Kirsten Devine
Executive Valuer, State Property Valuations, Tailte Éireann
Maria Byrne
Senior Operations Manager, Geospatial Infrastructure, Tailte Éireann
Two women from Ireland’s property registration, valuation and surveying agency reveal why they seized the opportunity to kickstart their rewarding careers in STEM.
When she left secondary school, Kirsten Devine wasn’t sure which career path to follow. “Not having a clear line of direction was a blessing in disguise, as it widened my options and enabled me to find a career that I really love.”
Build a dynamic STEM career you love
Devine is now an Executive Valuer in the State Property Valuations department at Tailte Éireann, the agency responsible for managing and developing Ireland’s property registration, valuation and surveying services. Part of her job is to carry out valuations for state-owned assets ranging from garda stations to courthouses and from development land to office buildings. “I’ve always had an appreciation for buildings, architecture and craftsmanship,” she says. “This job is perfect for that, but it isn’t just a Monday–Friday office role. There’s a practical side to it, which involves inspecting properties and meeting people.
After completing a Bachelor of Arts in geography, sociology and political science, Devine studied for a master’s degree in rights and social policy, joining Tailte Éireann in an evaluation support role.
With the organisation’s backing, she obtained a master’s in real estate and became a fully qualified Chartered Valuation Surveyor. “If you find a job you love, grab any opportunity to do it with both hands,” she advises. “Have no regrets in life.”
Look for different options and
pathways to help you evolve your
career at a pace that’s right for you.
Ensuring all women have access to STEM career paths
Maria Byrne, Senior Operations Manager, Geospatial Infrastructure, Tailte Éireann, agrees with that sentiment. “Don’t let anything hold you back,” she says. “Look for different options and pathways to help you evolve your career at a pace that’s right for you.”
Byrne works with a team that maintains GeoHive, the national geospatial data hub. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and geography and a master’s in GIS (geographic information systems) and remote sensing. Since entering the workforce, she went on to complete post-graduate studies in IT, supported by her employer, which she points to in highlighting the value and diversity of continued professional development available to women to further their careers in STEM.
While encouraging girls to pursue STEM activities and subjects at school level is essential to having more women in STEM careers, Byrne also believes that having pathways and supports for women already in the workplace to retrain and upskill — whatever their stage in life — is extremely important.
