Paula Bell, the finance director of engineering consultancy Ricardo, has been awarded the 2009 First Women award for the science and technology sector, a move that sees women gaining more recognition in a predominantly male sector. Bell has worked with Ricardo since 2006, and has spent most of her career working in the engineering and technology sector. She has made a mark at Ricardo for being the first woman to be appointed to its board, and has played a key role in its diversification strategy into areas including renewable energy, low carbon research programmes and defence vehicles for peacekeeping roles. 'It's a tremendous honour, and I sincerely hope that my efforts have helped to open doors for other women to follow, both in finance in general and the high technology sector in particular,' she said. Bell became finance director of Rolls-Royce industrial controls in 1989, when she was 26 years old. Her career then fast-tracked to see her hold several directorships at the company, including that of business development director, leading on strategy and corporate transactions. A five-year stint as finance director for Anglian Water followed, before Bell moved to work as finance and property director of Gatwick Airport for 18 months, and then shifted to her current role at Ricardo.