Lifeboat Crew Member Celebrated on International Women's Day
Stephanie Bigsby the RNLI's only female regional technician
Stephanie Bigsby. Picture: RNLI/Paul Barber
March 6, 2026
The RNLI has marked International Women’s Day 2026 by celebrating Stephanie Bigsby, its first and only female regional technician, who also volunteers as crew at Chiswick Lifeboat Station in London. At just 24, Steph is breaking new ground in a role traditionally dominated by men, maintaining lifeboats at some of the RNLI’s busiest stations and working toward her Tier 2 crew qualification.
Steph joined the RNLI two and a half years ago and works on the Thames, where lifeboats are in near-constant use for rescues and training. Her responsibilities include fault-finding, servicing, engine replacements and major repairs on the RNLI’s E Class lifeboats. “No two days are the same on the Thames,” she said. “Our stations are staffed 24-hours, so boats are going out all the time.”
Her path into engineering began at 16, inspired by hands-on experience on her grandfather’s farm. “I’ve always liked taking things apart and putting them back together,” she said. “When the RNLI job came up, it was close to home, involved a variety of stations, and combined my interests in engineering and helping people.”
The RNLI says it is proud to celebrate women like Steph who contribute across its operations, from engineering and crew roles to fundraising and water safety. Women currently make up 17% of RNLI operational crew, including afloat crew, shore crew, launch authorities and lifeboat operations managers.
Jill Hepburn, RNLI Head of Region in Scotland, said International Women’s Day was a reminder of the strength gained through shared support. “Creating a more diverse and inclusive organisation makes us stronger and more effective in our mission to save lives at sea,” she said. “We’re incredibly proud of all our frontline staff and volunteers like Stephanie who continue to give so much in their selfless service of others.”
Steph’s advice to young women considering a career in engineering is simple: “Give it a try. There’s no harm in trying. If it doesn’t work out, you can always go back to college or retrain. But you won’t know unless you try. And if you do want to do it, just be ready to prove yourself and keep going.”
Her story is part of the RNLI’s wider campaign to highlight the contributions of women across the charity and encourage more women to consider roles in lifesaving and maritime engineering.
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