Helen Meutermans, graduate mechanical engineer at AtkinsRéalis, was named CIBSE ASHRAE Graduate of the Year at the CIBSE Young Engineer Awards (YEAs) 2024. She offers her advice to other young engineers on building confidence in presenting, managing workloads sustainably, and seeking support through mentoring.
What inspired you to apply for the YEAs?
I went to watch the awards in 2023 and was really impressed by the calibre of the graduate presentations – they looked like TED Talks! I’m not naturally comfortable with public speaking, so I felt it was out of reach for me. However, my line manager and mentor encouraged me to go for it. When we started the application, they helped me see where I’d gone above and beyond in my role, which gave me the confidence to keep going.
What was your presentation about?
My presentation was titled ‘What are the implications for building performance of changing demographics, lifestyles, and the need to keep people safe, healthy, and productive?’ My firm had presented roadshows on neurodiversity, menopause and mental health, and it struck me how challenging it can be for people to thrive in open-plan offices with hot-desking.
I became passionate about inclusive building design and ensuring it is woven into fundamental design criteria, not just an afterthought. I wanted to share that with the audience, to show that inclusive design isn’t just a nice-to-have, it can really improve building performance and how people feel in them.
What did winning the award mean to you?
Winning has been a tremendous confidence boost. I’ve always been hesitant about public speaking, so standing in front of a large audience and delivering a presentation was a significant milestone. It reflects the incredible support I’ve received from my mentors, colleagues and team – I couldn’t have accomplished this without them.
Professionally, being named Graduate of the Year has opened doors. One highlight was attending the ASHRAE Winter Conference in Orlando, which was filled with inspiring talks.
At AtkinsRéalis, the recognition has given me a platform to support other early-career engineers. Alongside other Next Generation Engineers representatives, we launched a lunch-and-learn series, which has been rewarding in helping others grow.
Do you have any tips for other young engineers on presenting?
There are three key lessons that were shared with me while preparing for the awards – and they’ve stuck with me ever since.
Every presentation is a story; know your message and believe in it. Even if you forget your script, you will have something to fall back on, understanding your message helps you handle questions confidently.
Practise in conditions as close to the real thing as possible. Replicate the presentation setup as closely as possible, rehearse introductions, exits and timing; if those go smoothly, the rest often follows.
Finally, I watched Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk on power posing – tricking your brain into feeling more confident through body language. It definitely helped me manage last-minute nerves!
What have been the biggest lessons so far as a young engineer?
Learning to recognise when I’m taking on too much and saying no has been key. Early in my career, I accepted every opportunity to grow and prove myself. Now, I ask for help sooner and manage workloads to maintain quality, avoid burnout and sustain productivity. This shift has positively influenced my professional output and wellbeing.
How can the industry inspire the next generation?
As graduates and apprentices join the workforce, providing robust early guidance is vital.
Mentoring isn’t just limited to senior engineers, those at earlier career stages can also contribute valuable insights and support professional growth. Fostering an environment where individuals feel comfortable seeking assistance and engaging in meaningful conversations is key, promoting knowledge sharing and a culture of continuous learning.
Looking ahead, what are your ambitions for the future?
I aim to continue my technical development and work towards achieving chartership within the next few years, gaining experience across various projects to meet the necessary competencies and strengthen engineering judgement.
I’m passionate about supporting newcomers. I’d love to see the lunch-and-learn sessions develop and spread to other offices. I hope to be a mentor to others, in the same way my mentors supported me, helping them build confidence. Creating space for others to grow and feel supported is something I really value.