Careers at Cadent

When Paula first stepped into the utilities industry, she often found herself as the only woman in the room. Fast forward to today, and she’s leading Cadent’s North West operations, bringing with her a wealth of experience, a passion for people, and a deep commitment to inclusion. Her journey hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been full of purpose.

This International Women in Engineering Day, we sat down with Paula to hear how she’s helping shape a more diverse and supportive future in engineering, one where everyone has the chance to thrive.

Job Title: Director for the North West, Cadent
Time at Cadent: Two years (as of September)

From the Only Woman in the Room to Leading the Way

When Paula began her career in the utilities sector, she quickly noticed something: she was often the only woman in the room. That early experience fuelled a lifelong commitment to championing diversity and inclusion in industries where women have historically been underrepresented.

After studying to become a Chartered Surveyor, Paula built a dynamic career across the utilities landscape. At United Utilities, she held a range of operational roles, helped establish an integrated control centre, led transformational change, and embedded a strong culture of health, safety, and wellbeing.

Each step along the way added to a toolkit of leadership, resilience, and people-first thinking—skills that ultimately led her to Cadent, where she now serves as Director for the North West.

A Role with Real Impact

Today, Paula leads a team responsible for delivering gas safely and reliably through more than 21,000 miles of pipeline to 2.7 million homes, hospitals, and businesses. From energy operations and asset management to emergency response, she oversees every aspect of the network with a focus on safety, efficiency, and purpose.

But for Paula, leadership goes beyond operations. “Keeping our employees Safe + Well is one of my top priorities,” she says. “That also means fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.”

As a proud sponsor of Women in Cadent, Paula is helping to build a workplace that’s not only inclusive, but actively empowering women to thrive in engineering careers.

Overcoming Challenges, Celebrating Progress

Early in her career, Paula faced the challenge of being seen as credible in a male-dominated industry. “I’m a people person. I love solving problems and delivering great service. It took time to realise that my strengths were complementary to those around me.”

Now, she uses her platform to celebrate the progress being made and the people driving it. Under her sponsorship, Women in Cadent has:

• Launched seven subgroups supporting colleagues across STEM, mental health, menopause awareness, and more
• Achieved Fertility Friendly Employer and Menopause Friendly Employer accreditations
• Introduced ‘Girls Out Loud’, a mentorship programme for young women
• Welcomed more women into Cadent’s engineering apprenticeship schemes

Making a Difference, Every Day

For Paula, the most rewarding part of her role is knowing the work truly matters. “At the most basic level, we’re keeping people warm and connected. But it goes far beyond that, we’re supporting those in fuel poverty, building an inclusive workplace, and inspiring the next generation of engineers.”

Her story is a powerful reminder that leadership in engineering isn’t just about technical expertise, it’s about people, purpose, and paving the way for others to succeed.