Aleks Goodier is a transformative force in STEM education, leading Chelmsford County High School’s highly successful Further Mathematics A-level provision and spearheading the rapid development of our Computer Science department. His influence extends far beyond the classroom, making a significant and lasting impact on women in STEM, particularly in the fields of mathematics, coding, and computer science.

Since Aleks joined the Further Maths team, the number of students in our Further Mathematics cohort has grown phenomenally – from just 4 students in 2017 to an impressive 45 students in the current Year 12. Remarkably, this entire cohort is composed of female mathematicians, demonstrating Aleks’ extraordinary success in encouraging young women to pursue advanced studies in mathematics.

Aleks is a relentless advocate for girls’ participation in mathematics and STEM competitions. He leads the school’s UK Mathematics Challenge (UKMC) provision and, outside school, volunteers with the UKMT organisation, contributing his time and expertise to national competition marking. His commitment ensures that students’ achievements and engagement with mathematics extend far beyond our school environment.

Inspiring students from diverse backgrounds, Aleks instils confidence and resilience, helping them envision and achieve ambitious futures in STEM. His mentorship has been life-changing for many, with three of his students recently securing places at the University of Cambridge to read Mathematics. These achievements are a testament to Aleks’ passion for his subject and his ability to inspire excellence.

Amie took up post as Headteacher at Georgian Gardens in January 2018 and is a serving member of the governing body. Previously she was Headteacher at Rudgwick Primary School (2013 – 2017) and prior to this had experience of working in primary schools in both West Sussex and Hampshire. Amie is keen to ensure that all pupils at Georgian Gardens are inspired by their learning and supported to achieve the very best that they can.

Amie is an incredible Headteacher with vision and drive. She has promoted STEM within the curriculum, runs an after school STEM club and has awarded 2 TLR’s to teachers to promote and develop the STEM subjects. She has also campaigned and fundraised for a new dedicated STEM area within the school, which now has a large scale sandpit, diggers, pulleys and water area to promote engineering and science. Amie is a hands-on Headteacher who cares about the individual needs of each pupil. 

Christine has had a huge impact on STEM education. In her previous roles, she introduced Computer Science to the curriculum and ran multiple STEM clubs.

After a few years at Bradford Grammar, Christine had more girls than boys in the school’s A level Computer Science class, smashing the national statistics. It was the same at both schools with at least half the students being female in the GCSE classes.

Christine recently designed and ran a Creative Coding day for girls with students from 6 different schools across Leeds attending, as part of the I Belong EDI campaign from the NCCE.

At both schools, Christine ran CyberFirst for Girls competition (with girls in the finals); Lego Robotics entering the First Lego League.; Cyber Centurion. MakerSpace 3D printing jewellery designed with code.

Emma is an outstanding teacher. She gets results in the top 5% in all three subjects she delivers. She teaches business studies, Creative iMedia and Computing as well as delivering excellent computing lessons across KS3.

This year she taught the student who achieved the highest mark in the country in business studies.

In addition to her curricula commitments she coordinates Langtree School’s PSHE programme and has designed an outstanding programme of lessons and resources that ensure all students are fully educated in areas of life that will ensure that they are able to make excellent citizens. This helped the school to achieve a judgement of Outstanding for Personal Development in their most recent inspection.

Emma promotes girls in computing at every single opportunity. She runs a huge number of activities for girls to support them in getting into the computing industry.

From Digigirlz to Girls who Code, Emma is consistently pushing our female students to believe in themselves and enter this male dominated profession.

Through visionary leadership, tireless dedication, and unwavering belief in her students, Gemma has transformed the role of STEM education in alternative provision. Her work has not only reignited a love for science but has also changed the trajectory of young people’s lives, particularly girls and young women, by showing them that a future in STEM is within their reach.

When Gemma joined HLP in 2021, science had been completely removed from the curriculum, deemed ‘too hard’ for students in alternative provision. Under her leadership, this has been completely reversed – every student at HLP now studies science and sits GCSEs in Combined Science, achieving excellent results.

Many of these students had previously been disengaged from education, yet through Gemma’s encouragement, expertise, and relentless support, they have come to see science as something they can succeed in. Some have even gone on to study science A-Levels, an extraordinary achievement for young people who once believed STEM was not for them.

Gemma is a passionate advocate for girls and young women in STEM, actively working to break down the barriers that often exclude them. She has:

• Created targeted mentoring and support programmes for female students, helping them build confidence in science.
• Introduced students to inspirational female role models in STEM, demonstrating that women belong and thrive in these fields.
• Ensured that girls at HLP have access to hands-on, engaging science experiences, increasing their aspirations and self-belief.
• Through her work, many girls who once saw STEM as “not for them” have come to embrace science as a passion and even a career pathway.

Hannah teaches computing to children aged 3-11 at Rydes Hill Preparatory School & Nursery. She also runs digital skills clubs and coding camps in the summer. She is an amazing role model for women working in tech. The girls are inspired by her belief that anyone can be successful in the tech industry, most especially women. She has given the children some amazing opportunities including running the world’s first NFT gallery project managed and created by kids, from local Surrey and London Schools, and taking an all girls under 11s team to the Esports tournament at Cottesmore Prep School.

Irene is a Data Analyst and Data Engineer with expertise in Data Science, known for solving complex problems, enhancing customer satisfaction, and driving operational improvements. With a strong background in Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, Irene combines technical expertise with a passion for Education Technology to deliver impactful results.

As the founder of Acode STEAM Education, Irene is dedicated to expanding STEM education across Kenya, particularly in rural areas with limited access to technology. Through initiatives like a successful 10-week kids’ coding camp in partnership with D|Dialog Norway, Irene is equipping young learners with essential coding skills to help shape their future.

Janet transitioned from a successful career in hospitality to teaching in the lifelong learning sector in her mid-fifties. She began by teaching cookery before moving into courses focused on personal development, confidence-building, and employability skills, particularly for individuals facing learning support needs or long-term unemployment. Passionate about adapting her approach to meet diverse learner needs, she also developed bespoke courses for external organisations. This journey ultimately led her to The CRUMBS Project, where she continues to apply her expertise in education and empowerment.

Jo-Ann offers an enrichment club which targets young female and non-binary students to consider taking STEM-related GCSEs when they are taking their options.

She is using the InnovateHer online learning platform, along with her own knowledge and skills, to deliver role model talks from industry experts and inspiring sessions which introduce students to cyber security, coding and future mapping. The programme is designed to expose students to the world of tech and to open up their horizons to see what is available to them in the future.

The sessions have inspired an increased number of girls considering a GCSE in a tech-related subject, and she continues to deliver the sessions throughout the year to different groups of students. 

Historically in St Nicholas CE First School, STEM and the associated subject domains fields had been predominately the domain of the boys. Research suggests that fewer girls and women pursuing education and careers in these areas. This gender gap can limit opportunities for female pupils and perpetuate stereotypes. By actively addressing this issue at St Nicholas CE First School, Joshua has empowered our female pupils, broadened their horizons, and ensured that all pupils, regardless of gender, have equal access to the exciting possibilities within STEM.
Joshua has implemented a comprehensive STEM project with the following key strategies:

• Champion of STEM Education: Joshua is a STEM Champion, a leader with a passion for STEM education. He is responsible for driving the project, developing teachers’ STEM expertise, and leading networks for science leadership development across the school and its partner schools.
• Teacher Development: Joshua has invested in extensive professional development for teaching staff, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to deliver engaging and inclusive STEM lessons. He plans CPD that is focused and engaging and ensures that inclusion is at the heart of his model. This includes training on innovative teaching methods, integrating STEM across the curriculum, and addressing unconscious biases.
• Removing Barriers to STEM Access: Joshua has taken proactive steps to identify and remove barriers that may prevent female pupils from engaging with STEM. This includes providing additional support, mentoring, and opportunities for girls to explore STEM subjects and careers.
• STEM Engagement with Minority Groups: Joshua has made a concerted effort to engage with underrepresented groups, such as pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds, or Pupil Premium children to ensure that all pupils have equal access and aspiration to take part in STEM learning and activities.
• Science Fairs and Industry Partnerships: The school has organised regular science fairs, involving international, national, and local partners. These events provide opportunities for pupils to showcase their STEM projects, interact with STEM professionals, and gain exposure to the diverse range of STEM careers.
• Careers Engagement: Joshua has invited STEM professionals, particularly women, to share their experiences and inspire pupils. Pupils have also had the opportunity to visit STEM-related workplaces and participate in educational visits to further their understanding of STEM careers. This has been replicated for Mathematics also.
• Curriculum Integration: Joshua has worked to integrate a more diverse range of scientists, including women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, into the curriculum. This helps to challenge stereotypes and broaden pupils’ perspectives on who can succeed in STEM fields.

This has led to increased engagement and enthusiasm for STEM subjects among all pupils, with a notable rise in the number of girls expressing interest in STEM-related careers. Improved performance and confidence in STEM subjects, as evidenced by pupil progress data, pupil voice and feedback from teachers.

From the moment she steps into the classroom, Judith transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. With her bright smile and infectious enthusiasm, she makes science come alive for our students. Her lessons are not just lectures; they are adventures. Whether it is exploring the mysteries of the universe or delving into the intricacies of Chemistry, she has a unique ability to deliver lessons that captivate her students’ imaginations. The students don’t just learn about science; they experience it.

She recognises that many of her students face challenges that go beyond school. With empathy and understanding, she takes the time to connect with each of them, often in her own time, encouraging them to share their dreams and aspirations and doing her best to help them achieve these. Previous students often return to visit her, sharing their achievements and expressing gratitude for the role she played in their journeys.

Judith understands that teaching is not just about imparting knowledge; its about inspiring a generation to think critically, ask questions, and embrace the wonders of the universe. She believes that every student has the potential to be a scientist, an innovator, or a leader. Her classroom is a safe haven where ideas flourish, and creativity thrives.

Katie is very committed to STEM education and its benefits for her students, including how/where they can utilise education in STEM further.

For over two years, she has worked with InnovateHer for students to undertake the STEM activity the school offers on top of her day-to-day job and its requirements. Because of the time, effort and work she has invested into STEM education, girls at GCSE levels studying computer science increased by 300% in the last year.

The work she has done and continues to do inspires students into new potential career paths, and that they are able to achieve what they want.

Katy is a inspirational teacher who is passionate about STEM and about breaking down gender stereotypes. 

Katy leads Teaching and Learning across the whole school and is Head of Science. She is open-minded, forward thinking and always striving for a better tomorrow for the school’s young people.

In her own life she models behaviours which support her thinking and is always looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly – leading by example. Guests Katy invites to our school inspire the girls to consider careers in STEM jobs and let them know that nothing is out of their reach.

Lara is a passionate advocate for women in science, dedicated to breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and inspiring future generations. As a researcher, mentor, and role model, she encourages young girls to pursue their scientific interests fearlessly while actively supporting students in exploring diverse university pathways beyond traditional forensic science.

Committed to modernising education, Lara uses innovative teaching methods to ensure learning is adaptable to every student’s needs. She provides personalised support, guiding students from skill development to university applications and entry into scientific careers. With a strong focus on fostering inclusivity and diversity in STEM, she is dedicated to creating a scientific community where everyone, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive and make a meaningful impact.

Lauren works tirelessly as the subject coordinator for Computing and Maths to bring these subjects to life with the engaging and challenging curricula that she has developed. This goes beyond the school day into the afterschool club provision, her work with governors to promote STEM within their vision for the school and through her networking which has enabled the school to benefit from an impactful loan of a 3D printer from BAE Systems for 3 years running.

Lauren has also supported the female coordinator of Science in her first role as subject coordinator, ensuring she had the tools and support to be an impactful leader. This shows Lauren’s determination to support other women in the role of STEM leader.

Lauren has led on many initiatives and this also reaches to putting on special robotics workshops for vulnerable families. Many single parents (predominantly women) have had the opportunity to come into the school for these workshops with their children. Lauren is driving change for these families through STEM.

Michelle is a dedicated advocate for STEM education within the home-educating community. Through her hands-on, engaging, and inclusive lessons, she has inspired a genuine love of science in countless children. Her passion and enthusiasm create an environment where young learners feel encouraged to ask questions, explore ideas, and believe in their abilities.

As a role model, Michelle makes science approachable and exciting, championing diversity and ensuring every child feels capable of succeeding in STEM. Her dedication to fostering curiosity and confidence is shaping the next generation of scientists, engineers, and problem solvers.

Olivia has teaching experience at a range of day and boarding schools, both secondary and primary. She is passionate about developing an innovative, creative and fun Computing curriculum. She holds The British Computer Society Certificate in Computer Science Teaching, is a Microsoft Certified Educator Expert, a Minecraft Certified Educator, a Google Certified Educator and is a member of The British Computer Society and The Chartered College of Teaching. Olivia was appointed as a teacher ambassador for The iDEA (Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award) Award, one of only ten people in the world. She is also a Technical Reviewer for No Starch Press in California and a member of the Teacher Panel for Purple Mash. Olivia enjoys being part of The Oxford University Press Educational Research Forum and The CAS (Computing at School) Physical Computing Working Group.

Having worked in industry for many years, over 10 years ago Rachael chose to train as a teacher so she could share her knowledge, expertise and passion with future generations. She is an outstanding teacher, who is dedicated, hardworking and committed to ensuring that all pupils flourish and achieve their very best, particularly in Science. 

At Temple Ewell CEP School, Rachael teaches Science to the two upper junior classes as well as supporting other teaching staff in delivering an excellent Science curriculum across the school. Pupils always make great progress and consistently perform above national averages in their Year 6 assessments. In 2024, 96% reached the expected standard compared to the national average of 81%. 100% of girls achieved this.

For the last four years, Rachael has lead the Science subject leader group for the school’s Trust. She leads meetings and drives change and improvement within Science across the 16 Schools.

Last year she lead the Enthuse Project in collaboration with Canterbury Christchurch University to support Science expertise in the Trust Schools. This included attending and disseminating training at York University. This project has lead to working with the National Centre for Social Research to evaluate the Focus for Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (Focus4TAPS) this year.

Rachael embraces every opportunity to work with STEM and other professionals and organisations. This included talking live to Tim Peake at the International Space Station and liaising with scientists at the University of Kent and Pfizers.

Rachael regularly motivates all of our pupils by encouraging them to enter local and national STEM projects and competitions. Last year a group of pupils (boys and girl) won the Primary Engineer ‘Design a vehicle’ competition and attended a special day at Canterbury Christchurch University to receive their award as well as being interviewed by BBC Radio Kent.

With her dedication, passion and creativity, Rachael inspires our pupils to be scientists with many leaving for secondary school saying their want to be a ‘scientist like Mrs Williams’!

Safia is an Associate Professor in the School of Computer Science and Digital Technologies. She is responsible for employability and student experience within the School.

Safia served as the EDI Lead for the School of Engineering and has worked with external organisations to make Engineering and Tech a diverse and inclusive place. Within the University, she has a Group wide responsibility for academic enrichment, in particular to support South Bank Academies.

Wioletta is enthusiastic about the teaching of STEM and is completely inclusive to everyone who is interested to participate. She runs many clubs, including robotics club and coding club.

Wioletta also organises and takes a high number of educational trips and visits to enthuse pupils in all aspects of computer literacy and AI. She is inspirational to students and colleagues for the effort that she puts into making things fun and relevant in this ever-progressing world of IT.

Wioletta leads an innovative and wide ranging programme of STEM activities for students at Prendergast Ladywell School. She has built links with the following organisations: Computing at School, Digital School House, Computing Network of Excellence and the Cisco Networking Academy. She has also raised the profile of girls in STEM, working with Women in Aviation, and led projects such as the Design Ventura to name but a few.

Her commitment to the amazing extra-curricular STEM offer in the school, has come alongside leading the introduction of the computing curriculum, computing GCSE, and significant improvement in GCSE outcomes.

Wioletta is forward thinking, has recognised that there are a whole range of new careers in the STEM sector, including in Gaming, Robotics and Coding, which she is commited to running weekly clubs which engage or students.

Wioletta is committed to making sure that all students in the inner city Lewisham school have equality of access to these opportunities, and a diverse range of boys and girls are involved in our STEM clubs and experience success and unique opportunities.

Alice currently works full time as a Cyber Culture Manager for Deloitte. In her spare time, she works for a suicide prevention charity called R;pple, that she set up in memory of her late brother Josh who took his own life in November 2020.

Ripple is a browser extension, loaded with hundreds of words and phrases relating to the topic of self-harm and suicide, which can be downloaded onto computers and laptops. It is free to use for parents, schools, colleges and universities, and since its inception it has now been downloaded almost 2 million times and has intercepted almost 50,000 legitimate harmful online searches

Although she has over ten years’ experience of working in Cyber security, she set up Ripple and the technical aspects that go with it from scratch and has grown it into what it is today as a legacy to her brother.

Amber Villegas-Williamson is a Technical Consultant at Uptime Institute with over 15 years of experience working for some of the world’s leading power protection manufacturers, with a primary focus on power continuity systems for Data Centers and Industrial applications. Amber has a degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from the University of South Wales, is a member of The IET The Institution of Engineering and Technology), WES (Women In Engineering Society), STEMNET Ambassador and Big Bang Competition judge.

Anna Brailsford is the CEO of Code First Girls, a social enterprise that looks to increase the number of women in tech, by training women in IT skills and helping companies to develop more inclusive recruitment policies. Anna is also a Board Member for the Institute of Coding. Before joining Code First Girls, Anna was the CEO and co-founder of Founders Factory incubated EdTech start-up, Frisbee. Prior to that, Anna was the Commercial Director of Lynda.com and LinkedIn. When LinkedIn acquired Lynda for $1.5 Billion in April 2015, she became part of the fourth-largest acquisition in social media history and subsequently contributed to the creation of LinkedIn Learning.

Just before hitting 40, Arvinder Thandi made a bold leap from a non-technical field into the exciting world of tech, proving that it’s never too late to chase your dreams. As a mother of two incredible girls, a wife, and a huge fan of Lego and Star Wars, she brings a unique blend of creativity and determination to her work as Performance Engineer at Nationwide Building Society.

Over the past year, Arvinder has inspired children and young girls to explore STEM careers by partnering with a charity to provide coding classes to 120 primary school children from underrepresented communities in London. Her dynamic leadership, passion for tech and education, and unwavering commitment to diversity have driven her to create impactful initiatives. 

In 1995 Beti Williams set up the ITWales programme within the Department of Computer Science at Swansea University.

The ITWales programme included the ITWales graduate and undergraduate placement scheme, ICT Forum Wales, Software Alliance Wales and Technocamps.

In recognition of her long-term efforts, in 2012 she was made an MBE for Services to Women in Science, Engineering and Technology, having earlier been a finalist in Welsh Woman of the Year, and in 2006 being awarded Best Woman of the Year in Academia and Public Sector in the UK Blackberry Awards.

Charlene Hunter is the CEO & founder of Coding Black Females, a non-profit that advocates for Black women in tech. She founded the organisation after realising how underrepresented Black women were in the sector. She wanted this to change, and ensure that Black women were able to discover role models and see familiar faces within the industry.

Charlene has a BSc in Mathematical Sciences and an MSc in Computer Science from the University of Birmingham, and over 10 years of experience as a Java and C# developer and technical architect. She also has skills in requirements capture, technical architecture, testing and various other aspects of building successful software applications.

She has a strong passion to increase and showcase the skills and talents of Black women in tech and is determined to diversify the tech sector.

Charlene has received multiple awards and recognition work she does to support Black women in tech.

Deimantė has been an active member of the Women in STEM society for the past three years, and since joining her confidence has grown exponentially. This year Deimantė provided a short talk about doing a Masters of Research alongside lecturers at our International Day of Women and Girls in Science Panel. She shared her insights on balancing her research degree alongside her part time job, and how she found her interests in virology, where she does most of her research on. 

Following her undergraduate graduation in summer 2024, Deimantė decided to create an Instagram account (@curious.research) to document her research degree, where she posts daily on her stories showing what she gets up to in the lab, and other things she does in her day away from academia. Deimantė shares advice on career pathways for undergraduate life science students, and the top skills you may need for a research degree. Each month, she shows a monthly recap that highlights the work she does each month – including attending Women in STEM society events, alongside the Life Science Society.

Deimantė provides an authentic side to her Instagram, and shares times where things in the lab may have not gone as planned, and also difficulties that many women in STEM may relate to, such as ideas not being taken as seriously. She provides a space for others to message her and build up a community, which provides a level of wholesomeness to her account. 

Andrea has worked in cyber for almost 20 years in a number of roles, the most recent of which is as a Co-founder of CAPSLOCK, an award-winning company that reskills adults into cyber professionals. She previously worked as a senior academic; co-authoring and delivering a GCHQ-certified Masters cyber security degree and publishing extensively in the area of computer science and cyber security. She has also spent time in industry working as a cyber consultant to public and private sector organisations. She was recently granted full membership to the Chartered Institute of Information Security and is passionate about helping the cyber industry become a more diverse place to learn and work.

Rosemary holds two master’s degrees from the University of Durham, UK. She completed her undergraduate master’s degree of Physics in 2013 which focused on physics, mathematics, computer programming and astronomy. In 2015, she received her master’s degree in Astronomy, where she conducted research on gamma-ray emission from black holes.

In 2019, Rosemary graduated with a doctorate in astronomy from the University of Sussex, UK. During that time, she spent one year as a visiting scientist in Paris, two weeks as a visiting astronomer at a Hawaiian observatory and travelled to further countries to present her findings at several international conferences.

From a young age, Rosemary spent several weeks per year away from home onboard military training vessels and land bases as a Cadet Petty Officer with the Sea Cadets from 2002 to 2009. In 2009, Rosemary joined the Naval Reserve base HMS Calliope and its vessel HMS Example as an Officer cadet and was later promoted to Midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserves.

Between 2013 and 2018, Rosemary spent more than one year working as a simulation support engineer and research data scientist in the UK, where she worked on software code development projects and developed machine learning techniques for anomaly detection from robotic sensors.

In 2019, Rosemary started a postdoctoral research fellowship in astrophysics at the Max Planck Institute for Extra-terrestrial physics in Munich, Germany, to study the evolution of galaxies with astronomical data from space- and ground-based telescopes.

After completing this postdoctoral work in 2022, Rosemary joined French space agency CNES in Paris, France, as a research fellow in space science, where she worked on upcoming ESA/CNES missions such as EUCLID or the analysis of James Webb Space Telescope observations.

Rosemary holds awards for telescope observation time at international observatories ALMA and NOEMA and for her PhD thesis from the University of Sussex Astronomy Centre.

In November 2022, Rosemary was selected as an ESA astronaut candidate. She commenced her one-year basic training programme in April 2023 and attained astronaut certification at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre on 22 April 2024, rendering her eligible for spaceflight assignments.

Elizabeth is the Chief Executive of the Digital Poverty Alliance, which aims to end digital poverty in the UK once and for all by 2030.

Her work at the DPA focusses around leading the programmatic activity of the Alliance, alongside managing operations for its parent charity, the Learning Foundation. The DPA brings together government, industry and charities in the UK, and provides both advocacy for long term solutions, alongside practical delivery to support those in need to get online – with 14m in the UK rarely engaging with the digital world.

An award-winning leader within charities, Elizabeth has over 15 years experience working within the not for profit sector, including in charities focusing on education and raising aspirations. Elizabeth is based in south east England, and also holds Trusteeships in charities supporting both UK and international causes.

Holly-Rose graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Forensic Investigation with Bioscience (Hons). She completed a Masters Degree in Forensic Investigation, Holly-Rose’s research combines disciplines from environmental science and human taphonomy within a forensic setting.

Holly-Rose is currently work in the further education sector as a lecturer delivering content from both T-Level & BTEC specifications. 

Kelly is a Junior Full Stack Developer specialising in SQL, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Python. Kelly is actively developing her skills and building hands-on experience with modern frameworks. With a background in Cloud Computing (AWS, VMware Cloud, Azure) and Data Center Virtualisation from her previous role as a Digital Solutions Engineer, Kelly brings a unique blend of technical and business expertise to her work. Kelly also holds a Master’s in Engineering Technology and Business Management from the University of Leeds.

In addition to coding, Kelly is the host of the award-winning “Women In STEM Podcast”, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of inspiring women in tech, from CEOs to scientists. The podcast features expert insights, career tips, and motivational stories to empower others, making it a valuable resource for anyone passionate about diversity and inclusion in STEM.

Paula is an award-winning STEM Champion who has made outstanding contributions to encouraging the next generation into engineering and construction. As a highly visible role model and industry leader she is not only a prolific speaker and blogger but a force for good. She improves workplaces through company policies and industry wide campaigns including #TheLine which tackles the use of language head on. Paula brings togethers collaborators through Engineering Together with a wide range of online and in person events. She is a leader in her region with many roles related to engineering careers and business, she was awarded an Honorary Professorship at Teesside University in 2023. Her many significant national and international roles including ICE Trustee and Head of UK Regions and WES Trustee and Climate Emergency Group Chair. Paula’s tangible contributions quite simply make our industry a better place to work and more sustainable for the future.

Dr Rana ElFarra works with North Hertfordshire College as a Course Team Leader and Tutor for T Level Science courses as well as the Project Lead for the Stevenage Innovation and Technology Centre (SITEC) project. Her role sees her work with young people from a range of backgrounds, broadening their horizons and helping them access the amazing STEM opportunities on their doorsteps.

Her leadership on the T Level in Science programme has led to a significant improvement in the levels of engagement students have with diverse learning groups. She has received positive feedback from employers such as Autolus and University College London (UCL) on the readiness her students have for working in the industry.

Rana understands the opportunities that education can provide for individuals, especially women and other marginalised groups, and emphasises the importance of this in her teaching. She is a Palestinian-born woman who previously lived in Kuwait and has previously described this experience by saying: “As a woman, I was always treated as a second-class citizen. My father told me from a young age that if I wanted to gain respect, I would have to work hard and get good grades.” She has since studied at universities in Cairo and the United States of America, earning her BSc, Masters, and PhD through her scholarships and hard work. It is this determination to succeed, and to see others do the same, that Rana regularly applies in her teaching sessions.

As the project lead for SITEC, Rana plays a key role in creating a pipeline of local talent for the STEM employers in the Stevenage and Hertfordshire area. She has established a strong network of professional connections, including UCL’s VaxHub initiative and Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, to ensure learners develop the skills they need to start their own successful STEM careers. As a result, the SITEC facilities feature industry-relevant technology and collaborative VR projects with FourPlus, helping bring the industry into the classroom from day one of teaching. This in turn broadens access for our female students to gain confidence in STEM environments, providing a safe and supportive space to learn and develop.

Rana has also been involved in the Pioneering Young STEM Futures programme and Life Sciences Academy, in collaboration with Mission 44, Stevenage Borough Council, Hertfordshire Futures (formerly Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership), and North Hertfordshire College. This project sought to provide local young people from underserved backgrounds with greater access to Stevenage’s STEM career opportunities. 25 female, ethnic minority, and economically disadvantaged students from a Stevenage secondary school were chosen to participate in the Life Sciences Academy to collaborate in teams to research and design their own vaccine. Rana delivered sessions in the College’s clean rooms and laboratory facilities to give these young people access to higher-level technical machinery and inspire them to raise their aspirations for the future.

Rav Bumbra is a diversity consultant, advisor to organisations and recognised for her work spearheading initiatives to reduce the gender gap in tech. She has been showcased as one of the Most Influential Women in UK Tech since 2017 and awarded Tech Woman of the Year at the European Diversity Awards 2023.

With over 20+ years in the tech industry, Rav switched career from Technology Consultant to run a diversity focussed business after seeing first-hand how far too few women were entering the tech industry with even less progressing within it. She founded Structur3dpeople in 2015 to support organisations in attracting and retaining talent, helping them to overcome the challenges they faced to increase diversity in tech.

In 2018 Rav launched the social arm of the business, Cajigo, an EdTech app and global initiative that provides mentoring to support girls and women into tech, digital, engineering and leadership careers.

In schools, Cajigo Girls is changing the narrative of STEM for girls; inspiring, engaging and raising the aspirations of girls from underrepresented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds, creating confident women who can clearly see their defined pathways to exciting careers where they can thrive.

Sarah Chapman is a technical leader at global science company 3M.

Having always taken active responsibility in encouraging young people into STEM careers, Sarah is a passionate and longstanding advocate for diverse representation in the sector. Alongside her day job, she volunteers as Board Vice Chair at Farnborough College of Technology and is on the steering committee of 3M’s EMEA Technical Women’s Leadership Forum and STEM Champion for 3M North Europe.

Suze Shardlow wrote her first line of code as a small child in 1982 and started making websites in 1996. She is a published technical author, coding instructor and public speaker. A familiar face on the tech conference circuit, Suze MCs local and global industry events. Suze has taught coding (UK, USA) and given tech talks (UK, USA, Germany) with her work being cited in academic papers and at major conferences in Britain and overseas. She is passionate about demystifying tech for international audiences through her blog; she also hosts an educational YouTube series interviewing women about tech roles and career progression. Suze has led more than 10000 members in two of the largest software developer groups in London and her community event methodologies have been replicated by tech organisations in Silicon Valley, California. She has designed and delivered public speaking workshops for women in tech around the world. Suze has won numerous awards, including Women In Software Power List 2020 and TechWomen100 2020. She has been named by Computer Weekly as one of the Most Influential Women in UK Tech in 2022 and 2023.

With over a decade of experience as a STEM education leader, Tracey-Jane, Founder and CEO of Junior Einsteins Science Club® has dedicated herself to nurturing a lifelong love of learning in ‘Junior Einsteins,’ sparking their innate curiosity and creativity. At the helm of Junior Einsteins Science Club®, she leads a team of Junior Einsteins owner operators, orchestrating high-energy STEM events for primary school children. The internationally successful franchise has impacted thousands of children, collaborating notably with The United Nations. A speaker at the United Nations ‘International Women and Girls in Science Day’ in 2020, she extended girls in STEM worldwide, and her efforts garnered recognition, including winning first prize at the International VOOM 2018 Richard Branson Virgin Media Business Awards. She was honored to be recognised as the winner of the ‘STEM Woman of the Year Award 2023 Impact Award’ in Ireland. Acknowledgment at The Franchise Awards Ireland attests to her dedication to excellence. Academically, Tracey-Jane holds a Masters Degree in Natural Science from Trinity College Dublin, an MSC in Medical Microbiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a Negotiation Mastery certificate from Harvard Business School.

Wincie Wong is Head of Digital X Workforce Technical Capability at NatWest Group and a finalist in the Digital Leader of the Year Enterprise category of the Women in Technology Excellence Awards 2024.

Wincie is an international speaker about FinTech and Banking and enormously committed to growing inclusivity in tech. She co-founded the Girls Can Code employee led network in NatWest and is a founding member of the Tech She Can Charter which aims to change the ratio of women working in tech by means of education, image overhaul and public policy influence.

Through Wincie’s leadership, NatWest has not only increased its recruitment of diverse talent but also set new standards for inclusion and innovation in the tech industry.