Ahlam’s Journey to Engineering Manager at Astor Bannerman: A Story of Diverse Experience and Passion for Improving Lives

Ahlam Qattan, our new Engineering Manager at Astor Bannerman, has had a diverse and extensive professional journey that has led her to her current position. Starting with a year in industry at McLaren, working in automotive engineering, Ahlam quickly realized that something was missing from her work environment. She then moved onto a placement at a Design Consultancy firm, where she worked in different industries and with various equipment. It was during this time that Ahlam spent a lot of time working within the Aerospace industry, which she described as a massive learning opportunity that laid the foundation and skills she has used ever since.

Later, Ahlam worked as a Lead Mechanical Design Engineer, specializing in upper limb 3D prosthetics. This work introduced her to the world of medical devices and medical design and ignited her passion for improving people’s quality of life. This brought her to Astor Bannerman, where she can do just that, and has done so already. Ahlam headed the research and developed our popular range of Grip Strip Bolsters, which were developed alongside Occupational Therapists, adding comfort and support in aiding bathing and changing.

 

Ahlam enjoys working in the disability sector, and her personal mission is to improve people’s quality of life. She comments “regardless of what’s being designed or made, whether it’s the person on the changing table or the carer involved, we want users to be involved in the process and not just be given something because it’s good enough”. She believes that the end-product should meet the needs of the people using the equipment and help them in the long run while being treated with dignity and respect.

In her role as Engineering Manager at Astor Bannerman, Ahlam is determined to ensure that the company stays at the forefront of innovation by combining her passion for improving lives with her extensive experience and innovative thinking. She intends to continue to work closely with customers and occupational therapists to ensure that the products Astor Bannerman creates are user-focused and that they continue to help people in their everyday lives.

When asked about how she stays up to date with the latest trends and advancements, Ahlam emphasized the importance of staying abreast of what is going on in the market and keeping an eye on what competitors may be doing or any new advances within the market. But she also stressed the significance of direct feedback from occupational therapists and customers, the value of feasibility of a product and understanding whether it is needed. Ahlam regularly has calls with occupational therapists and visits families to ask them about products and what works or doesn’t work for them. She also involves families in seeing prototypes and attending shows to get a first-hand insight into what other people are working on and how to get feedback.

If you are interested in supporting Ahlam by sharing with her your lived or witnessed insight, as a person living with a disability, family member, carer, or health professional, please DM us with your details and we will be in touch.

With 30 years’ experience, Astor Bannerman are experts in the design, manufacture and installation of specialist bathing and care equipment.  Our dedicated staff are on hand at every stage of the project from site visit, through installation and on-going support, offering professional advice and technical knowledge throughout.  Astor Bannerman provides excellent solutions to support OTs to cater for the complex care needs of their clients. Our in-depth knowledge and technical expertise are used to design and manufacture innovative products and our friendly, dedicated team will always go beyond routine to relieve the pressure of those we work with. Please check out our range of innovative products on our website.