Women in engineering: One-day conference

Women in engineering – or lack thereof – is a hot topic. We know that in the UK we face a future skills shortage in the next few years, so in order to address this problem alone we need to attract more girls to engineering, and retain more of our qualified women engineers. In addition to this, evidence is coming to light which shows that diverse teams of engineers are not only more productive but more profitable.

 The inaugural National Women in Engineering Day event – Women in Engineering: The Challenge One Day Conference – takes place on 23rd June 2014 in London and is organised by the Women’s Engineering Society.

 

The conference is aimed at business leaders looking to increase diversity within their organisation, and anyone working in the engineering sector who would like to see more women in engineering. 

 

Session 1 Back to School  

Keynote: Jenny Willott MP, Minister for Women and Equality

  • Giving Girls the Career Option | Frances Saunders, President of Institute of Physics
  • The Vital Role of Attracting Girls to University Technical Colleges | Paula Gwinnett, JCB University Technical College
  • The Importance of Diversity | Ruth Spellman CEO of Workers’ Educational Association  
  • Attracting Female Apprentices – a Company Perspective | Gareth Humphreys, MBDA

Session 2 The Business Perspective Chaired by Dr Peter Bonfield, CEO of BRE 

Keynote: The Perkins Review and Subsequent Progress, Professor John Perkins, Chief Scientific Advisor, BIS 

  • The Royal Academy of Engineering Diversity Leadership Group – Progress So Far | Allan Cook, DLG Chair, Chair of Atkins & Selex ES, BIS 
  • The Industry from the Inside | Nina Skorupska, CEO Renewable Energy Association
  • Diversity from a Professional Engineering Institute Perspective | Barry Brooks, President of The Institution of Engineering and Technology
  • Question and Answer Session for Session 1 and 2 Speakers

Session 3: Networks  Chaired by Yasmin Ali, WES Young Woman Engineer, E.ON 

Keynote: Meg Munn MP for Sheffield

  • The Pros and Cons of Positive Discrimination| Dr Carol Marsh, WES President
  • The Value of Women’s Networks to the Business | Dervilla Mitchell, Director at Arup 
  • Changing Hearts and Minds | Helen Wollaston, CEO of WISE
  • Networking the Networks | Dr Pat Morton, Director of WISET, Sheffield Hallam University 

Session 4 Chaired by Helen Wollaston, CEO of WISE 

  • The Business Case for Diversity in the Scientific Community, Polly Williams, Acting Head of Scientific Engagement, The Royal Society  
  • Leaning In, for the Next Generation| Anne-Marie Imafidon, Head Stemette
  • Through Both Eyes: the Case for a Gender Lens in STEM| Dr Ellie Cosgrave, Director, ScienceGrrl
  • Ensuring Women Return | Katie Perry, CEO Daphne Jackson Trust

Further details, speaker biographies and timings can be found on the WES website at www.wes.org.uk/wie.

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