In conversation with, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, a visionary leader, award-winning manufacturer, and trailblazer for gender inclusion in the metals and industrial sectors. After a serendipitous start in metal finishing in 1989, she rose through the ranks to lead a company through economic storms, and now channels her experience into Women With Metal, a movement and annual conference amplifying women’s voices in manufacturing. As host of the Women in Industry podcast and founder of The Confidence Collective, Kirsty empowers professionals through storytelling, mentorship, and community. From boardrooms to workshops, she leverages her expertise and conviction to redefine leadership—one bold step at a time.
AL Circle: Can you tell us about your journey in the metals, manufacturing & engineering sectors, and what inspired you to start, ‘Women With Metal’?
Kirsty Davies-Chinnock : I joined the metal sector by accident, like so many people do. I came to Professional Polishing Services for 6 weeks in-between college courses and never left. That was in 1989 so it’s been a very long 6 weeks! I was incredibly lucky to find a sector that clicked immediately for me. I love how diverse the use of metal is within our societies and it’s not an exaggeration to say ‘if it’s not made of metal, it’s made with metal!’. I had a fairly traditional career path within PPS and became a Director after about 15 years and took over as Managing Director in 2008 – a few months before the financial crash which was definitely a challenging time for a SME but it taught me a lot.
Starting Women with Metal was accidental as well. I’d launched a podcast called Women in Industry in 2022 to showcase all the fantastic women I know working in industrial sectors because people still said it was unusual for a women to be in manufacturing and I kept reply that I knew a lot, so thought if I could shine a light on them that would help attract the next generation to our sectors. ‘Women with Metal,’ was a natural next step, to bring together women and allies to create a movement to highlight just how fantastic the metal sector is for a career.
