From fashion to fluid and steam

When Abbie Dean started university, she wanted a creative career in the fashion industry. Now she’s using her creativity in a more specialised field – geothermal fields, to be exact.

Dean works as the lead geothermal geochemist at Contact Energy and is charged with taking care of the Wairakei and Tauhara geothermal fields. It’s a far cry from the fashion degree she started studying, but a career that’s just as creative.

‘‘You need to have a degree of imagination to be a scientist, particularly in what I do. It’s an enormously creative process working out what goes on underground,’’ she said.

Of the 150 employees at Tauhara and Wairakei, just 17 are female.

A strong advocate for women getting involved in the sciences, Dean was appointed New Zealand Ambassador for Women in Geothermal (WING) last year.

The organisation helps encourage the promotion, education and advancement of women operating in the sector.

Now, Dean has finished writing WING’s five-year vision. Part of that road map includes having 50 per cent male membership, with a target of 1500 members, by 2020.

Dean said WING appreciated and needed the support of men.

‘‘Everyone has daughters, nieces, granddaughters, sisters,’’ she said,

‘‘That means we need men involved too, to help ensure the next generation of New Zealanders don’t encounter the subtle gender biases that are still out there and that create barriers for women.’’

Dean said when she first entered the industry, she lacked self-confidence.

‘‘For two years, my internal voice told me I wasn’t good enough. I didn’t know how I could contribute. It took me a long time to work out what I could offer, which is my own opinion,’’ Dean said.

Through taking part in Contact’s mentorship programme though, Dean grew in confidence, and eventually took on new opportunities – such as the WING leadership role.

‘‘When I was asked I discredited myself straight away. Surely they needed someone more senior? Then I realised I was my own worst enemy, I had to challenge myself more, stand up and let my opinion be known.’’ To learn more about WING, visit wing.geothermalenergy.org