b'30 Partner News Autumn 2023CorporateBack on track for female bobsledding engineerBy ThalesFormer degree-apprentice, professionalMy takeaway from the first year is that systems engineer at Thales UK, andI went from absolute nerves, to looking now a Great Britain Womens Bobsleighforward to races by the end of the season.Squad member. Welcome to the remarkable world of Maddison Illsley.Hybrid working Now back at Crawley, Maddisons diary Maddisons debut into the tough winteris split between her engineering role sport was all the more memorable whenin Sussex and two days a week at her she and pilot Nikki McSweeney achieved abobsleigh training facility in Bath. wider podium finish at their first competitiveShe said: Its a commitment and I have race together at an international eventto handle my diary very carefullyright in Lillehammer, Norway last year. down to travel, diet, training and recovery. I really do feel very fortunate to be in thisIts been an amazing time for Now back at her role as a systemsposition and I have the full support of myme, and I remain incredibly engineer in change management,line manager and engineering leaders. Maddison is balancing her day job withgrateful to Thales and the her bobsled and fitness training, thanksA former degree-apprentice, Maddisonssenior engineering team at to a hybrid working scheme with Thalesfive years with Thales have includedCrawley for allowing me that allows her to combine the two. working in Crawley and Glasgow, Maddison said: Its been an amazing timeworking on programmes such as theto continue to develop my for me, and I remain incredibly grateful toRoyal Navys next generation Type 31professional career, alongside Thales and the senior engineering teamwarship and optronics technology for at Crawley for allowing me to continuethe highly-advanced Astute submarine. my bobsledding journey.to develop my professional career, alongside my bobsledding journey. Asked if she is treated any differently now, Maddison says: When Im here at My early competitive races were all aboutCrawley, Im an engineer working among nerves. Lillehammer was an overwhelmingsome very talented professionals. I consider experience, competing against othermyself an engineer who just absolutely international teams in front of crowds. loves sport and the thrill of competition. To get a podium finish in my first eventPeople dont treat me any differently.was unexpected if Im honest. Wearing my helmet allows me to zone out a little bit fromA few people at the gym know the noise and crowd, and focus on what Iwhat I do and have asked about need to do. Our first run was pretty good,the sport, but thats all.but we both knew we could do better. I have the support of my family and We gave it absolutely everything for theThales, and Im firmly focused on my second run and I just remember Nikkicareer and pre-season training.whacking my helmet with joy at the finish line as she was the first to see the clock. If I had any advice to any aspiring female engineers, it would be just do For the majority of the season I wasitgo for what you want and strive for training and racing with my bobsleighyour dreams. I have never worked so partner, Adele Nicoll; working so closelyhard to get the results I wanted in my together really allows us to perfectapprenticeship and degree, but its put our timing and be better as a team.me in this incredible position right now.'