Hannah - 'do not assume you know everything'

Hannah Lucey's career path to becoming a Technical Consultant in renewable energy. Hannah talks about moving from the NHS to environment sector, which transferrable skills are most important, and her dream job that doesn't exist yet.

Current Job

Tell us about your current role     line drawing of a location pin

I work as a Technical Consultant for a consulting company that helps renewable energy projects obtain planning permission by completing technical assessments and consulting with stakeholders.

Career Beginnings

When you were 15, what job did you want and who did you ask for advice?

I wanted to be a Judge and I asked my parents.

Did you have an interest in the environment at this time?

I have always cared about the environment, animals, and through recycling which my mum is very strict on. However, it wasn’t until my 2nd year of uni where I realised I wanted to work in the environment and make a difference/net positive impact.

What were your first steps in starting your career?                                                                                     

I focused on environmental modules at undergrad and then applied for a masters in sustainability. After obtaining my place for my masters I reached out to local environment/wildlife charities to see if I could work there for the summer before I went to university. I ended up working for a wilderness charity on rewilding and helping children connect with nature.


 

A woman with long brown hair and a white shirt smiles at the camera with her arms folded

Career path and skills

What does your career path look like?     line drawing of a walker with a backpack at a sign. a dotted arrow from the sign points back the way they came from

It’s not the most direct path (I did a history undergraduate degree). After undergrad I worked for the NHS for two years during Covid. I then went off to do my masters and then started working in my current job as a renewable energy consultant, after taking some time off to travel. I would say there isn’t really a strong linear path to working in the environment. I think working in a non-linear career provides many more transferable skills, makes you more well-rounded and able to communicate better to different audiences.

I do feel that the technical jobs within the sector are underrepresented in different genders/races. For example, I’m the only woman at my company working in our technical team. 

What skills were important for you to develop in your career?     line drawing of a spanner

Communication and understanding that you need to use different words/tones with different types of people. Being trustworthy and honest is important for people to feel comfortable with your ability to complete work. Asking questions is a valuable skill, do not assume you know everything - someone will always know more than you about something.

If I could create a job in the environmental sector that doesn't exist yet, I would be a...

...Consultant MP. I would be involved in the evolution of laws for the environment without having to be in politics. Informed people should be more involved in making these decisions.

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