Tomorrow's Engineers Live speakers

Professor of Healthcare Engineering, UCL Mechanical Engineering Becky's research lies at the intersection of engineering, computing and healthcare - for example, developing computer-based models to better understand how drugs get delivered to cancers, or to predict how a patient’s physiology might behave when they're in intensive care. Becky is a passionate advocate for healthcare engineering, innovation and the translation of scientific discoveries into practice. During the pandemic she co-led the UCL-Ventura programme which developed non-invasive ventilators in the UK and globally during the pandemic. She is also Chief Research Officer at UCL Partners, a healthcare innovation agency focused on improving patient outcomes in the NHS.

Sarah Maclean job shares with Tessa Griffiths. They have recently been appointed CEOs for Skills England. They have worked in a number of senior roles in government including the Cabinet Office, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, NHS Test & Trace, and the Department for Education. Within DfE they worked on a variety of areas including qualifications and vocational education. In late 2020 they led the programme for rapid Covid testing in education settings, then acted as SROs for all other Covid measures. They have been Skills Strategy Directors since November 2022. Sarah and Tessa were awarded CBEs for their work on services to education and the government’s Covid response.

Hilary joined EngineeringUK as Chief Executive in January 2019 and leads the organisation in its mission to enable more young people from all backgrounds to be informed, inspired and progress into engineering and technology careers. EngineeringUK leads collaborative work across hundreds of organisations to improve the impact of engineering and tech engagement for young people - with the aim of ensuring that the UK has the workforce needed for engineering and technology to thrive, to improve sustainability and to achieve net zero.

Janet joined the ICE as Director General and Secretary in January 2023. She has extensive experience in the built environment sector, having most recently worked in the Cabinet Office where she was head of the Government Property Profession, leading more than 20 professions across government, and driving the agenda for improved capability within government client and delivery teams. She has also been global director of estates for the British Council, director of estates for the Ministry of Justice, and head of asset management in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. She is a Major Projects Leadership Academy graduate of the Saïd Business School, and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Royal Engineers, and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Her PhD, Towards Zero Energy Buildings, looked at the challenges and solutions for low carbon and energy developments. Janet was awarded a CBE in the King’s Birthday Honours 2023 for public service.

Aimee is the Social Impact Manager at Thales UK, where she leads initiatives focused on breaking down barriers for individuals looking to enter or return to the workplace. With an emphasis on social mobility, continuous learning and skill development, Aimee is striving to create opportunities that empower individuals to realise their full potential. With a background in HR, learning and project management, Aimee brings a wealth of experience as well as a strong understanding of the importance of aligning social initiatives with business objectives. Aimee's commitment to social impact is rooted in her belief that every individual deserves the opportunity to succeed, working alongside partners and colleagues to create opportunities that foster growth and development for all.

Antonia Dixey is the visionary founder and CEO of Participation People, a trailblazing organization dedicated to empowering young people and amplifying their voices on issues that matter. With more than 20 years experience in youth engagement, Antonia has transformed how organisations and young people collaborate to co-produce impactful solutions. Antonia's dynamic approach has revolutionized youth participation in decision-making, helping countless organizations become youth-proof and future-ready. Her expertise includes guiding senior executives through the benefits of cross-generational mentoring, driving true diversity in the workforce, and leveraging the power of young people in brand awareness and service improvement. She's a strategic thinker with a creative edge, and her passion for making the world more inclusive drives her work every day.

Becca has more than 10 years’ experience researching education, skills, employment, and diversity. She leads EngineeringUK’s work establishing the current and future workforce and skills needs and how to address them, STEM educational pathways, and understanding the opinions and experiences of young people’s engagement with STEM subjects and activities. Before joining EngineeringUK, Becca worked in a range of research and policy roles at the Federation of Small Businesses, the Learning and Work Institute, Kantar Public, and YouGov.

After a physics degree and research at the University of Chicago, Becky taught physics. She supported students to work with the UK Space Agency and NASA to put a payload into space.  Becky developed research projects with CERN, the Wellcome Trust and others. She founded the Institute for Research in Schools in 2015 to scale this approach. She still teaches physics and now runs Project Earth, a charity supporting young people across the world to innovate for the planet. Affiliated to The Earthshot Prize, and supported by a phenomenal group of expert advisers, it is empowering young people to have a genuine impact on their future.

With more than a decade of experience in the digital sector, Clare has spent the last 7 years focusing on widening participation. She leads campaigns to increase access to the built environment and tech industries for underprivileged young people. Causeway Education is a leading UK social mobility charity. A passionate speaker and facilitator, Clare has presented at major events including UK Construction Week and World Social Media Day. A former young carer, Clare brings unique personal insights into her work, making sure those without a voice are represented in careers outreach strategies.

Dan is responsible for ensuring the organisations operations directly benefit local communities, and that socio-economic opportunities are identified from a project's inception through to delivery, and that measurable outcomes are realised. Prior to AtkinsRéalis, Dan was the Strategic Lead for Education and Skills at D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership. Dan has also held senior positions with both national and regional charities. Dan is a trained Social Value Practitioner, Career Guidance Practitioner and has proudly been appointed as the Regional Employer Chair for the West Midlands Combined Authority, Vice Chair of the Connected Futures Partnership Board in the East Midlands, and sits on a number of strategic employment and advisory boards across the UK.

Dan leads the delivery of advanced Data & Decision Science solutions within WSP. He specialises in data analysis, advanced problem solving, AI in an asset context, analytics communication, large scale Whole Life Cost analysis and data led Asset Management. Dan has extensive experience in embedding valuable solutions within challenging business environments. 

Fay is the Curriculum Manager for Engineering, Construction and the Built Environment at City of Westminster College, United Colleges Group. She has been teaching and training for more than 20 years within Further Education and training providers. Fay has a passion for education and encouraging young people into STEM.

Francisca is a passionate STEM advocate with more than 15 years diverse experience across various industries, with a strong focus on community and education engagement. At National Grid she has developed a profound understanding of the critical role that community involvement and educational outreach play in promoting STEM disciplines. Francisca is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of engineers and fostering inclusivity within STEM fields. Her commitment to creating a more equitable STEM landscape drives her initiatives at National Grid and beyond, as she works tirelessly to empower young people and make sure all individuals have the opportunity to explore and succeed in engineering careers.

With a desire to provide young people with employer-informed curricula, Ian is dedicated to fostering strong industry partnerships. He wants to equip students with the skills needed for successful careers in engineering. Ian believes in bridging the gap between education and industry, helping young people gain real-world experience and confidence as they step into the workforce.

James leads initiatives to inspire and support young people in STEM through innovative partnerships and educational programmes. With a background in education as a deputy headteacher and a specialist in computing, James brings a wealth of experience in engaging young minds and delivering impactful learning experiences. Passionate about collaboration, he works with businesses, schools, and communities to create opportunities that equip the next generation with critical STEM skills. An advocate for diversity and inclusion, James champions accessible pathways to STEM careers, fostering talent for a brighter, sustainable future.

Kate is a specialist secondary teacher with expertise in Design & Technology, Construction, and Engineering.  She is experienced in engaging and inspiring pupils, fostering creativity, and developing skills for STEM careers.  Kate is also the secondary lead for The University of Manchester's Engineering Educates Robotics Challenge campaign, which aims to inspire the next generation of engineers.

The Policy and Impact Team undertake a wide range of research and analysis, generating insights from growing national data sets, to strengthen the evidence base for careers education in England. Laura has worked across a wide range of sectors – as Senior Adviser to large corporates at Charities Aid Foundation, Director of Applied Innovation at the Young Foundation, in strategy and national studies for the Audit Commission and as a consultant at McKinsey. She has an MBA from INSEAD.

Professor Lynne Bianchi is a specialist in curriculum and professional development, innovation and research in science and engineering education in mainstream primary-secondary phases.

Maddie Dinwoodie is responsible for expanding the portfolio of programmes and growing the collective impact of the engineering and technology careers outreach activities to encourage more, and more diverse, young people into engineering, technician and tech roles. With more than 20 years’ experience, Maddie has led the design and delivery of programmes and strategic partners to drive social and environmental change, working in the charity sector and advising companies on their social purpose strategies, as well as advocating for the power of young people to lead positive change. Prior to EngineeringUK, Maddie was Chief Programme Officer at UK Youth, leading the youth development programmes.   

Having worked in IT for nearly 40 years’, Mick recognises the importance of finding great people and the value they add to the work place. He believes everyone, regardless of their background, have unique talents, and that with the right coaching they can gain the confidence, self-belief and opportunity to make a real difference. Mick founded Digital INnov8ors, an aspiring social enterprise, in 2016. Its mission is to 'help unlock potential, working with learners who may not otherwise get the opportunity, and educators who can provide the raw talent'. They aim to create an alternative digital talent pipeline to local employers that can be trusted.

Megawatt is an award-winning card game supported by classroom resources to enable engaging learning experiences about energy and climate change. Miguel is passionate about the role that science communication and education can play in transitioning our energy systems to net zero. He studied engineering and worked in the nuclear sector for a number of years before creating Megawatt. 

Phil is academic lead of the mA*ths and further mA*ths programmes at Imperial, and of the College’s Maths Homework Club. His role is Director of Cross-Curricular Mathematics Education, which cuts across the Faculties of Natural Science and Engineering. A dynamicist by specialism, and a former A level teacher, he teaches modules in Mathematical Computation and Advanced Mathematical Methods for Aeronautical Engineers. His educational interests include schools outreach, public engagement, automated feedback, interactive visualisation and educational applications of symbolic computation (especially the Wolfram ecosystem). He’s a quizzer, an amateur cook and a student of German.

Rebecca’s career in education has included teaching in secondary schools and managing STEM programmes in UK museums. She has been the Programme Content Manager at Engineering UK since 2023. In this role she draws on key research and evaluation to lead on their approach to educational content, understanding best practice in the sector and the different strategies to engage young people from all backgrounds in STEM.