Emma-Leigh Stubbins - South West Water Networks Manager & Founder of Covid-19 Mutal Aid Group Penzance
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What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My first instinct with this question was to say I don't think I've achieved anything particularly great! But in terms of the response to the pandemic, I'm quite proud that I've been able to play a small part in helping people to access assistance and support from their community when they've needed it. I'm quite an independent person by nature and I'm terrible at asking for help, but it seemed clear quite early on that the only way we were going to get through this crisis would be to act as a collective. I think people are just as willing to help now as they ever were, but I think over time we've just become more reluctant to ask. It's just not the done thing now, but I can remember my mum sending me round to the neighbours for a cup of sugar on more than one occasion when I was a kid.
We needed to normalise the ‘asking for help’ bit, so that people could safely isolate without having to venture out for essentials which could put others at risk. The response was brilliant in Penzance; I thought it would just be my extended circle of friends when I first created the group, but it's really taken off. I'm incredibly proud that we were able to pull it off and bring the community together – it's been great to see the good turns that have happened.
In life generally, I'd probably say being brave enough drop everything to move to Penzance on my own for work. It was a huge leap of faith at the time as I didn't know anyone and I didn't know if it would pay off at all. The first few months were really hard – I moved down at the tail end of the summer season when everything was winding down for winter. But in hindsight, it was a really good career move and an even better one in terms of lifestyle. It may have taken a while to find my feet but I've been so happy here, and I finally feel like I've found my people.
What motivates you to do what you do?
I think I quite enjoy solving problems – unpicking the different threads and figuring out the best solution. It seems to be a common theme throughout my career and volunteering history. As a kid, one of my best-ever teachers, Mr Jackson, told my parents I was bright but lazy; he said I'd find the easiest way to complete tasks and didn't always give my full effort. He was right! And he spent a lot of time pushing me to try harder, which I'm grateful for. But I think having that "lazy" gene can be quite handy if you can harness it. It makes you look at problems a bit differently, and if you can cut out the irrelevant stuff quickly, you can get to the point of what you are trying to achieve in a more efficient and strategic way. So, I guess I'm motivated by a desire to problem solve and to help people, aided by a small dollop of laziness!
What do you owe your mother?
My parents were huge advocates of education and really pushed me to do my best. My Dad always told me that the harder I worked in school, the easier I'd have it the rest of my life. My mum has always had an unwavering belief in me. When I was a kid she seemed utterly convinced I could do anything if I put my mind to it, she didn't see any limitations in my future and her strength of conviction in that made me believe it was unquestionably true. As you might expect, that confidence has been tested over the years! But having that voice in my head telling me I can do anything has always helped me pick myself back up when I've been knocked down, and have the strength to try again.
Which women inspire you and why?
First and foremost, the amazing moderator team of the Penzance Mutual Aid Group. They really are the most brilliant bunch of women that I've had the pleasure of meeting. In no particular order: Pheona Lowell, Jade Carter-Bennett, Lindsay Buchanan, Vicky White, Sharon Close, Kristin Simmons and Tressa Lapham-Green.
Some of us knew each other BC (before Covid) but mostly we 'met' through creating the group and moderating it throughout lockdown. So much has happened in the last two months, but their resilience and determination to help other people despite their own struggles has been constantly inspiring. Despite the emotional intensity of the situation we have found ourselves in, they have facilitated, coordinated and curated interactions and information with endless compassion, patience and good humour.
They are all absolute stars and have brought their own specialist knowledge and skills to the group. I wouldn't have been able to do any of it without them.
What are you reading?
At the moment, mostly news reports and Government guidance documents! I think I'm long overdue a quiet afternoon in the sunshine with a good book, so I'll try and find time to do that now that we're allowed to spend a bit more time outdoors.
What gender barriers have you had to hurdle?
A few, I think, over the years. South West Water is a great employer, and committed to gender equality, but the water industry itself is heavily male dominated. When I first graduated from University and got a temp role in their head office in Exeter, I didn't think the job I'm doing now would be something I could ever aspire to – mostly because, at that time, there wasn't anyone doing the job that had a similar background to me, or that I identified with. As I've progressed there have occasionally been people that haven't taken me seriously, but I try to let my work speak for itself and that has stood me in good stead so far in my career.
I think there's been a big shift in the last few years, and more women are becoming interested in the water industry and viewing it as a career path that is open to them. I love that there is more focus now on showing the younger generations of women and girls that they can excel in STEM subjects, and that they can do stereotypically 'male' roles. I'm really proud that my team employed the first two female Waste Water Networks Operators in South West Water, and that we have a really balanced and diverse management team in our area.
How can the world be made a better place for women?
So, so many ways. In life generally, we need more representation. Little girls need to be able to see a wide range of futures. Being the first woman to do something is a huge achievement, but it's 2020, it seems ridiculous that there's still some unchartered territories. We need better and more diverse political representation, so everyone's voices are heard, not just those of a privileged few. In the workplace, we need more flexibility for everyone. Maternity pay and leave tends to be a focus in these conversations, but I think offering more generous paternity packages and normalising men taking an active caregiving role helps women too – the more we can redistribute the domestic workload and the emotional labour that tends to fall to women, the better.
Describe your perfect day?
Being woken up by the sun streaming through the window, and the chatter and squawk of seagulls. A tasty breakfast in the garden, with endless pots of coffee and the papers. A long walk with the dog on the beach, or maybe somewhere on the coastal path. Returning home slightly windswept, to a magically clean house without any of the effort to get it there! Maybe an afternoon pottering around the garden picking tomatoes and strawberries. And then an evening of good wine, good friends and lots of laughter to round off the day. Preferably without the need for Zoom or 2 meters of social distance!
We've noticed there really aren't many (if any) statues of women around Cornwall - who would you see remembered?
I'll cast my vote for Hilda Runciman, the first female MP in Cornwall (serving the St Ives constituency) who was elected on 6th March 1928, ten years after the law changed allowing women to stand. Despite the decade of women being allowed to run, she was still only the 12th woman to be elected as an MP. Her election campaign is interesting – her husband was due to move constituencies from Swansea to St Ives in the 1929 general election, but a snap byelection meant that if he were to run, he would have to give up his Swansea seat which would trigger another byelection there. Hilda agreed to run, in order to 'babysit' the seat for him, and I think as a result she tends to be overlooked.
But she was incredibly shrewd – getting elected as a woman in those early days required reassuring the votes of the men, whilst stimulating the votes of the few women who were eligible to vote to turn out in large numbers. She was well educated, with a first-class history degree from Cambridge, had been the president of the Women's Liberal Federation and was adept at debating and strategically getting a crowd onside. She avoided identifying as a feminist (not wanting to put off the sensitive men of the time!) but successfully persuaded many of them to agree with her on issues affecting women. She also used good humour to disarm criticism of her gender, which I love. She's known for saying "it is right and proper that women should agree with their husbands on all questions, but if you have Conservative husbands I implore you to think for yourselves". I think I like her most because of the way she was able to bring people together and change their opinions – nearly 100 years later, in the era of echo chambers and disparate partisan politics, this feels like a real achievement now more than ever. Sadly, she kept her promise to her husband and let him stand in her place in 1929, but not before she saw the implementation of the Representation of the People Act, which saw the vote extended to everyone, including women, over the age of 21.
Give us a tip?
"No" might make them angry, but it will make you free - if no one ever told you, your freedom is worth more than their anger. Guard your time fiercely. Be generous with it, but be intentional about it.
About Emma-Leigh Emma-Leigh Stubbins is a 29-year-old woman living in Penzance with her naughty-but-cute dog, Tess. Born in the Worcester, and educated at the University of Exeter, she has been edging gradually further south-west for the past ten years.
By day, she works for South West Water managing the sewerage network across East Cornwall, with a strong focus on pollution prevention and environmental protection. By night, she has founded the Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group in Penzance, uniting 6,000 members of the community during lockdown.
With an excellent team of moderators, the group has ensured that residents in Penzance have access to reliable, useful information at a time when the world has been full of uncertainty, as well as enabling neighbours to come together to support one another. From shopping-collection and pineapple bartering to lost-chicken rescue, the group has seen it all over the past few months!
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