The Women’s Engineering Society (WES) has announced the winners of the Top 50 Women in Engineering: Engineering Heroes awards.  Now in its sixth year, the 2021 WE50 celebrates women who have made a significant contribution to helping their organisation, community or indeed the world functioning during the last year. 

The WE50 awards were judged by a panel of industry experts. Commenting on this year’s awards, head judge, Professor Catherine Noakes said: “2020 was a year unlike any other and remarkable times call for remarkable people. That is why, in 2021, the Top 50 Women in Engineering Awards celebrate the engineering heroes who have responded to the challenges of an ever-changing world, from healthcare and climate change to infrastructure and championing diversity, with inspirational innovation and leadership. With over 230 nominations, only the exceptional made it to the top 50. 

“The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted how truly important science, technology and engineering are to the health of our planet. The 2021 WE50 personify the inventive and inclusive thinking needed to build a sustainable future. If there was ever a time that we needed these heroes in engineering, it is now.”

Members of the top 50 include many women from the construction and related sectors. Companies well represented include Arup, Atkins, Buro Happold, Sir Robert McAlpine, Costain, Skanska and HS2. Academia also features strongly and outgoing chief executive of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering Hannah Vickers is also included in the list. 

Commenting on her inclusion, Vickers said: “It is a huge honour to have been named one of the 50 Engineering Heroes on International Women in Engineering Day. The truth is this has been an exceptionally challenging year for many businesses and individuals working in construction sector. So, whilst I’m very proud of the role I have played in supporting the industry through these challenges, great credit must go to my colleagues on the Construction Leadership Council, the active participation of the ACE board and members and the dedicated support from my ACE team.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to applaud my truly inspirational fellow Engineering Heroes and thank the Women’s Engineering Society for supporting the awards which play a vital role celebrating the role of women in our industry.”

The WE50 awards recognise the wealth of female talent within engineering and related disciplines and the annual celebration is aligned with International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) on 23 June 2021. INWED celebrates the achievements of women in engineering and related roles and highlights the opportunities available to engineers of the future. This year’s campaign day is partnering with UNESCO UK. 

The 2021 WE50 winners are published by the Guardian and celebrated during WES’s own virtual INWED event on 23 June and across social media and press throughout the world.

The Top 50 Women in Engineering for 2021 are listed below, in alphabetical order.

1. Tayebeh Ameri, Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh, School of Engineering 
2. Samidha Anand, Engineering Manager, Caterpillar UK (Perkins Engines Co Ltd)
3. PhoebeBaker, Construction Manager, Mace
4. Claire Bennett, Senior Geotechnical Engineer, Arup
5. Grace Campbell, Senior Natural Hazard and Risk Specialist, Arup 
6. Jackie Carpenter, Director, Friendship Cohousing 
7. Jo da Silva, Global Sustainable Development Leader, Arup
8. GeorgiaDavey, Senior Buyer, Babcock International Group
9. Claire Dewhirst, Aircraft Engineer, 1 Regiment AAC Workshop REME (Ministry of Defence)
10. Karen Donaldson, Research Associate, University of Edinburgh 
11. Hua Dong, Professor in Design, Dean of Brunel Design School, Brunel University London 
12. Katherine Dunn, Lecturer, The University of Edinburgh
13. Natalia Falagan, Lecturer in Food Science and Technology, Cranfield University
14. Elena Gaura, Professor of Pervasive Computing, Coventry University
15. Kate Grant, Director of Network West Midlands,Cadent Gas Limited
16. Katherine Grigg, HS2 Main Works Agent, SCS Railways Joint Venture (HS2 Main Works) 
17. Jo Hartnell, Assistant Tunnelling Engineer, Atkins
18. Milly Hennayake, Civil Water Engineer, Arup
19. Jean Hewitt, Senior Inclusive Design Consultant, Buro Happold
20. Debbie Janson, Senior Lecturer, University of Bath
21. Sohini Kar-Narayan, Reader (Associate Professor) in Device and Energy Materials, University of Cambridge
22. Emma Kent, Director – Construction, Metropolitan Police
23. Suk Kinch, Senior design and development engineer, Renishaw Neuro Solutions 
24. Hanna Leeson, Senior Environmental Engineer, BAE SYSTEMS
25. KristenMacAskill, Lecturer, University of Cambridge 
26. Caitlin McCall, Engineering Doctorate Student, Swansea University and icmPrint
27. Linda McVittie, Sales Manager – Scotland, J & E Hall Limited 
28. Helen Meese, Founder and CEO, The Care Machine Ltd
29. Susana Neves e Brooks, Lead Project Manager, National Grid
30. Mimi Nwosu, Assistant Materials Engineer, Sir Robert McAlpine
31. JenniferOlsen, PhD researcher, Newcastle University
32. Polly Osborne, Assistant Electrical Engineer, Burns & McDonnell
33. Cristiana Pace, Founder and Managing Director, Enovation Consulting Ltd
34. TannazPak, Senior Lecturer in Energy and Environmental Engineering, Teesside University 
35. Sarah Partington, Senior Medical and Dental Technician,Army Medical Services Training Centre
36. Kelly Paul, Core Projects Team Lead – UKI, Air Products PLC
37. KayishaPayne, Founder and Programme Director, BBSTEM (Black British Professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Ltd
38. AndreaPearson, Senior Engineer – Operations, Sabic UK Petrochemicals
39. Alison Raby, Professor of Environmental Fluid Mechanics, University of Plymouth
40. Catherine Rennie, Consultant ENT surgeon, Charing Cross Hospital
41. Jane Rickson, Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation, Cranfield University
42. Dipa Roy, Senior Lecturer, The University of Edinburgh
43. Jyoti Sehdev, Group EDI lead, Costain
44. Era Shah, Senior Engineer - HS2 Enabling Works, Costain Skanska Joint Venture (HS2 Enabling Works)
45. Rebecca Shipley, Professor of Healthcare Engineering, UCL
46. Maria Sunyer Pinya, Senior Climate Change Consultant, Arup
47. Larissa Suzuki, Data/AI Practice Lead, Google
48. Sue Threader, Bridge Clerk (Chief Executive), Rochester Bridge Trust
49. HannahVickers, Chief Executive, Association for Consultancy and Engineering
50. Julie Wood, Major Complex Projects Director, Arup