Alumni Spotlight: Eleanor Peel's Journey in Green Engineering

After graduating from ISZL in 2014, Eleanor Peel pursued a degree in Chemical Engineering with Industrial Placement at the University of Birmingham. Her passion for maths and chemistry, nurtured during her time at ISZL, made this course a natural choice.

In particular, her interest in sustainable engineering solutions was fostered by her chemistry teacher, Mr. Lux. A pivotal moment came when he assigned a class project on sustainability, leading Eleanor to research Hydrogen Fuel Cells.

I remember where it all started — Mr. Lux asked us to present on a topic related to sustainability, and I chose Hydrogen Fuel Cells. Researching this topic sparked an interest that later became one of the key reasons I applied to the University of Birmingham, as their Chemical Engineering department is one of the largest for fuel cell research.

With her degree and a strong interest in green technology, Eleanor secured a place on a graduate scheme at FCC Environment, working at an Energy from Waste facility. These facilities convert household waste into electricity, and one of her projects focused on water chemistry—an experience that directly led to her current role. Today, she works as an Operations Leader in the Industrial Water sector at Veolia, managing a team of analysts who monitor industrial sites, including power plants, oil refineries, and water treatment facilities.

My interest in management began when I worked as Editor-in-Chief on the Yearbook Team at ISZL. Mr. Carr gave me the opportunity to lead the team, and I’m so grateful for that — it gave me such valuable experience and pushed me to try managing people in my career.

Beyond her professional achievements, Eleanor credits ISZL for instilling a love of travel and volunteering. During university, she completed an industrial placement at Roche in Basel, gaining industry experience while immersing herself in a new city. After graduation, she spent three months volunteering in Cambodia with the International Citizen Service, working with local volunteers to promote the importance of education. Inspired by her high school service trips to Greece and Nepal, she continued to seek opportunities to support communities around the world.

Having been on service trips to Greece and Nepal in high school, I was inspired to keep assisting other communities. In Cambodia, we worked with local volunteers to encourage parents to keep their children in school. Afterwards, I traveled around South America with some of the volunteers I met, and we became lifelong friends.

Reflecting on her journey, Eleanor remains deeply grateful for her international upbringing and the experiences that shaped her.

I will always be grateful to my parents for giving me the opportunity to grow up internationally. It has shaped the person I am today and given me invaluable experiences.