‘Research is my passion and this job allows me to do that’
By Maurice Garvey
A LOVE of chemistry and research as a schoolkid was developed via education by Spaniard Jessica Ramos, who today, has the same passion for her job as a Processing Engineer with Henkel, as she did while growing up in sunkissed Galicia.
Following graduation with a Bachelors and Masters, Jessica left the northwest Iberian Peninsula 12 years ago to continue her studies in Chemistry, completing a Phd at Maynooth University.
Jessica Ramos
Jessica is one of a growing number of women working in STEM, and Henkel, the world’s largest manufacturer of adhesives, sealants and functional coatings, cite diversity and inclusion as a priority for the company, where their managers are 35 per cent female.
“Education is very important. Chemistry and research is my passion and this job allows me to do that,” said Jessica.
Her role as a Processing Engineer involves research “but on a bigger scale”, including research on new products, scaling up the technology, and working small scale in the lab to the manufacturing stage at the firm’s Ballyfermot plant.
Henkel, which also owns Beauty Care and Laundry and Home Care divisions, has been an essential service throughout Covid-19.
“A lot of the different brands we make products for are essential, medical devices, obviously homecare, with cleaning products doing very well and beauty care,” said Jessica.
She said the company also used their expertise to aid the demand for hand sanitiser and face shields.
In Ireland, Henkel employes approximately 400 staff and has three sites – Tallaght (Adhesives R&D, Production, Bottling & Packaging), Ballyfermot (Adhesives Manufacturing) and Little Island, Cork (DYLON Colour Catcher manufacturing).
Jessica has seen an increase of women working in STEM during her time in the industry and encourages young women to pursue their passion.
“If you like chemistry and research, or science in general, starting in primary school with science fairs and Transition Year, Henkel is very good with this. Not now because of Covid, but we have an open day and invite students in to see how we work and how we make things in the lab. Normally we go to the BT Young Scientists Exhibition and show students how we do experiments.”
A Henkel spokesperson added: “Diversity and inclusion is a priority for Henkel globally and in Ireland. 35 per cent of Henkel’s managers are female and they continue to strive for gender balance at all levels and to recruit and retain women who will become the leaders of the business in the future.
Henkel run a range of initiatives that reflect its commitment to women in STEM:
- • Offer flexitime programme and the ability to balance home and work life.
- • Part-time and job-sharing opportunities are offered to staff.
- • Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
- • Participate in Henkel’s global ‘Diversity and Inclusion Week’.
- • Run mentorship programme which encourages women in senior positions to mentor women.
Henkel is a proud and active participating member of the WISE campaign, which advocates for gender balance in Science, Technology and Engineering, from the classroom to the boardroom.
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