International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the women who are shaping a more sustainable, resilient future, and within the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads, that leadership is driving real, measurable change. As the industry works to transform how roads are designed, built, and maintained, women across our project are championing innovation, and contributing to the transition oflow‑carbon infrastructure. Their expertise span engineering, carbon, project management and communications, but their impact is united by a shared purpose: creating cleaner, greener roads for the generations that follow. 

From pioneering new low‑carbon methods to positively influencing everyday practice, these women are not only influencing the direction of the sector, but they are also redefining what progress looks like. Their work shows that decarbonisation is not just a technical challenge, but a human one, powered by collaboration, creativity, and the courage to rethink what’s possible. 

To mark International Women’s Day, we asked some of them to share their experiences, reflecting the many ways women shape and strengthen the future of STEM. Here’s what they had to say: 

Lauren SeBlonka, Innovation Business Partner 

My personal proudest moment has been building a team of so many talented women in the North Campus – Alisha, Alex, Annabelle (and Elaine at North Lanarkshire). It has been probably the highlight of my career, to see all of them flourish in such a male-dominated field, expressing their confidence and not ever being afraid to challenge and voice their perspective. Representation and genuine inclusion matters, particularly in enabling a just transition to net zero, and I truly believe that this has been at the heart of this Live Lab’s success.  

Some other highlights have also been my Associate Laureate Award and, more recently, being invited by Hugh Gillies to speak about my career as a woman in the Scottish road industry at the PIARC Gender, Inclusion and Diversity reception event in Chambery. 

Febin Fathima, Carbon Lead 

Working in STEM and within CEDR has been a really rewarding experience. Coming from a data and carbon analytics background, I’ve enjoyed being part of a space where technical work directly supports real-world outcomes. What I appreciate most is that STEM here isn’t limited to one type of role—there’s a huge variety of work happening across the team, and everyone’s expertise contributes to the bigger picture. Being part of CEDR has given me the opportunity to grow my skills, support innovation, and collaborate with colleagues who are passionate about making a positive impact. 

Alex Morgan, Project Manager 

Working in STEM, and within the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads, has been such a rewarding part of my career. I’ve had the chance to contribute to real-world innovation including supporting low‑carbon material trials to helping build a knowledge base that empowers local authorities to make more sustainable decisions. 

As a woman in STEM, I’m proud to work in a space where collaboration, curiosity, and creativity are celebrated, and where the impact of our work extends far beyond engineering. Working on this project has shown me that innovation happens when diverse voices shape the conversation, and I’m grateful to be one of them. 

Alisha McKinlay, Communications Lead 

Being part of the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads (CEDR) is something I’m genuinely proud of, especially seeing the impact it’s having across the roads industry. My communications role has allowed me to work closely with suppliers on exciting innovations and to learn from stakeholders about the challenges they face and the opportunities for positive change. The diversity and expertise within the CEDR team have made this an exceptional experience and a great opportunity to expand my skills.