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ICE Community blog

How helping others put me on the path to Fellowship

Date
03 February 2025

Kathleen Harrison shares her journey to become an ICE Fellow and demystifies it along the way.

How helping others put me on the path to Fellowship
Kathleen Harrison often volunteers her time to Image credit: Kathleen Harrison

My journey to become an ICE Fellow was a stop-start one.

Personal and global factors played a part – from workload to pandemic lockdowns.

I’d always been aware of Fellowship, but I wasn’t sure how you achieved it.

Getting more involved with the ICE and spending time alongside other Fellows made me realise they weren’t that different from me.

So after I became a Fellow myself, I knew that I could do the same for others and support them on their professional qualification journey.

Kathleen receiving her Fellowship certificate from ICE Past President Ed McCann. Image credit: Kathleen Harrison
Kathleen receiving her Fellowship certificate from ICE Past President Ed McCann. Image credit: Kathleen Harrison

Struggling with imposter syndrome

In 2014, about six years after becoming chartered and through my involvement with the ICE North West Regional Committee, I began to feel that Fellowship was something I could achieve.

I probably didn’t have the right experience at that stage of my career. So when someone pointedly said this, I put any thoughts of applying out of my mind for a while.

In 2019, when a group came together in my company’s Manchester office and discussed what was involved, I started to think about Fellowship again.

I arranged to meet with the ICE regional director to discuss what I needed to do.

After the negative comments from a few years before, imposter syndrome loomed large, but I came away from that meeting feeling a lot more positive that I was on the right path.

Volunteering supported my application

I started a new role in 2020. An ICE regional director advised that the experience I would gain from a year in my new post would significantly strengthen the evidence in my chosen attributes for my application.

It was also suggested that I reference my volunteering work.

I’d been involved in my local ICE branch for over a decade and was very active in bringing trainees through their professional qualification processes.

I’ve been a delegated and supervising civil engineer, and sponsored applications for professional reviews.

Building Equality

I’m also involved with Building Equality (BE), which supports those from the LGBTQ+ community who are already in civil engineering or looking to develop careers in the sector.

As the ICE North West representative, I co-authored the BE Allies Toolbox talk and have presented several lunch and learn sessions.

I was co-chair for two years and managed the transition out of lockdown. I helped with reconnecting with each other as a network and raising money for local LGBTQ+ charities.

We attend many Pride events in Salford, Leeds and Manchester, wearing decorated hardhats, often walking with a rainbow JCB!

Kathleen at Pride with the rainbow JCB. Image credit: Kathleen Harrison
Kathleen at Pride with the rainbow JCB. Image credit: Kathleen Harrison

Global events overtook everything!

During the pandemic, trying to maintain delivery across the framework for which I was responsible became my focus.

Although we were still in lockdown the following year, my situation became more settled, and I felt able to consider my application again.

The review process

Unlike ICE Professional Reviews, there’s no presentation for ICE Fellowship – you’re judged purely on your written application.

It was nerve-wracking waiting until the Fellowship Panel had met to find out if I was successful or not.

When I found out I’d been accepted, I was shocked, surprised and excited!

Ready to take the next steps in my career

I’ve always viewed achieving professional qualifications as important career markers.

They demonstrate that you’ve met certain criteria and are recognised outside your own organisation.

They open the way to more career opportunities and set you apart from your peers.

That I’ve been able to become an ICE Fellow was evidence I was able to take the next steps in my career, taking on more senior roles within my company.

It has also given me the opportunity to connect with other Fellows, particularly women through the ICE Connects network events.

Some are leaders of our industry, and it’s unlikely I’d have come across them in my day-to-day activities at work.

ICE Connects: growing the Women in Fellowship network

The ICE Connects network is hosting a hybrid event to allow women and industry allies to explore the importance of diversity across Fellowship.

Delivered by ICE regions, the event is being held in 13 locations across the UK, South Africa, Dubai, the Americas, and India, as well as online.

Register today

Inspiring others

I was surprised at the number of people who got in contact to congratulate me, but to also ask about the process.

I think many people view ICE Fellowship as something only very senior executives in our industry can achieve.

To know that someone they work alongside had achieved Fellowship made it feel a more realistic prospect to them.

In addition to women reaching out to me, I’m happy to say that I apparently inspired some of my male peers to apply, too!

Kathleen volunteers with Building Equality to support LGBTQ+ engineers in the industry. Image credit: Kathleen Harrison
Kathleen volunteers with Building Equality to support LGBTQ+ engineers in the industry. Image credit: Kathleen Harrison

Encouraging other women

I’ve always tried to help and encourage other women, whether that’s encouragement to enter the profession or supporting them during their careers and training.

As well as describing my career, I also share the evidence I used, to demonstrate to them that their careers and experience were suitable.

When I was first asked to sponsor another woman’s Fellowship application, I was understandably nervous.

Not because they weren’t yet at the right level, but because I was aware that my sponsorship formed part of the application.

When I heard that she’d been successful, I was relieved – and very proud.

Promoting Fellowship

I’m incredibly proud to be an ICE Fellow, and to be an inspiration to others in our profession.

When people start their careers in civil engineering, we promote professional qualifications, such as Chartership, highlighting that anyone can achieve this.

We should also promote ICE Fellowship to others, too.

Find out how to become a Fellow


  • Kathleen Harrison, Contract Director at Jacobs