The Chemical Engineer is a monthly technical magazine published by the Institution of Chemical Engineers in London.  In the early 1970s, industry and society were rocked by the oil crisis, by increasing pollution, by energy conservation, by pressures to develop new materials and to recycle.  The chemical engineer, along with his machines and large scale chemical plants, was at the centre of this coming revolution, but he was underinformed and uninspired, being served by a stodgy technical magazine.   

Monica started as editorial assistant at The Chemical Engineer after University, excited by environmental concerns and the many changes she saw impacting the industry.  Rapidly she was promoted to Editor. Within one year, she had organized a union cell (NUJ),  redesigned the magazine, and reoriented the cover stories towards issues and problem solving, away from plate heat exchangers and cracking towers.  Readers were delighted, subscriptions rose and advertisers responded.