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Benita Mehra was speaking today (31 July) after being made an Honorary Doctor of Engineering by the university for promoting diversity in engineering.

Benita was presented at the Brighton Centre awards ceremony by Professor Andrew Lloyd, the university’s Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Operations).

He quoted Benita: “People of colour, the disadvantaged, those who have different abilities or those who have disabilities do need to be tenacious as the world of work can be hostile and people are not always supportive of difference. Talent doesn’t discriminate and neither should we.”

He said Benita, who last year officially opened the university’s new Advanced Engineering Building, was is “a tireless champion of women in engineering”.

Offering advice to graduates Benita said: “I ask that you take opportunities that are around you and have a go. Believe in yourself and don’t take no for an answer.”

Benita has held senior leadership roles in the aviation, housing and health sectors and currently is Director of Strategic Assets and Property at the London Ambulance Service. She served as President of the Women’s Engineering Society and, under her guidance, National Women in Engineering Day has become an international celebration.

Benita Mehra

Benita campaigns for more job sharing and easier routes back into engineering following maternity leave and encourage more job sharing.

She told graduates how some people running small and medium businesses had told her they had not wanted to recruit women, that they could not afford to “take that risk” as women may go and have babies. She replied that after maternity/paternity leave these people will return but may be not to that business: “They’ll come back to society and work in that environment – so don’t automatically make presumptions.”

She advised graduates: “Don’t automatically assume there’s only one way – think what you’d like to learn and how this will aid you in your career. If you want to boost those specific skills in a company or a location anywhere in the world do think about that learning contract that you set yourself here today.

“And set some of those audacious goals for yourself but don’t beat yourself up as you see your colleagues move in a different direction to yourself but enjoy, and enjoy the fun.

“Use the power of meeting people, networking, getting more than one opinion as there isn’t a linear path and I would suggest just keep having a go and keep trying.”

Benita encourage graduates to volunteer, adding: “Trust your instincts and take a different point of view from what you may have anticipated.”