Sellafield Ltd’s Rebecca Ballantyne is a finalist for two separate awards that celebrate the work to inspire young people and female talent making a difference in science.
Rebecca Ballantyne, who is originally a Forensic Science graduate from the University of Central Lancashire, joined Sellafield Ltd 10 years ago as a Chemical Analyst. She has since progressed to a Senior Technologist and chartered chemist working for the Strategy and Technical team. For the past 2 years, Rebecca has been working as part of the Women in Nuclear Cumbria team to attract female talent to the sector, engaging regularly with teachers, parents and students.
On 5 November, Rebecca will learn if she’s the winner of the Award for “Outstanding contribution to widening participation, diversity and inclusion in STEM” (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). The STEM Inspiration Awards are sponsored by UK Research and Innovation (UKRWI) and are held at the House of Lords, London. They celebrate outstanding individuals and organisations who inspire young people to pursue STEM subjects throughout education and into STEM careers.
The winners of each category will have the exciting opportunity to attend an exclusive visit to CERN, the European organisation for nuclear research based in Switzerland. They will see cutting-edge science in action, as well as meet top engineers, technicians and physicists from across the facility.
Rebecca will then stay in London after her first awards event to attend another awards ceremony on 7 November. This time the award focuses on female talent. The Women of the Future Awards are sponsored by Aviva and recognise the inspirational stars and future leaders of tomorrow from various sectors across the UK. Rebecca is shortlisted for her achievements in the Science sector.
Rebecca said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for two awards where I’ll be standing alongside others who are making a difference in different sectors. To be recognised for outreach work and contributions to science really is a fantastic achievement. I’m really looking forward to meeting other like-minded individuals and learning about their work at the awards ceremonies.
“These awards shine a light on the important work being done to strengthen the pipeline of female talent in various industries. It’s so important that female advocates and role models share their experiences. I’m happy to share what I’ve learnt in my career, and I’m grateful to those who have been professional mentors for me.
“I’d love to encourage other professionals to do the same by taking a small amount of time out from the day job to consider our next generation of STEM candidates. They could potentially inspire others to pursue a career in STEM and also gain so much in terms of self-development and increased confidence.”
Claire Gallery-Smith, Chair of the Women in Nuclear (WiN) Cumbria regional team, said: “Becky is a worthy finalist for these two awards, as she fits in so much additional work that encourages girls locally to study STEM subjects and consider STEM careers. She is a fantastically positive role model and so willing to share her time and experience to motivate others. The WiN Cumbria team is extremely grateful for all her enthusiastic efforts.”