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Mercedes Sierra Toral, Director of Aerospace
Programmes
IOONOS : What is
your career development (educational and
professional background) ?
I am an engineer (Civil with specialisation
in structural design), and I also have a
degree in History of Art and an executive
MBA by IESE. I have always worked as an
engineer in the Aerospace field: I first
worked for 20 years in a private company
called SENER and now 3 years ago, I began
to work for the Spanish Administration (Ministry
of Industry). I started by calculating and
designing structures and mechanisms for
space applications, then I worked as Project
manager for Space programmes and the latest
part of my work for SENER was devoted to
business development in the aerospace Department.
At the moment, I work for the administration
in the promotion of R&D for both Aeronautics
and Space
IOONOS : What is
your job title ?
Director of Aerospace Programmes
IOONOS : What led
you to do this job ?
It was just by chance. A teacher of mine
at the University worked for SENER and he
proposed me to go there. I did so, and then
I realised I had already been working in
this company for 20 years. The job was interesting
and environment and people were very nice
and this led me to continue in the same
company for so many years.
IOONOS : What does
your job consist in ?
Our objective is to increase the technological
level of the Spanish companies working for
Aeronautics and Space. We do this by investing
in R&D and also by promoting the participation
of our companies in important international
programmes. As part of this activity, we
have the representation of the Spanish Government
in the European Space Agency (ESA); also
we participate in the so called Airbus Intergubernamental
Committee (AIC) which includes the four
founding countries of the Airbus Programme
(F, G, UK and Spain), etc. A significant
part of our job has to do with representation
of Spain in International organisations
and the other big part is related to discussions
and negotiations with Industries in the
Aerospace field. What kind of equipment
do you use and in what kind of environment?
I do not know if this question specifically
refers to Hardware. I mainly use my computer
at the office, a portable computer with
Internet connection when I travel abroad
and a mobile. I have a palm which I do not
use too much since it is too heavy and I
do not have a blackberry for the time being.
In terms of computer programmes I use the
typical ones (mainly Microsoft Office).
IOONOS : Who do
you work with ?
I have a team of about 25 persons mainly
engineers and more than 50% are women. There
is also some administrative staff (3x)
IOONOS : What are
the skills and qualities needed ?
Enough technical background to evaluate
the quality of the proposals we receive,
negotiation capability and ability to speak
in public
IOONOS : Does your
job correspond to the training you have
received and the idea that you had of it
?
I got the training through my work, much
more than through education
IOONOS : What are
the interests of your job ?
A good visibility of a very interesting
sector and contacts with very qualified
and interesting people throughout the world
IOONOS : What are
the challenges ?
We need to position Spain in this field
according to our overall economical situation,
and we are very much behind. Although an
important effort has been done in the recent
years, there is still a lot to do.
IOONOS : What are
the constraints ?
Probably there is a clear overcapacity in
Europe, so it is difficult to participate
in international programmes in areas where
companies from other countries have much
larger experience. When you start later
than others, things are even more difficult
(but not impossible). Besides budgets are
never big enough, even if there has been
a significant increase over the last few
years. Would you recommend this profession
to young people, if so, what advice would
you give them? Only if they are really enthusiastic
about it. One should only work in areas
where you can feel passion. Work takes a
too big portion of your life to waste it.
IOONOS : Does space make you dream ?
I still feel the emotion everytime a launcher
takes: I can't help thinking of all the
hours pent working on it.This is still a
risky business though.
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