From curiosity to confidence: Jo Chetwood’s engineering journey

To mark International Women in Engineering Day, we spoke with Jo Chetwood, Head of Engineering at JERA Nex bp, about her career journey, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and why encouraging more women into engineering matters for the future of our industry

Jo, how did your engineering career begin?

It wasn’t a deliberate choice from the outset – I got into it because I was strong at maths and science at school, and engineering felt like a good option because it let me keep my options open. It was my Masters thesis at the Whittle Lab in Cambridge that first made me seriously consider it as a career.

By then I’d already accepted a graduate role at a management consultancy in finance, so I spent two years there while exploring opportunities in engineering in parallel. When I started looking into renewables, it felt like a natural step and in line with my values and the breadth of skills my training had given me. I secured an EPSRC industrial PhD working on tidal turbines and then moved into the offshore wind industry in 2011. I’ve never looked back.

How has your leadership approach evolved as you’ve taken on more senior roles?

Over time, the role becomes more about enabling others.

I focus on listening carefully, being transparent and helping to connect people across my network where its useful. Early in my career, I was fortunate to work with leaders who were very thoughtful in how they supported others. What stayed with me the most was how they empowered their teams to find the right solutions through trial and error, by giving people the space to work things through. It’s something I try to bring into how I support and develop my team.

What does it mean to you to work in this industry on Women in Engineering Day?

Engineering is still a male-dominated field, and that starts well before university.

I have three daughters, and what I focus on at home is building their confidence in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) – because the capability is there, it’s the confidence that needs nurturing. Over the years I’ve done a lot of maths tutoring, and pupils consistently surprise themselves at what they can achieve. That’s what I want more young women to discover.

The good news is that things are improving. There’s much greater awareness today of the value diversity brings – fresh perspectives make for better engineering and better business decisions. I’m excited about where we are heading.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in the energy sector?

Get as much exposure as possible – attend conferences, seek out different experiences, and be open to a non-linear path.

Career development is never a straight line, and in a sector as broad and fast-moving as offshore wind, that’s actually an advantage. Some of my most valuable moves have been sideways.

Finally, what excites you most about the future of this industry?

It’s an incredibly diverse and interesting sector. The engineering challenges are genuinely complex, the work has real impact on our industry and our planet, and the pace of change is extraordinary.

What I want is for more women to know that it’s for them too – because it absolutely is.

Find out more about internal opportunities at JERA Nex bp here.