Emma named a national trailblazer
A working mum from Holbrook has won a national award for carving out a pioneering career.
Emma Christensen is the UK’s only female emergency planning manager for an electricity company, having secured promotions through hard work and her proactive approach.
The UK Power Networks employee was awarded the Returning Star award at the Women in Utilities Awards in London, by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. The judges called Emma, who returned to work in 2022 after having her son, a ‘trailblazer’ who inspired others.
The former Holbrook High School pupil studied to gain qualifications to control electricity networks at 132,000-volts, the first woman ever to hold such a key role in UK Power Networks’ history. She then progressed to the role of emergency planning manager at the company‘s Ipswich office – again the first female to ever do so in the company which encourages young women into STEM careers.
Emma now takes a leading role when storms and other major incidents damage the electricity networks, helping to ensure customers get power back as quickly as is safely possible. She runs UK Power Networks’ mutual aid response, coordinating support for other parts of the UK during major incidents such as Storm Eowyn in January when she sent 100 personnel to Northern Ireland.
She said: “I was really surprised to win as there was some stiff competition. I’d never considered energy or engineering as a career - I actually did Sociology and Criminology at university then joined UK Power Networks in 2012 and various roles led me into the engineering side. It proves that if you work hard and are prepared to study, you can have a rewarding and interesting career. Our industry is traditionally male-dominated but I can see that changing as time goes on and I work with a great team.”
Published 07/07/25
Emma Christensen is the UK’s only female emergency planning manager for an electricity company, having secured promotions through hard work and her proactive approach.
The UK Power Networks employee was awarded the Returning Star award at the Women in Utilities Awards in London, by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. The judges called Emma, who returned to work in 2022 after having her son, a ‘trailblazer’ who inspired others.
The former Holbrook High School pupil studied to gain qualifications to control electricity networks at 132,000-volts, the first woman ever to hold such a key role in UK Power Networks’ history. She then progressed to the role of emergency planning manager at the company‘s Ipswich office – again the first female to ever do so in the company which encourages young women into STEM careers.
Emma now takes a leading role when storms and other major incidents damage the electricity networks, helping to ensure customers get power back as quickly as is safely possible. She runs UK Power Networks’ mutual aid response, coordinating support for other parts of the UK during major incidents such as Storm Eowyn in January when she sent 100 personnel to Northern Ireland.
She said: “I was really surprised to win as there was some stiff competition. I’d never considered energy or engineering as a career - I actually did Sociology and Criminology at university then joined UK Power Networks in 2012 and various roles led me into the engineering side. It proves that if you work hard and are prepared to study, you can have a rewarding and interesting career. Our industry is traditionally male-dominated but I can see that changing as time goes on and I work with a great team.”
Published 07/07/25