Netta Haaring knew a little SPIE when she joined the former TechFM division of SPIE Nederland, now called SPIE Building Solutions, as Tender Manager.
Three years ago, she moved from the TechFM division to the Energies division. As Tender Manager, she was welcomed with open arms into the High Voltage Stations team. "I really enjoyed it.”
"Although the move to the Energies division was mainly based on the people in the team, I did become increasingly aware of the huge contribution we make to achieving the energy transition in the Netherlands. We realize the important projects for TenneT and work with them as a partner. It's very cool to be part of that.
I have an ICT background, and in that industry you did stand out as a woman, because in my early days there were very few women working there. So I’m quite used to working as a woman in a technical services company. Yes, SPIE is still in a man's world, but I don't think SPIE is a typical man's company. Apart from the fact the fact that I have more and more female colleagues, I am not treated differently from anyone else.
Getting more women into engineering remains a challenge. I think a lot more needs to be invested in improving the image of engineering. It starts at elementary and high school. But I believe in putting the right person in the right place. If it is a man, it's a man. If it is a woman, it's a woman."
