We sat down with Ceena Mathew, Innovation Engineer, to find out why she enjoys working at the EIC, how she supports innovation, and why Robert Downey Jr. would be one of her top 3 dinner party guests!
Please can you tell us about your role at the EIC?
My role as Innovation Engineer mainly involves connecting with innovators and partners to facilitate innovation.
This can involve developing proposals or working with innovators to flesh out their ideas and demonstrate how it meets partner challenges.
I also act as support on live projects that we have ongoing and work with network partners to facilitate innovation workshops, where challenges that they face are identified.
Can you tell us a bit about your engineering background?
My background is in chemical engineering. I graduated with a masters from the University of Aberdeen, this is my first role since graduation. It is different from my area of study – but I am enjoying it!
What is your biggest achievement?
It might seem unconventional, but it is driving from Ellesmere Port to Aberdeen – I can’t sit down for a long time, so being able to drive that distance was a personal challenge to me, and I managed it!
What is your favourite thing about working at the EIC?
The people. Hands down. The team are super supportive, there’s a family vibe. I feel completely supported in everything I do.
Getting to hear about ideas first-hand from innovators, things that haven’t been deployed yet, but are at idea stage, is very interesting. Every time I have a conversation like this with an innovator, I find it amazing.
If you could invite any 3 people (living or deceased) to a dinner party, who would you invite and why?
I am majorly obsessed with Michelle and Barack Obama, if I could get them to come, 100% they’d be my pick! I think what they stand for and everything they have achieved is great.
I’d also have Robert Downey Jr., he’s one of my favourite actors.
Follow Ceena on LinkedIn here.
