For more than 35 years our founder, Deborah Whitworth-Hilton C.Eng F.I.Mech.E, has worked in engineering and energy—sectors that are complex, high risk, technically demanding, and still overwhelmingly male. As a woman in STEM, she built her career by putting her head down, working hard, and accepting the environment for what it was. Being the quiet voice around the table. Being ignored—often. Feeling the impact on confidence, but telling herself that this was simply “how it is” and always would be.
Opportunities came, and they were taken. Progression followed, earned through capability, resilience and results. Yet the sense of not quite belonging never fully disappeared. Speaking up felt risky. Standing out felt uncomfortable. Success was achieved, but often without the feeling of permission to truly take up space.
It wasn’t until working more extensively across Europe in recent years that a different truth became clear: this isn’t how it has to be. Diversity, equity and inclusion cannot be something leaders talk about to tick a box—they must be lived, modelled and embedded in everyday behaviour. When they aren’t, talented people stay quiet, confidence erodes, and organisations lose far more than they realise.
At the same time, a deep immersion in behavioural safety reshaped how leadership, culture and performance were understood.
Years of working in high-hazard environments showed that systems, processes and procedures—while essential—do not prevent accidents on their own. Real safety comes from trust. From leaders who genuinely care. From conversations that are authentic, human and consistent. From cultures where people feel safe to speak up, challenge, learn and be heard.
These two journeys—as a woman in STEM and as a safety and operational leader—are inseparable. Both revealed the same truth: people do their best work when they feel valued, included and psychologically safe. And when they don’t, even the best systems will fail.
Acredale exists to share those lessons sooner.
We work with organisations to build safety leadership cultures that go beyond compliance and create environments where people feel genuinely cared for. We support leaders to show up with clarity, empathy and courage. And we work with women in STEM to help them recognise—far earlier than many of us did—just how capable they are, and that their ambitions are valid and achievable.
Change in these industries can feel slow, like turning a tanker. But meaningful change starts with awareness, honesty and leadership that is willing to do more than talk.
Human. Trusted. Safety led. Committed to creating workplaces where people—all people—can thrive.
Deborah Whitworth-Hilton is the founder of Acredale Consulting and a highly experienced safety, leadership and culture specialist with more than 35 years’ experience across engineering and the energy industry.
A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Deborah has held senior and director-level roles in complex, high-risk and highly regulated (COMAH) environments, including asset operations, engineering, maintenance, quality and HSSE leadership. Her career has spanned major infrastructure projects through to long-term operations, working closely with leaders, regulators and frontline teams.
As a woman in STEM, Deborah brings deep personal insight into the realities of working in male-dominated industries and the impact that culture, confidence and inclusion have on performance and wellbeing. Combined with extensive experience in behavioural safety, this shapes her belief that real safety and high performance come from trust, psychological safety and authentic leadership—not systems alone.
Through Acredale, Deborah now focuses on coaching and mentoring leaders, supporting organisations to strengthen safety leadership culture, and empowering women in STEM to recognise their capability and achieve their ambitions.
Professional, trusted and human, Deborah’s work is grounded in lived experience and a genuine commitment to helping people and organisations thrive.
Debbs provided leadership and direction to the project, bringing together a highly-effective team and developing a collaborative relationship with us that was the foundation of the success of the programme. Working with her was a pleasure; she was responsive and supportive yet at the same time showed her drive to deliver a quality product.
Her passion for developing organisational safety leadership and safety culture was evident throughout; in particular, she wanted to shift safety mindsets and develop the safety leadership skills of the people at the sharp end, not just at senior levels. Debbs’ unique blend of experience and expertise was invaluable to the project and will be invaluable to her clients in the future.
Working with Deborah over many years at Uniper has been truly transformative for my career. She recognised strengths in me long before I saw them in myself, and she consistently created opportunities that helped me step forward with confidence into roles I never would have imagined.
Her passion, commitment, and belief in the people she supports are genuinely inspiring.
Beyond her professional expertise, Deborah is an absolute pleasure to work with and someone whose energy and authenticity make every interaction meaningful. She has made a lasting impact on my career, and I hope to work with her again in future.
Thank you Deb, for always taking the time to invest in the development of others. You have role modelled inclusive leadership. You have a unique ability to truly observe and listen to people, recognise strengths they may not yet see in themselves, and help them realise their potential. Through your guidance and encouragement, you allow others to become secure and confident in their own individual leadership style.
It was so good working with you as Director of the Fujairah site—your guidance and leadership was evidently backed up with your strong technical knowledge, your understanding of the complexities of our site was tangible!
Having worked closely with you I know focusing on mentoring and helping people and organizations grow will be an absolute success. Keep up the energy and the amazing work!
Thanks for all your support during my time at Holford and at Uniper.
