The Women’s Engineering Society (WES) is delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2025 WES Awards, ahead of the Caroline Haslett Lecture and Awards Ceremony taking place on Tuesday 16 December 2025 at the Geological Society, London.
The WES Awards celebrate engineering excellence, elevate visible role models, and recognise the individuals and initiatives driving greater gender balance and inclusion across engineering and the applied sciences. This year’s shortlist showcases exceptional engineers, technicians, innovators, and allies who are advancing technical excellence and driving gender balance across the engineering and applied sciences sectors.
The Caroline Haslett Lecture and Awards Ceremony will include networking, refreshments, and a keynote address from Professor Edward Rochead, Deputy Head of Science Function at the Ministry of Defence and a renowned advocate for inclusion who was runner up in the Men As Allies award in 2024.
WES Members can register until 10 December via the WES website or visiting this link: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/womensengineeringsociety/1836708
The shortlisted nominations are:
Gillian Skinner Award: Elandra Stafford-Williams, Gemma Maynard
Isabel Hardwich Medal: Professor Cyril Hilsum, Mamta Singhal
Karen Burt Memorial Award: Emma Louise McGregor, Juliette Goddard, Colleen Mann
Best Newly Incorporated Engineer: Caroline Nicholls, Shannon McGrath
Best Newly Registered Technician: Emily Cole, Manon Butler, Holly Mumby
Men As Allies Award: Dr. Usman Hadi, Philip Powner, Dr. John Isaacs
Amy Johnson Inspiration Award: Ayve Couloute, Rachel Skeoch, Marie Hemingway & Frances Holmes
For more information or to apply for a press pass to the event please email:
www.wes.org.uk
NOTES FOR EDITORS
- The winners will be announced on the 16 December 2025
- The awards were open for nominations from the ** to the **
Women’s Engineering Society (WES)
The Women’s Engineering Society is a charity and professional network of women engineers, scientists and technologists offering inspiration, support and professional development. WES’ vision is of an engineering industry that employs the diversity of the society it serves to solve the biggest societal issues of our time, and WES’ mission is to support women in engineering to fulfil their potential and support the engineering industry to be inclusive. WES was founded on 23 June 1919 by an influential committee drawn from the National Council of Women, to resist pressure to leave engineering jobs when men returned from the forces and to promote engineering as a rewarding job for women. WES organises International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) on its birthday every year, a global celebration of women in engineering.
The full list of shortlisted nominations are below:
Member Awards
The Gillian Skinner Award
Recognising individuals who have made outstanding contributions nationally or within WES clusters.
Finalists: Elandra Stafford-Williams and Gemma Maynard
- Elandra Stafford-Williams has revitalised the London Cluster through modernised operations, improved communications, and initiatives including a 25-placement work experience programme and a successful INWED campaign.
- Gemma Maynard, an engineer at AECOM Plymouth and ICE STEM Ambassador, has reached over 1,500 students through innovative outreach, earning recognition as the ICE South West STEM Ambassador of the Year 2025.
The Isabel Hardwich Medal
Awarded for sustained and outstanding service to WES.
Finalists: Professor Cyril Hilsum and Mamta Singhal
- Professor Cyril Hilsum CBE FRS FREng, a leading British physicist, has been a dedicated patron of the Karen Burt Memorial Award for more than 25 years and a champion for women in engineering throughout his distinguished career.
- Mamta Singhal MBE, engineering and innovation leader, WES Fellow, and former WES Board member, is widely recognised for her global STEM advocacy and extensive contributions across industry and professional institutions.
Professional Engineering Institution (PEI) Awards
Karen Burt Memorial Award
For the best newly qualified Chartered Engineer.
Finalists: Emma Louise McGregor, Juliette Goddard and Colleen Mann
- Emma Louise McGregor CEng MICE, Tony Gee and Partners, has led major renewable energy projects, including crucial geotechnical work on the Viking Wind Farm in Shetland.
- Juliette Goddard, Senior Chartered Mechanical Engineer, has delivered innovation in aerospace and vertical farming, and co-founded several initiatives supporting early-career women engineers.
- Colleen Mann, Senior Consultant at Amentum, is a nuclear waste management specialist shaping UK Government R&D policy and serving as Vice-President of IOM3.
Best Newly Incorporated Engineer Award
Finalists: Caroline Nicholls and Shannon McGrath
- Caroline Nicholls, Laing O’Rourke, has contributed to high-profile civil engineering projects such as Thames Tideway and is a strong advocate for inclusion and young talent.
- Shannon McGrath, Hardware Engineer at NCR Atleos, specialises in simulation and design and has significantly expanded engagement through her leadership in the Women in Networking group.
Best Newly Registered Technician Award
Finalists: Emily Cole, Manon Butler and Holly Mumby
- Emily Cole, Degree Apprentice at Jackson Civil Engineering, actively champions young women entering the engineering profession.
- Manon Butler, Kent County Council, has rapidly advanced in traffic signal engineering and driven important improvements in technical processes and guidance.
- Holly Mumby, Senior Integrity Engineer with 19 years in the gas industry, is a visible advocate for gender diversity and a mentor for women and early-career engineers.
Supporter Awards
Men As Allies Award
Celebrating men who champion gender balance in engineering.
Finalists: Dr. Usman Hadi, Philip Powner and Dr. John Isaacs
- Dr. Usman Hadi has played a key role in Athena SWAN achievements and leads impactful initiatives empowering women in STEM.
- Philip Powner, AWE, drives long-term organisational change, including improved PPE provision and initiatives supporting women across the company.
- Dr. John Isaacs, Robert Gordon University, has led cultural transformation and created meaningful opportunities for women within engineering academia.
Amy Johnson Inspiration Award
Honouring non-engineers making extraordinary contributions to diversity in engineering.
Finalists: Ayve Couloute; Rachel Skeoch; Marie Hemingway and Frances Holmes
- Ayve Couloute, founder of Girls Into Coding, has empowered more than 6,000 girls through hands-on engineering and robotics activities.
- Rachel Skeoch, co-lead of WOMEN, is transforming the regional engineering landscape through collaborative initiatives with major industry partners.
- Marie Hemingway and Frances Holmes, co-creators of #DesignHerIn, have reshaped national policy by exposing workplace inequalities and helping secure a UK Government commitment to end misuse of NDAs.