Frankie Thatcher | Product Assurance Lead | BAE Systems
My career has grown from early days of work experience involving stock checking fasteners for electric propulsion engines (that are now in Space) to becoming a Product Assurance Lead for a Space System.
This involves the co-ordination of and participation in various assurance activities across Satellite, Ground Segment and Equipment development. Throughout my career, I have had opportunities to work on a wide range of exciting technologies with wonderful, engaging and talented people from a variety of backgrounds.
My career is continuing to grow and I am excited now to help develop the next generation of space-industry engineers.
I joined the industry as a graduate from the University of Manchester with my Master`s degree in Physics with Astrophysics. I continue to support STEM activities to encourage new talent into the industry through various entry routes.
Kat Draper | Principal Engineer | Mott MacDonald
Kat is a Chartered Civil Engineer and has been working in the construction industry for more than 15 years.
She completed a Master’s degree (MEng) in Civil Engineering at the University of Southampton and has completed the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification.
Her latest roles focus on management and co-ordination of design teams; including team leader, project manager and design manager, and projects range from early feasibility studies, preliminary design and detailed design, with extensive collaboration with various third parties. In 2023 she was project manager for a team that travelled to Rwanda to build a 77m trail bridge.
Kat is keen to encourage others into the construction industry and is passionate about creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive industry. She promotes engineering to others through mentoring, by being a STEM Ambassador and facilitating student work placements and attending career events.
With lower-than-average numbers of women and minority groups working in the industry, Kat acknowledges that change is required to make the industry more effective at attracting and retaining talent.
Kat believes that if people have certain skills or are capable and keen to do certain roles, they should be able to do a role that utilises those skills. This shouldn’t be limited or defined by gender.
The best teams will have different skills, emotions and personalities within them, and this provides resilience and balance. Everyone within the team has the right to be their authentic self, so they can give their best and achieve their own and the project objectives.
Samrudhi Inamdar | Systems Engineer | AAC Clyde Space
My engineering journey is driven by a deep desire to innovate and overcome nature`s challenges.
With a proven record of achievements and a vision to inspire future generations, I strive to lead by example. Motivated by a sincere commitment to contribute to society and foster positive change, this recognition represents a pivotal opportunity to effect meaningful transformation.
I am currently working as a Systems Engineer at AAC Clyde Space, where I get to work on the most exciting space projects. Embarking on an academic voyage, I began with a Bachelor`s in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering in India. Subsequently, I pursued a Master`s in Astronautics and Space Engineering at Cranfield University, which laid the foundation for my journey into the realm of space exploration. Building upon this foundation, I am currently pursuing a second Master`s in Engineering Management at Brunel University London, demonstrating my unwavering commitment to continual learning and professional advancement. These qualifications have equipped me with a solid foundation and specialized knowledge essential for my career in aerospace engineering.
Having spent my formative years in India, I began a fresh phase in my professional journey upon relocating to the United Kingdom in 2021, amid the pandemic`s adversities. Rather than yielding to the hurdles of lock-down and unemployment, I pro-actively utilized my technical skills and interpersonal abilities to network, build connections, and pursue opportunities.
I`m an ardent art enthusiast, particularly drawn to dancing and painting. I like to maintain a rounded life blending creativity with STEM expertise.
Carley Fountain | Company Secretary/Business Owner | Castle Climate Control Ltd
It all started working in a pub... from there I ventured into the world of air conditioning.
After 2 years working in the maintenance department, I found myself with an opportunity to set up a business in the industry with my husband, 9 years later, here we are! We specialise in air conditioning and renewable heating systems and over the years, I have not only gained knowledge of equipment we install but also an understanding of what the industry needs in terms of skills and diversity. 2020 presented me with the opportunity to really get stuck into STEM work thanks to the STEMazing inspiration academy. Since then, alongside the general running of a business and parenting 3 children, I`ve managed to deliver STEM sessions to primary aged children and work alongside the local college to encourage more children to get involved with STEM subjects.
Mariam Hussein | Software Engineer | Slalom
Before starting as a tech switcher, Mariam worked as an Enterprise Assistant at the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre - the UK’s leading University-based startup-incubator.
Presently, Mariam is a passionate software engineer at Slalom_build, dedicated to advancing social mobility through tailored digital skilling initiatives for women, girls, and non-binary individuals. Within her professional career, Mariam focuses on building products and providing digital transformation to clients through Slalom. As part of her work, she has focused on delivering high value transformation work as part of a wider team of engineers, project managers and consultants.
Since switching careers, Mariam has focused demonstrating her diplomatic acumen, developing her technological knowledge, and giving back to the community by highlighting pathways into tech. Through her work as a MIRAI Delegate and a JCI TOYP Delegate, where she has presented and spoken with high-profile political figures on digital skilling. As a Code First Girls Ambassador, she advocates for accessibility in digital skilling and mentors those from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue careers in technology. Alongside this role, she has taken part in several initiatives, whether that be a UN Women Delegate, collaborating with local Universities, or mentoring 1-1, to help understand how to further equalities in the digital sectors for women.
Her relentless pursuit of positive social change echoes the her commitment to creating a more inclusive and empowered future for all.
Nicola Ironside-Skene | VP, Quality Assurance Engineer and Practice Lead | Bank of America
I'm a Quality Assurance Engineer and Practice Lead at Bank of America in Global Information Security (GIS).
I Lead a global team of QA specialists and play a pivotal role in coaching on the importance of quality in in aspects of software development.
With almost 20 years in technology, I`ve held various roles in technology, with a special interest and dedication to Quality Engineering and Software testing. I`ve built test frameworks for gaming platforms on Azure and created scalable and sustainable automation frameworks for global banking services. My passion lies in building high-performing teams, investing in people, leveraging strengths, and embracing diversity to optimize outcomes whilst maintaining a hands-on skillset.
I take an active role in embedding community and belonging at Bank of America. As Co-Founder of Women in GIS, I organize events supporting women in cybersecurity. Additionally, I contribute to our internal Employee Networks as a volunteer lead, and mentor.
I now volunteer for Restore, who provide aid and support to women during breast reconstruction following mastectomies, and participate in the PROTECTOR medical research study for ovarian cancer. I co-founded the `Women in Test` community which now has over 1,000 cross industry members . I contribute to the Test Society, advocating for Quality Engineering recognition through the Engineering Council.
As a mother to three children, I find the balance between family priorities whilst excelling in my career and being a positive role model in all I do.
Tamara Tankosic | Technology Delivery Lead | Accenture
Tamara is a Technology Delivery Lead at Accenture, specialised in technology project management and strategy and has been leading multi-million pound digital transformation and total enterprise reinvention projects, managing global teams and navigating complex programme delivery for large market share holders across consumer packaged goods and retail industries, including FTSE100 and FTSE250 clients.
She is a known mentor and supporter of her teams, having received recognition across projects and clients on her work and dedication to not only hitting project milestones but also ensuring teams are engaged and feeling valued.
Previously Tamara has worked as a Project Manager in travel and retail technology, managing projects including e-commerce platform development, customer relationship management, market expansion and business growth.
Tamara has a Bachelors with Honours in International Economics and Business and a Masters in Management from London Business School.
Aimee Betts-Charalambous | Manager | KPMG
Of mixed Cypriot-English heritage I was lucky to grow up around the world, experiencing different values and cultures.
With parents from working class backgrounds, I have seen first-hand the importance of working hard to realise your dreams and have used those values to develop a professional and personal work ethic to strive for more and support those around me to know they can do the same.
Following a law degree, I decided to specialise in energy and natural resources. My career has spanned both public and private sectors but always with a focus on clean energy and climate change. Having started my career developing a range of innovative and cornerstone energy policies, I am now working with industry to implement them. Supporting clients within KPMG`s ENR team to be at the forefront of the energy transition and decarbonise.
In my spare time I run a range of charity fundraising events, combining my love of sport and music with a desire to help those in need. In 2023 alone I helped raise over £19k.
Claire Huxley | Interim Revenue and Settlements Senior Manager | National Grid
Claire has had a broad career in National Grid, starting in 2014 on the graduate scheme in Procurement.
This provided her with a fantastic foundation of commercial understanding, working with lots of different stakeholders and project management. Her real passion was to work at the heart of the energy industry, so when an opportunity came up in the system operator it seemed like an opportunity she couldn’t turn down. Since joining the ESO in 2020, she has lead on regulatory delivery of new frequency response products, delivered multiple commercial code changes, led employee engagement for the organisation and introduced an ESO office dog, supporting the training and office socialisation of a trainee Guide Dog. She has recently started a new role in the CFO function leading the Revenue and Settlements team which processes £9bn of charges from across the industry.
Holly Mather | Engineering Manager | Enable
Holly completed a Master Degree in Materials Engineering at Swansea University and started her career as a research engineer in the field of metrology.
After progressing her career technically, she took a sideways steps into people management and leadership, managing a team of research engineers specializing in data engineering, data science and software engineering.
She then took an opportunity at ASOS as an Engineering Manager, managing teams of software engineers and QA engineers in the fintech space. Following her time at ASOS she has joined SaaS startup, Enable as an Engineering Manager and is paving the way internally for female engineers.
Since joining Enable Holly has been focusing on building and driving forward a DEI strategy within the Engineering department. She has created and influenced a more accessible and diversity-centric approach to their engineering recruitment and onboarding processes.
Holly is empowering and connecting with the Enable’s female engineers, building a community for these engineers to come together across the globe, creating opportunities for them to share challenges and solutions, exploring mentoring opportunities and focusing on building empowerment from within.
Holly is also a voice of diversity and leadership outside of Enable, speaking on podcasts, writing blog posts, delivering talks at events, supporting and celebrating other women within tech through mentoring, and as a UN Women UK delegate.