With talented women engineers in demand in every country in the rail sector, we spoke to Ella Panganiban, a Junior OCC Engineer working with Hitachi Rail in the Philippines capital, Manila.
Sharing her story as part of our #InspireInclusion series for International Women’s Day, Ella talks about how the booming rail industry in the Philippines offers women engineers a new career pathway. And why the women in leadership positions across the Hitachi Rail global enterprise inspire her every day.
Making an Impact
After I decided to follow in my father’s footsteps and study Electronics Engineering, I found my first job in the railway sector where I worked on the approval of a feasibility study, and the planning and development of transport infrastructure projects.
I quickly came to realise how interesting and innovative this industry is and how I wanted to be a part of it.
Now, I am working on the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project as a member of the Hitachi Rail team, supporting the creation of a sustainable digital commuter railway for greater Manila.
This project will not only change my life through the skills I develop as a young engineer, but it will change other people’s lives. It will transform the way we travel around our city of over 14 million people – how we get to and from work, see our families and friends, and do the things we love doing. It will make our daily lives easier by providing a safe, affordable, and environmentally friendly transport option.
"It is very exciting to work on such a large and impactful project for my country, and I want more young women engineers like me to see that there is a great future in rail in the Philippines"
Meetings have changed slightly, but communication is still key!
A World of Opportunity
Hitachi Rail pioneered the introduction of the European Train Control System (ETCS) in countries around the world including Italy, France, Sweden, Spain and the UK, China and India. We are now bringing this innovative signalling system to the Philippines through the NSCR Project.
As a Junior OCC Engineer, I am part of the Control Center Design & Integration team delivering the turnkey Electrotechnical & Mechanical (E&M) systems of signalling, electrification, telecommunications, fare collection and trackwork for the NSCR.
Learning and growing my knowledge and skills is very important to me, and what I love about being a part of the Hitachi Rail team is that my colleagues are experts in their fields.
Hitachi Rail has a genuine culture of innovation, respect, and collaboration. Even the most senior engineers take the time to share their wisdom and experience on rail projects with me so that I can learn and have the information and resources I need to do my job. They are not ‘gatekeepers’ of their wisdom and together, we are always working to ensure our project is a success.
Many of my team members are based at Hitachi Rail’s head office in Genova, Italy, and travel between there and the Philippines to work on the project. When I started in my role, I spent a month in Italy, to train with my colleagues. This was my first time in Italy, and it was an amazing experience.
Leading the Way
Nadia Mazzino is the Vice President of Control Centre Integration & Advanced Services and leads this aspect of the NSCR Project. I admire Nadia very much and while I do not know her story, I know that she started her career at a time when there were even less women engineers than there are now.
She is a true leader, and I want to be like her – leading engineering teams and projects one day with great skill and kindness.
In the Hitachi Rail office in Manila, there is a balance of men and women in leadership roles too. I think it is still the case that when you think of Managers and Supervisors, that these positions will be filled by men. Not here at Hitachi Rail – Hitachi provides the environment and support for you to develop and grow and lead. Your gender does not matter.
We are made up of different faces, different cultures and different backgrounds. We are all different but at the end of the end of the day we have the same goal: to deliver the Hitachi solution and have a positive impact on people’s lives.
"I have always had an internal drive that says: If others can do it, so can I. There is proof here at Hitachi Rail, that I can. I see and work with women in leadership and technical roles in Hitachi Rail, and as a young female engineer this is a constant source of inspiration"
