Blog[Interview]
International Women's Rights Day
Portraits of the project actors:
Caroline Thiébaud, Head of preparation
& technical coordination
Every year, 8 March celebrates International Women's Rights Day. In this context,
Ailes Marines wanted to highlight the women who operate
every day to help the project move forward.
Zoom in on their careers, their missions and their daily motivations.
What is your background?
I originally trained as amarine engineer, specialising in offshore renewable energy. I graduated in 2011.
To start with, I worked for 5 years for a large London-based consultancy onoffshore electricity interconnection projects as well as on hydro and floating wind projects.
I then returned to France to continue my career, still in a design office and with a stint at RTE(Réseau de transport d'électricité) to work on French industrial projects. I joined theAiles Marines team in 2019.
How long have you been working on the project?
I have been working on the Saint-Brieuc project since August 2019.
What is your role?
I am in charge of the coordination of the different works at sea and their technical preparation.
More specifically, I work on the installation strategy and the coordination of the different work packages, such as :
- foundations (installation of piles and jackets),
- theinstallation of the submarine cables, but also the electrical substation and the wind turbines.
The aim is to ensure that the installation campaigns for each of these lots are ready (from a technical point of view) and as risk-free as possible. This is essential to ensure that the work can be carried out safely and within the project deadlines and the environment in which it takes place. The installation strategy for the various works is also essential to effectively meet the objectives of commissioning the wind farm and selling the electricity produced.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What I appreciate most about my job is the transversal nature of the role.
I am delighted to be able to work with all the project teams and to have a global vision for the successful completion of the work and commissioning of the park. I find this incredibly rich.
I learn a lot about the different types of work, technical constraints and operational needs. I particularly appreciate the dynamism of my colleagues and the team spirit. It's important to work together and to have a great deal of respect for each other, especially when working at sea where the stakes are so high that they can quickly increase the pressure.
If you had to describe your mission in 3 words?
To describe my activity, I would choose the words: Coordination, Optimisation and Performance.
Why did you enter the
sector of Marine Renewable Energy?
I have been aware of climate issues since high school, which motivated my academic career and my desire to work in the energy sector.
Marine Renewable Energy has been slow to take off in France, so I sought my first work experience in the UK, where it was flourishing. I was able to capitalise on this experience and I am now very proud to be able to contribute to the planning and implementation of the Saint-Brieuc project . This will be the second offshore wind farm to be built in France.
I am delighted that the government's recent announcements confirm a strong desire to develop the French offshore wind industry. This will allow the development of this industrial sector by creating jobs and real know-how in the field.
Women's rights: the fight against inequality
The fight against inequality is a real challenge for society and one that continues to be fought.
For over 40 years, the United Nations has placed this cause at the heart of its sustainable development goals, stating that " Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, it is also a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world".
In order to be aware of the key figures surrounding this issue, a review is carried out each year to monitor progress in this fight, as well as the challenges that remain, on a global scale.
As a reminder
Notable advances in recent decades include
- More girls in school
- Fewer girls forced into early marriage
- More women in leadership positions and in parliament
- Laws and reforms to advance gender equality
Despite these advances, many challenges remain:
- Persistent discriminatory laws and social norms
- The under-representation of women at all levels of political power
- The rate of women who have experienced physical or sexual violence
Together, let's continue to fight against inequalities.