Helen O’Brien Bsc (Hons) Email & Phone Number

I have 23 years of experience as a mechanical aircraft engineer in the Royal Air Force (RAF). Although I didn’t join the RAF until I was 20 years old, I knew from a very young age that I wanted to know how those things got up there and stayed up there. During my RAF career, I worked on 3 different aircraft types. Looking back, I can see the stages of personal and professional growth that came with the changes, the challenges, the courses, the different locations, and the promotions. As much as I enjoyed the hands-on work, I equally enjoyed the managing of personnel, the planning of tasks and projects. Two of my most recent roles are:Lead engineer on a multi-national overseas collaborative exercise;• Ensuring all the correct equipment was at the location. • Managing engineering and personnel including training and standards across 2 shifts.• Single point of contact for home, in a different time zone, and liaising with foreign nationals as the SME for the aircraft platform. • Learning, understanding, and fault diagnosing the Avionics and Electrical systems.• Understanding and implementing Airworthiness and risk to lifeIn charge of the mechanical trade aspect of a shift for a front-line operating squadron;• Up to 30 people to manage with up to 16 aircraft. • Proactive and reactive maintenance planning across different maintenance regimes. • Being SME.• Liaising with all stockholders including contractors from different companies, on different contracts and field service representatives. • Understanding and implementing the H&S act, COSHH and risk assessments. • Auditing standards of work practices, paperwork, and computer tracking of assets and maintenance. I spent my time before the RAF at collage learning engineering and since leaving 3 years ago, I have achieved a BSc (Hons) in Prosthetics and Orthotics. I have achieved a lot of learning over the years, I do enjoy expanding on what I already know and learning new things. Currently, as a graduate orthotist with 3 months of experience at TalarMade Ltd, I provide medical device prescriptions and treatments for patients with various conditions affecting the foot, ankle, knee, hip, and spine. I work across four hospitals as a member of the United Lincolnshire Health Trust, serving patients with complex pathologies and combinations of presentations. My goal is to apply my engineering background and orthotic expertise to deliver effective and compassionate care to my patients.