A rising star at Inmarsat has been shortlisted for a national award championing the next generation of female leaders.

Sarah Pickett, who is on Inmarsat’s Technology and Engineering Graduate Programme, has been selected for the science and engineering category of the WeAreTheCity 2020 Rising Star Awards. She is one of 200 finalists representing 20 different industries and professions chosen by a team of independent judges.

Category winners will be chosen by the public and announced next month. You can view the shortlists and cast your vote here. Voting closes on 1 May.

STEM commitment

Sarah joined Inmarsat having completed her MSc in Space Engineering with distinction from the University of Surrey. Our graduate scheme offers a range of experience in different parts of the business, and to date Sarah has made her mark in Product Group, working on combining new and existing maritime terminal technology to improve crew welfare; as a Software Developer in the Network Software Support Group; and now in the Spacecraft Analyst team, where she is developing scenarios for our spacecraft simulators, used for training and procedure testing.

Sarah also shows great commitment to Inmarsat’s STEM outreach programme, visiting local schools and taking part in insights days held at our City Road, London HQ. She also volunteers with the Inmarsat-supported charity Team Rubicon UK, which offers disaster response support in the UK and around the world.

Outside of work she sits on the Satellite Technical Network’s executive committee for the Institute of Engineering (IET), organising industry events for students, apprentices and professionals interested in engineering within the space industry.

Careers advice

WeAreTheCity is an online forum providing free careers advice and resources for women looking to develop themselves personally and professionally. The organisation also helps companies to attract, retain and develop their female talent pool.

Since the Rising Stars programme was launched six years ago, the awards have highlighted the achievements of more than 550 women.