By Isqil Najim
Ing. Trudy Morgan will be rounding off her successful tenure as the first female president of the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers (SLIE), in the process, etching her name in history of not just Sierra Leone but also African and global engineering community.
Unplanned Road to engineering and triumph of mentorship
In 2019, when Trudy Morgan became the first African Woman Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers of the UK. She looked back on her career and told a reporter at the time that she has always wanted to be an artist but the School’s policy of putting students with good grades in Science class put paid to that.
While in secondary school, her career choice as a science student was medicine until the young Trudy took a summer job with her dad’s cousin who was a neurosurgeon. The experience changed her mind and she discovered that she did not like sight of blood. Her father, Professor Hector Morgan suggested that she pursues engineering having observed her love and passion for drawing. But young Morgan chose Pure science.
‘One of the things my father said to me when I said I would do pure science after secondary school was, “I don’t have a lot of money to leave you – I am a lecturer. What I have is education and good guidance. I know that with engineering, you will be able to look after yourself and not have to rely on anyone to look after you”, Trudy recalled
Even as an engineering student, Trudy’s crave for music continued as she contemplated quitting engineering to focus on music. A combination of mentorship and good counsels made her complete the programme. Trudy eventually chose engineering over music while she was in the United Kingdom. What a decision it turns out to be!
Fulfilment in engineering and the making of many firsts
As her father predicted, Trudy found fulfilment in engineering where she recorded many firsts and broke the glass ceiling in the process. She is co-founder of the Sierra Leone Women Engineers, the first female President of the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers (SLIE), a first African female Fellow of the UK’s Institution of Civil Engineers.
“As a believer in showing by doing, I hope I’ve demonstrated to numerous women and girls that engineering is a career for women, too!”-Trudy Morgan
Transformative leadership as first female president of SLIE
Trudy Morgan was elected as President of Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers in June 2020, during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges, she has successfully led SLIE through two consecutive terms, which is now coming to an end in 2024.
During the period, Morgan exemplifies effective leadership, commitment, and transparency. Her activities cut across many sections from professional development, to inclusivity, and community development. She will be leaving office, having laid a new foundation and set precedent for future leaders. And most importantly, proving that entrusting competent women in leadership can be very rewarding.
She assumed leadership mantle when the SLIE marked its 50th year anniversary of formation. Morgan’s approach to leadership brought a fresh perspective to SLIE and this earned her accolades among her colleagues.
She revitalized the organization’s communication by reintroducing the newsletter, which played a crucial role in enhancing members’ engagement, updating on activities and information sharing.
One of her key initiatives, the Young Engineers Corps, became a vital platform for supporting and mentoring emerging engineers, demonstrating her commitment to fostering new talent. The project was conceived to develop a framework for the training of young graduate engineers
Her ability to connect with others and inspire was brought to bear during her tenure. She supported initiatives aimed at increasing participation from underrepresented groups, including Girls in Engineering and Women in Engineering programs.
Legislative advocacy was another important aspect of her presidency as she played a significant role in supporting the passage of the Professional Engineering Regulatory Council (PERC) Act. This legislation established a framework for regulating the engineering profession in Sierra Leone to raise the standards and accountability of engineers across the country.
Morgan also focused on creating practical learning opportunities for engineering students. Her collaboration with Engineers Without Borders – Denmark provided valuable internships, which equipped students with essential skills and international exposure.
Her work with the Africa Catalyst Programme, supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering, helped over 100 young engineers acquire the soft skills needed for their careers. This program bridged the gap between academic training and professional requirements, aiding graduates in their transition to the job market.
As Morgan’s presidency comes to a close, her impact on SLIE is clear. She has laid a strong foundation for continued growth and professional excellence. Just like the beginning of her journey into engineering, Morgan’s Presidency has been nothing short of remarkable, and inspiring.
Her contributions to SLEI have created pathways for future growth, demonstrating the critical role of inclusive and innovative leadership in the engineering profession. Her colleagues praised her for creating opportunities that encouraged active involvement in the engineering profession.
In recognition of her contributions to engineering, Trudy Morgan was part of the engineers worldwide honoured by Transport for London (TfL), the Royal Academy of Engineering and the London Transport Museum with a name on London Tube map in 2023.
A journey of services and learning
Born in 1966 in Liverpool, United Kingdom whilst her parents were studying, Trudy is the first-born child of Professor Hector Morgan and Mrs. Marion Morgan. her father has only daughters and she is the first of four girls. All girls ended up taking up career in science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics -STEM.
“It’s interesting how much work we do and don’t even stop to think about its impact or relevance, and quickly move on to our next project.- Ing Trudy Morgan
She started school in the 1970s. Due to her parents travelling through difference countries, United Kingdom, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Canada and Nigeria, she attended a lot of different schools, some of which she said she cannot remember.
In Sierra Leone, she attended school at Fourah Bay College Primary School, the Annie Walsh Memorial School, which is the oldest girl’s school in sub-Saharan Africa as it has been in existence for 170 years. Trudy also went to University of Sierra Leone where she studied Civil Engineering.
Over the years, Trudy’s career as an engineer has taken her to work in over 17 different countries.
In 2011, she moved back to Sierra Leone to build the first five-star hotel in the country, with funding raised by Sierra Leoneans and a company, IDEA UK, owned by Sierra Leoneans.
In 2015 she co-founded the Sierra Leone Women Engineers – a not-for-profit organisation which supports women engineers in the country and works to retain them in engineering.
Prior to becoming president, Trudy worked with the Prince’s Foundation for Building Communities training engineering graduates, skilled professionals and illiterate construction workers on the basics of structural design.
Her contributions to the women in engineering and STEM did not end in her native country but also spread across Africa through the Federation of African Engineering Organisations, FAEO and World Federation of Engineering Organisations, WFEO.
In an interview in 2019, Trudy made a remark which seems to have defined her career journey: “We’re mothers, wives, and teachers – but we’re also engineers….We’re combining our natural curiosity and nurturing instincts with technical know-how and competences to deliver solutions that meet the social and economic needs of both men and women in our society.
“As a believer in showing by doing, I hope I’ve demonstrated to numerous women and girls that engineering is a career for women, too!”
Additional contributions from Dr Doma.