Meet the finalists

This year we have shortlisted three finalists per award.

Find out more about who they are and the fantastic work they’re doing to achieve gender parity in STEM and inspire the next generation.

The Princess Royal’s WISE Lifetime Achievement Award

Honouring a woman who has made significant and evident impact in STEM throughout her established career.

Andrea White, AW Fire

Andrea is a distinguished fire safety professional and advocate for gender equity.

She serves on the British Standard Committee for BS 9994 and the CIBSE fire safety working group. In 2024, she founded Women Talking Fire and runs AW Fire consultancy, mentoring 50-100 individuals annually to promote diversity and inclusion in the industry.

Andrea has spoken at events such as The Fire Safety Event and the ASFP London conference. She also regularly guests on podcasts where she shares her expertise and insights, on crucial topics such as fire safety in education.

Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, Study Group

Elena is a globally recognised expert and leader in enterprise and engineering education, inclusive and international learning and teaching, and change management. Her mission is to drive change and innovation in Higher Education, to support and empower international students, and to inspire the next generation of socially aware change-makers.

Elena famously led the creation of the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) as President and CEO. She has been honoured with a variety of fellowships and awards, such as the 2020 Woman of the Year in Technology and listed among the top 101 global Mexicans by Lideres Mexicanos.

Flavia Popescu, Babcock International Group

Flavia is a Chartered senior project professional who is passionate about engineering, project management, leadership and nature.

With over a decade of experience across diverse industries including IT, oil and gas, construction, and defence, Flavia has demonstrated exceptional capability and knowledge. Her achievements have been recognised by numerous professional institutions, highlighting her unwavering commitment to her profession and dedication to mentoring the next generation of engineers and project managers.

The Princess Royal’s WISE Rising Star Award

Recognising a promising woman who’s making great strides in the early stages of her STEM career.

Beth Jenkins, University of South Wales

Beth Jenkins is a Lecturer in Digital Forensics and Cyber Security at the University of South Wales, bringing her expertise as a former Forensic Quality Specialist for Gwent Police. She is dedicated to advancing the field of digital forensics and shaping the future of cyber security professionals.

Beth is passionate about forensic accreditation and has spoken at leading conferences. She is also a triple-award winner, being recognised as Cyber Newcomer of the Year, Cyber Personality of the Year, and has received the prestigious Alan Turing Award.

Lella Violet Halloum, IBM

Lella is an award-winning digital changemaker. As a Power of Youth Champion, she empowers underserved communities globally. A self-taught coder, Lella joined IBM at age 11 and became IBM Europe’s youngest employee at 15. She leads global student outreach for IBM Z, using technology to drive the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

A sought-after speaker, Lella collaborates with industry leaders, governments, and UN entities to foster digital inclusion. In 2024, she became the youngest participant in the US State Department’s IVLP, receiving the IVLP Impact Award for her contributions to diversity and inclusion in STEM.

Rucha Smith, Slipstream Engineering Design

Rucha has established herself as a respected authority in wireless communications since completing her PhD in Radio Frequency Engineering in 2019. She has earned accolades such as the IEE Prize and the Keysight Technologies Award.

At Slipstream Engineering Design, she plays a key role in shaping complex technical and RF design decisions, helping bridge digital and RF technology in communication and sensing. Rucha’s expertise was crucial in developing Slipstream’s Wideband Adaptive Radar Processor, ASTRO. She is also dedicated to mentoring others and supporting women in STEM.

Nurturing New Talent Award

This award celebrates one of the most important leadership characteristics – compassion. It recognises a special individual, or organisation, who acts selflessly and passionately to help others and shine a light ahead for the next generation in STEM.

Kristy Moir, Leidos

Kristy is a Business Systems Analyst for the Leidos UK Office of Technology. Throughout her career, Kristy has remained committed to championing career development and change, so that STEM is open to all.

She is a STEM Ambassador and Stemettes Mentor, helping to support future careers. Kristy has also delivered the reset of the Leidos Early Careers Programme, and the implementation of the Leidos TechX Academy, two initiatives focused on investing in people, developing skillsets and supporting future talent.

Laura Fogg-Rogers, University of the West of England (UWE)

Laura is Associate Professor for Engineering in Society in the School of Engineering at UWE. She leads the Inspire Sustainability education outreach and community engagement programme, supported by the Climate Action Hub education and action projects.

She has been Principal Investigator of several research projects, as well as managing communications for international research collaborations, and publishes widely on these topics.  Her research interests include community energy, community climate action, and developing involvement in research for under-served audiences, particularly for sustainable development.

Polly Morgan, iDEA Foundation

Polly is the CEO of iDEA Foundation, which provides free digital skills education globally. Under her leadership, iDEA has grown from a startup to a platform with over 2 million learners earning 15 million digital badges. Under Polly’s leadership, iDEA now reaches learners in a third of UK state secondary schools, with girls’ schools leading in achievement rates.

Polly’s vision of making transformative digital education accessible to all continues to drive iDEA’s growth, aiming to enable 10 million badge achievements annually by 2030.

Outstanding Woman in Engineering Award

Celebrating a woman in Engineering who has done something exceptional in her chosen field, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.

Isobel Houghton, AtkinsRéalis

Isobel is the Chief Engineer for Advanced Nuclear Reactors and Fusion Technology at AtkinsRéalis. Fascinated by taking things apart to find out how they work from a young age, Isobel read Natural Sciences, specialising in Physics, and then completed a PhD in Quantum Physics, both at Cambridge University.

After conducting research at the Met Office and then at Bristol University, Isobel began working as an engineer at AtkinsRéalis in 2013. She is a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Physicist, Fellow of the IOP and Fellow of the Nuclear Institute.

Kirsty McDermott, National Gas

Kirsty is a Senior Welding Engineer at National Gas. Her knowledge and experience is key to providing assurance for National Gas’s 7,500km of gas transmission pipelines in the UK. Having worked around fabrication and welding for almost 20 years, Kirsty has an MSc in Welding Engineering from Cranfield University and has been recognised with awards for her skills within the industry.

She sits on various Boards within her sector and is currently working towards her CEng status with The Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Sarah Badesha, Chivas Brothers

Sarah is Head of Engineering at Chivas Brothers, where she oversees the engineering team and important activity such as site projects, packaging engineering, site maintenance, and controls and automation. She has been responsible for the successful delivery of a number of significant engineering projects at Chivas Brothers flagship Manufacturing site.

Before joining Chivas Brothers, Sarah spent 11 years as a Production Manager at Glen Catrine where she set up their first Engineering Apprenticeship programme.

Outstanding Woman in Science Award

Commending a talented woman who has achieved extraordinary things in the field of Science, setting an example for other women.

Anna Pilkington, Chivas Brothers

Anna is a Process Engineer at Chivas Brothers. She joined the company as a graduate after completing her Masters in Chemical Engineering.

In her current role, she has led on the design and installation of the carbon-cutting MVR technology which is playing a key role in Chivas Brothers’ journey towards carbon-neutral distillation by 2026. She co-authored the open-source case study and basis of design that has allowed the technology to be shared industry-wide, contributing to the sector’s decarbonisation.

Catherine Ross, Scottish Government

Catherine is the Chief Scientific Officer for Scotland, where she provides expert advice to Scottish Ministers and is the head of profession for the scientific workforce within the NHS in Scotland. She is a Chartered Scientist and Chartered Biologist, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, the National Institute of Prevention and Cardiovascular Health in Ireland and the European Society of Cardiology.

She represents Scotland on the International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE) Board and is a member of the International (IFMBE) scientific programme committee. In recognition of her work supporting women leaders has been an invited delegate for the UK UN Women delegation on the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

Farah Khan, University of Oxford

Farah is a Bangladeshi-born surgeon, researcher, and passionate advocate for women in STEM. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Surgical Sciences at the University of Oxford, and is also a member of Oxford University Global Surgery Group. Farah has been the recipient of several prestigious awards in recognition of her commitment to her field and equity, diversity and inclusion.

Outstanding Woman in Technology Award

Spotlighting an innovative woman who has excelled in the field of Technology, and illustrates the capabilities and future success of women in tech.

Bella Boulderstone, Capgemini Engineering

Bella completed her PhD at Southampton University in Physics and Astronomy in 2021. She joined Capgemini as a Data Scientist in 2022, where she has since been promoted, and now works as a Senior Data Scientist, in the Data and AI Practice at Capgemini Engineering.

Currently, Bella is splitting her time between leading the development of a scientific copilot GenAI solution for a consumer products client, a cutting-edge research project exploring hybrid AI approaches and co-chairing the Capgemini Engineering UK Women’s Network.

Laurence Levy, MeditSimple

Laurence Levy is an innovative entrepreneur and technology leader with over 25 years of experience in FinTech and healthcare technology. She founded MeditSimple, a digital platform simplifying healthcare navigation which has unified over 8,500 healthcare practitioners and served more than 300,000 patients.

Laurence is a strong advocate for gender diversity in technology, with 75% of MeditSimple’s leadership team being women. She frequently speaks at events, encouraging women to pursue careers in STEM. Her work has revolutionised patient care and set new standards for ethical AI deployment and gender diversity in technology.

Sharan Johnstone, University of South Wales

Sharan is the Head of Subject for Cyber Security and Digital Forensics at the University of South Wales. She is the Director of the NCSC Gold awarded, Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education and she manages the Cyber First and NDEC Outreach teams within it. 

In addition to this, Sharan is responsible for developing industry partnerships and engagement within Cyber Security to support the cutting-edge learning opportunities on our courses and the Head of Talent and Skills for USW, in the Cardiff Capital region’s  Cyber Innovation Hub.

STEM Ally Award

Recognising an individual of any gender who is a truly invested ally, supporting the progression of women in STEM with proven impact.

Hayley Burns, University of South Wales

Hayley is the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science at the University of South Wales. Known for her authentic and empathetic leadership, Hayley has leveraged her unique “third space” role to bridge professional and academic teams, fostering collaboration and a supportive environment.

Hayley has led the growth of the university’s Cyber Academy, played a pivotal role in reshaping the Forensics offering, and championed the development of staff by leading two successful Wellbeing Weeks. She is driven by a passion for empowering others to succeed.

Paul Williams, Bloomberg LP

Paul co-founded the London Engineering Department at Bloomberg, growing it to over 900 developers in 25 years. He and his team built core components of the Bloomberg Terminal, including Launchpad and Instant Bloomberg.

Passionate about STEM, Paul actively supports women in tech by championing inclusive hiring practices and mentoring female professionals. He has been part of the judging panel for various hackathons, including those focused on promoting diversity. Paul and his wife are patrons of the Science Museum, further supporting educational initiatives. He has also launched a scholarship at the University of Leicester with Galactic Unite, aimed at encouraging more women to pursue careers in technology.

Vince Pizzoni, University of Nottingham

Vince is a Chemical and Environmental Engineering expert at the University of Nottingham. He has mentored thousands of people across all career stages, focusing on inspiring future generations in STEM. With over 40 years of global business experience, he has held executive roles in top companies like ExxonMobil and Suez. Vince is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of several prestigious organisations, dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM.

Vince is a Trustee or Non-executive Board member and Ambassador for various organisations including Male Allies UK, Female Leaders in STEM Subjects, POWERful Women and MyBigCareer.

STEM Returner Award

Celebrating a talented woman who has returned to STEM and made a significant positive impact following a career break.

Chineye Princess Udeze, Leonardo UK

Chineye is an accomplished professional with a strong foundation in medical engineering. She graduated in 2012, and was recognised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for Best Medical Engineer. She completed her PhD in 2017.

Chineye transitioned to the defence sector where she has continued to excel. She has demonstrated her versatility and ability to adapt her engineering expertise to complex and demanding environments. Chineye’s career trajectory reflects a consistent pattern of excellence, innovation, and leadership across multiple engineering disciplines.

Evona Teh, Jaguar Land Rover

Evona is a distinguished Chartered Engineer with over a decade of experience in automotive engineering at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). She holds a PhD in Intelligent Transportation as well as a Masters in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. In 2021 she co-founded JLR’s Strategic Foresight team where she drives forward-thinking initiatives as the Innovation Lead.

Recently she was appointed as a Visiting Professor at Imperial College London, sponsored by the Royal Academy of Engineering. Here, she enhances teaching and skill-building for graduate engineers, whilst inspiring a more diverse cohort of STEM students. She is an active STEM Ambassador and mentor, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of engineers.

Maria Holloway-Strong, AtkinsRéalis

Maria is a distinguished geologist and engineer with a passion for promoting diversity in STEM. She has a PhD in Engineering Geology and numerous accolades, including the AtkinsRéalis Geotechnical Network Award for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.

After a career break to raise her children, she returned to AtkinsRéalis as part of their STEM Returners program, receiving four promotions in six years to her current role as Principal Engineering Geologist. Maria actively mentors young engineers, chairs the Ground Engineering Advisory Panel for CIRIA, and serves on the WIM3 committee. She is also an active speaker on topics such as parenting, intersectionality and flexible working.

Outreach and Engagement Award

Recognising an exceptional individual of any gender who has gone above and beyond to engage with and inspire women and girls to pursue a career in STEM.

Alyx Murdock, Amentum

Alyx is a civil engineer, a mother of three, and an award-winning STEM outreach advocate. She has more than 10 years technical experience across a number of projects, currently working as a Project Civil Engineer.

She has dedicated herself to developing and conducting STEM sessions, ensuring that meaningful learning experiences are accessible to all. She hosts workshops for local and global audiences. She is extremely passionate about STEM outreach and hopes to encourage children to dream big, and have the confidence and self-belief to pursue a career in STEM.

Anastasia Sofroniou, University of West London

Anastasia has dedicated more than two decades to higher education and being a STEM advocate. She is the Lead of Professional Engagement at the University of West London’s School of Computing and Engineering. She has received numerous accolades, including the Andrew Rosen Prize and Lighthill Scholarship Award.

She is the founder and Chair of the WInSTEM committee, in which she’s helped to deliver over 50 outreach activities including school visits, career fairs and mentorship programmes. In addition to her work at UWL, Anastasia is a STEM Ambassador, actively engaging with young people through workshops, talks, and hands-on activities.

Julie Feest, Engineering Development Trust and Industrial Cadets

Julie is the CEO of EDT (Engineering Development Trust) and Industrial Cadets, an established educational charity. Julie’s passion is to help young people have a fulfilling STEM career. She is passionate about social mobility and building impactful partnerships for continued success.

Julie is an experienced senior leader and collaborator who has worked both within the tech industry and the not-for-profit sector. Her roles involve maintaining fantastic client relationships and negotiating with all levels of senior management to ensure the success of a programme.

Women’s Wellbeing at Work Award

Celebrating an organisation that holistically and proactively supports women’s health and wellbeing in the workplace.

AtkinsRéalis

AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. They create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. They work on a global scale, deploying capabilities locally to their clients across the whole lifecycle of an asset. This includes everything from intelligent networks and cybersecurity to design and engineering as well as decommissioning.

Network Rail

Network Rail own, operate, maintain and develop the railway infrastructure in England, Scotland and Wales. They operate through devolved route businesses that understand how to meet customer needs. They operate, maintain, and renew infrastructure to deliver a safe and reliable transportation for passengers and freight customers.

Each region and function is a large, complex business in its own right, run by a managing director and a senior leadership team who are accountable for effectively and efficiently delivering for customers and key stakeholders.

Ocado Technology

Ocado Technology is part of the Ocado Group, a global, technology business redefining ecommerce, fulfilment and logistics in online grocery and distribution industries. Ocado Technology focus on creating, operating and commercialising software and robotics solutions tailored to online grocery retailers and distribution and logistics businesses, worldwide.

EDI Organisation of the Year Award

Celebrating an outstanding organisation that is leading the way in EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion), particularly demonstrating best practice and initiatives within STEM.