Meshi Taka talks about how being an ICE Fellow brings confidence to try new things.
I’d thought about becoming an ICE Fellow for a while.
But when I got chartered in 2015, I was told that you need to have been practising for a set period before you could become one.
If you want to pursue chartership, you can simply go onto the ICE’s website and look. The information is available to every paying member.
I think ICE Fellowship is regarded as slightly less accessible. It’s not a simple self-checking process.
Thinking that ICE Fellowship is about time served, though, is a hangover because it’s still regarded by many as an exclusive club.
And until I attended some of the ICE’s Fellowship webinars, I’d assumed that I didn’t have the experience.
Changing landscape
I started university in 1999 and in the 25 years since, there’s been a massive generational shift.
People are more open to different types of skills and measuring value.
For instance, you don’t need to be a company director. There are lots of engineers out there doing good work, and who have lots of experience, who aren’t.
The ICE’s Fellowship webinars were very useful in that respect. I could sit and listen to different narratives.
Seeing things through a different lens
My career has been very varied. I’ve done the technical work, but I’ve also done a lot in equity, diversity and inclusion.
I’d already had the opportunity to view the workplace, our home in so many ways, through a different lens.
The webinars removed the mystery and enabled me to see what others had done and realise that I had more options than I’d assumed.
The ‘why not?’ mindset
I also wanted to apply because of the proportion of Fellows that are women.
I’m a natural disruptor and I realised that to change things you have to be a part of the solution.
After attending some webinars, I checked with my ICE regional director, and we agreed it was time.
...to change things you have to be a part of the solution.
Meshi Taka
It wasn’t easy but, once I’d committed, I wanted to see things through.
I’m generally of that ‘why not?’ mindset. I figured that if I didn’t succeed, the process would at least provide some valuable feedback.
Understanding the Fellow attributes
The Fellowship webinars helped me to realise that I hadn’t understood the attributes fully.
I had multiple attributes that I could’ve done at the same time.
Conversations with my ICE regional director and someone else I’ve known for several years confirmed that I was particularly strong in two attributes.
Finding my sponsors
I had two sponsors, one from the ICE and another from the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).
My CIWEM sponsor seemed the natural choice given my experience in water and role at that time.
But there turned out to be something of a disconnect with using a non-ICE Fellow as a sponsor, as their statement didn't initially meet the ICE requirements.
They were willing to consult with an ICE Fellow to gain a better understanding of what the ICE needed. I then resubmitted my updated CPD records alongside.
Fellowship is a much easier process
I know several people who’ve been reluctant to go for ICE Fellowship because they remember the rigorous work it took to become chartered.
Fellowship is a much easier process, especially once you’ve decided upon your attributes.
I wrote a draft and shared it with my ICE regional director and updated it following the comments I got back.
My top tips for potential applicants
I’d suggest three things to potential applicants.
The first is to attend the ICE Fellowship webinars or sessions, as they show that the process isn’t actually a huge mountain to climb.
Secondly, speak to people who are already ICE Fellows.
Thirdly, be tenacious.
What being a Fellow means to me
The benefits of being an ICE Fellow mean different things for me.
The first is on the personal level. My father was a civil engineer, and so this for me is my life and not just my job.
My father worked mainly in Africa and never even pursued associate status. When I became an ICE Fellow, I felt I’d done it for both of us.
Shattering glass ceilings
I’m the eldest of seven children and have three sisters.
I was raised in a culture characterised by traditional gender roles for men and women, although my home environment was different.
I feel that I’ve helped to create a more level playing-field.
Meshi Taka
From an early age, I wasn't focused on being first.
What mattered more to me was succeeding in breaking through those glass ceilings so that others could follow in my footsteps and achieve that top position.
I feel that I’ve helped to create a more level playing-field. Accessibility is a big thing to me.
Breaking out of the 9-to-5
I’m now an independent professional consultant. I don’t think I would’ve had the confidence to break out of the 9-to-5 had I not become an ICE Fellow.
I currently work on a fixed contract with Gateshead Council as the project lead for Project Groundwater Northumbria.
This is part of the Environment Agency’s Flood and Coastal Resilience and Innovation Programme. The project is specially funded by DEFRA, and it’s multidisciplinary.
ICE Fellowship enables me to exist more comfortably in that environment as there’s just a different energy.
No more self-doubt
Being an ICE Fellow takes away self-doubt.
Even as a Chartered Civil Engineer, you may still feel the need to justify your experience, such as how long you've been in the field or chartered.
Achieving Fellowship means you are simply recognised as an ICE Fellow, regardless of duration.
For women, particularly those from minority backgrounds, this distinction is significant.
What’s the worst that could happen?
To anyone thinking of applying, I’d ask them: what’s the worst that could happen?
You might not succeed, but you’ll receive valuable feedback on how to succeed next time.
Connect with your ICE regional director, watch the webinars, and hear others' experiences.
You might still choose to wait a little longer, but at least you'll be making an informed decision.
