplines to choose from, so I recommend attending careers fairs, seeking work experience opportunities and engaging with people within the industry to get a feel for what’s involved.”
– The Guardian
Read this interview with Dr Esu and The Guardian.
Follow Dr Esu on Twitter
