Juliette Parisi

What made you want to pursue a career in engineering? 

I’ve always been attracted by the sea ever since I was very young. I grew up on the west coast of France and spent all my holidays in the ocean. I enjoyed the applied nature of physics at school, so a career in marine engineering was perfect. I did the equivalent of a Masters in Marine Engineering in France, before joining HR Wallingford in 2012 as a Graduate Engineer.

What’s your day to day like?

I have 10 people in my team, and we cover flow and wave modelling. As a Team Lead, I make sure members of my team have opportunities to learn and progress their careers. I also make myself available to support or coach them, and try to ensure that we work as a team effectively. This also includes having social time together and getting to know each other outside of work, which I believe is important. I also try to lead by example in having a good work-life balance – which includes prioritising good working practices and knowing how to say ‘no’ when something isn’t possible. 

As a Principal Engineer my job involves reviewing hydrodynamic numerical modelling and managing complex marine projects, including marine renewables, ports and coastal developments. The work ranges from the technical, including numerical modelling, to client liaison and project management. It’s rare that any two projects are the same, so it never gets boring. The diversity of the projects at HR Wallingford is one of the things that makes this place so special.

Have you enjoyed any particular projects ?

The Morlais Demonstration Zone, which we worked on in in 2020 and 2021, is a tidal energy project off the coast of Anglesey. We were brought in to model quite a large scheme with more than 200 turbines, some of them on the seabed and some of them just under the surface on floating devices. There were several advanced aspects to the project, so it was really interesting and challenging.

What do clients need to know about us?

Our team of experts can answer any water related challenge our clients bring, including things they may not have considered. Everyone is very passionate and we want to help.

What’s it like working here?

The cosmopolitan vibe is one of the things I like – when I arrived I never felt as though I was different because there were so many other nationalities. I made friends very quickly. 

The job is always interesting: you can walk over to the Froude Modelling Hall, or the Ship Simulator, there’s always something fascinating happening. 

I was on the Staff Council for five years, as I enjoy contributing to improve the governance of the company. I will now be focusing on the HR Wallingford’s Women’s Network – I’m really passionate about promoting the role of women in engineering, and raising awareness of the career opportunities there are. I believe visibility is an important aspect to inspire the next generation , so I try to be a role model for other female engineers/scientists.

Howbery Park is a great place to work. I enjoy having lunch on the Manor House terrace, playing volleyball and basketball with colleagues and going to the pub after work of course! 

Out of work, what do you enjoy doing?

I like baking and eating cakes! I also enjoy yoga. I play piano but I mostly play a lot of volleyball. I have been the captain of the Oxford Eagles Volleyball team for several years and we’ve been in a National League for the past two years. Unfortunately, I suffered a very nasty knee injury back in February, which will keep me away from the courts for a full year, needing a long rehab after surgery. This is probably one of the biggest challenge I have ever faced and therefore I decided to take  that time as an opportunity to get coaching qualifications and start my coaching career.