Siona Daly

Background

About Siona Daly

My professional journey began when I graduated with a First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering in UCD in 2004, followed by a Masters in Engineering Management in the UK, 2005. Back in 2005, I was voted by my peers, to be Student Welfare Officer, in Cranfield University, and really enjoyed arranging well-being activities for students during my term of office. My initial work experience was in manufacturing/pharmaceutical industry which saw me work in both Ireland and Australia. Although an interesting experience, my heart was more interested in the environment and social aspect of engineering. I left this well-established global manufacturing company to start work in Climate Action in 2008. Since 2008, I have worked as an Energy Engineer in both small and large companies. In 2017, I was singled out for a leadership progression pathway and transferred into a leadership position for the first time. As an extremely reflective person, I consider myself someone who thinks and cares deeply for the organisations I work for and the people that drive these companies. There is an inextricable link between the well-being of staff and the success of a company. The most important role of a leader, in my opinion, is clear communication, open dialogue, unbiased decision making, governance, active policies and clear roles/responsibilities/reporting lines. Leaders also need to be extremely mindful of minorities in their organisations - i.e. gender, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation etc. As a leader, I strive to empower these minorities and educate / raise awareness of bias. Since 2021, I have been completing a Masters in Education. It has been an incredible experience working with young people, our future generation, learning about reflective practice, human psychology, leadership, diversity and bias, policy making, management, conflict resolution / restorative practice (from open dialogue to mediation) and global citizenship. I am so grateful for my professional journey and hence professional identity - a thought leader who advocates for diversity and inclusion, especially women in Engineering, and a leader who recognises well-being as a priority in work and life.