International Women in Engineering Day - Celebrating the women making decarbonisation happen at wienerberger UK & Ireland

Emilande Renard, Senior Thermal Process Engineer at wienerberger UK & Ireland, shares insight on her role in major energy projects and decarbonisation.

At wienerberger UK & Ireland, women across the business are shaping the future of construction and sustainability through their expertise and innovation in engineering. One of those people is Emilande Renard whose work focuses on energy efficiency and industrial decarbonisation across the UK.

From intern to leading national projects

Emilande’s journey at wienerberger began eight years ago, when she joined as a Process Engineer Intern. Since then, she has progressed through several roles, building both technical expertise and leadership experience along the way.

“I joined wienerberger as a Process Engineer Intern in 2018 before moving into a full-time role at our Broomfleet roof tile production site. After progressing from Process Engineer to Process Manager, I joined the UK Energy & Thermal Team in 2022, where I’ve had the opportunity to work with colleagues across the UK on a wide range of topics. Today, I lead the UK Energy and Thermal Team and manage the Denton green hydrogen fuel switch project, both of which have brought exciting new challenges and opportunities this year.”

Turning complex challenges into real-world solutions

As a Senior Thermal Process Engineer, Emilande’s role spans everything from supporting operational performance to leading decarbonisation initiatives that will shape the future of manufacturing.

“I love how versatile my role is, which ranges from supporting factories with thermal and quality challenges, developing best practices and energy standards, ensuring ISO 50001 compliance, and delivering energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects. This variety and the opportunity to solve real-world problems is what attracted me to engineering.”

From ambition to implementation

A key part of Emilande’s role is helping bridge the gap between innovative ideas and practical application, particularly in live manufacturing environments, where change must be carefully managed.

“Our team identifies decarbonisation opportunities and develops concepts in detail to understand their technical and operational viability. When an idea is proven to stack up, it moves into a live project. From there, we work closely with site teams and central functions to make sure everything is practical, reliable and delivers real benefits, with a strong focus on safe and effective implementation.

Manufacturing environments can be unpredictable, particularly on older sites, so staying flexible, communicating clearly and working together to overcome challenges is key. Also, the factory teams know our sites better than anyone, so listening to their expertise and involving them throughout the process is essential.”

Leading projects that shape the future

For Emilande, some of the most rewarding moments come when the projects her team is working on begins to take shape physically. 

“Our projects at sites in Denton, Broomfleet and Warnham are already being recognised as flagship initiatives for the ceramics sector, setting the direction for future decarbonisation. With projects of this scale and innovative nature, there is a real responsibility to ensure these projects are delivered safely and successfully. Beyond that, maintaining a strong focus on the learnings and knowledge gained is key, as it will help inform future investment decisions and shape decarbonisation across the industry. These projects involve months, sometimes years of work behind the scenes before anything can be seen on site. Seeing construction begin and equipment being installed is incredibly rewarding, as the project moves from plans on paper to becoming a reality.”

When asked what she enjoys most about her role, Emilande highlights the impact it creates.

“What I enjoy most is being able to see the direct impact of our work, whether that’s improving performance or reducing energy consumption through small or major projects. I also really value working alongside colleagues across the business to bring these initiatives to life together.”

Creating space for future engineers

Emilande highlights the importance of representation, support and visibility, and the positive impact they have had throughout her career. She hopes to see more people, particularly women, step into engineering roles. 

“I’ve been fortunate to work with many supportive colleagues and mentors who have shared their knowledge and encouraged my development. Visible role models are important because they help people see what is possible, showcase the many different career paths available, and inspire others to pursue opportunities they might not have considered. 

Engineering is for everyone, and the industry is stronger when women are represented at every level, bringing diverse voices and fresh perspectives. While outdated perceptions still exist, there is absolutely a place for you. If engineering interests you, don’t hesitate, go for it!” 

Building for what’s next

“I’m excited to see the UK’s first electric and hydrogen tunnel kilns go live at Broomfleet and Denton over the next 18 months. Beyond that, there are so many innovative technologies and ideas emerging that it’s an exciting time for the ceramics industry, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.” — Emilande Renard, Senior Thermal Process Engineer, wienerberger UK & Ireland.

As wienerberger continues building for what’s next, it’s the expertise and leadership of people like Emilande that are driving progress across the business and beyond. As we mark this special occasion, we celebrate and appreciate these contributions of our people.

Happy International Women in Engineering Day from all of us at wienerberger UK & Ireland.