Helena Hopkins

Water Management Engineer

Hi, I’m Helena and I really love water! I mean who doesn’t, as we couldn’t live without it. However I didn’t have this career path set in my mind from the offset. I really didn’t know what to do after completing my A-levels. However I knew I really enjoyed Biology, so decided to study this in University. I also really liked computer gaming, so worked in a computer game shop for the duration of the time I was at University. I thought to myself, if I couldn’t get a job in Biology I could follow another passion I had.

After University, I applied for a number of graduate schemes and was successful in attaining a graduate placement at Welsh Water (in which the job experience really played to my advantage!). I was on Welsh Water’s graduate scheme for 2 years where I worked in a variety of roles from Customer Services, Water Quality, Water Production and Network Management. I never realised just how much work went into ensuring clean water came out of our taps!

From here, I got a job as a Water Production Supervisor, managing a team of 15 people over several Water Treatment Works across Wales. I learnt a variety of skills in this role from managing high pressure situations, managing large teams and budgets.

During this time the company also funded me to complete my Masters in Water Management. Nine years later I still work for the same great company, progressing my carrier I am now an Asset Management Engineer, focusing on Program Management and developing solutions for our deteriorating assets.

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