In conversation with Sarah Kenny OBE
Ahead of her keynote speech at INEC on 7 November, we caught up with Sarah Kenny OBE, CEO of BMT, to talk about becoming an industry leader in maritime and defence, and her professional passions.
The first thing you notice about Sarah is her incredible focus – she’s full of energy and armed with facts for our conversation. At the beginning of our discussion we discover that she didn't train as an engineer at all, but a scientist from the fisheries industry. So how did she become one of the most successful figures in naval engineering?
The answer of course, like in so many career stories, is by accident. A move from the East of England to Gosport on the South Coast precipitated the need for a new job. And that just happened to be at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), now QinetiQ.
Many of her friends were skeptical about this move to defence, an industry which, at the time, was perceived to be shrouded in secrecy. But on arrival, the organisation was an inspiration to her and felt at home straight away – she wasn’t judged for being a woman, or a scientist, in the then male-heavy, engineering-dominant industry she says.
Sarah set to work in the environmental team, developing a passion for sustainability before the term was commonplace. Certainly, that work has stayed with her. She is now calling for the maritime defence industry to catch up on sustainability. But ideally, she would like to see more breakthrough innovation on a scale that would put the industry back out in front.
‘We’ve been eclipsed by consumer electronics when it comes to innovation’ Sarah says, but, despite this, she believes there is a real opportunity to grow, gain the strategic edge, and make a real impact in our world.
She emphasises that while the sector is full of brilliant minds, the key to success lies in attracting a broader range of talent and fostering their growth. Diverse workforces not only drive innovation but are also 35% more likely to outperform their competitors, making diversity a powerful advantage in today's competitive landscape. She explains.
In fact, she is delighted that the INEC agenda has diversified to include a wide range of people, safety, and environmental topics, alongside the comprehensive technical programme. Also covered are her three big challenges for the future: digital transformation; decarbonisation and the road to net zero; and alternative fuels, including nuclear.
Sarah is a big believer in bringing people together and thinks the industry lost something in the Covid era. ‘We did run INEC online during the pandemic’ she says, ‘But we really missed the side chats in coffee breaks, and the buzz after inspiring sessions.’
When it comes to her keynote, Sarah isn’t giving much away. However, given our fascinating and wide-ranging conversation, we are excited to hear what she has to say.
INEC takes place in Liverpool 5-7 November. The full agenda is available on the events page.
