Annual Conference Sessions & Workshops 2025
Join us in Birmingham for 2 days of learning and networking! Find out details of what’s on offer below.
28-29 April 2025
DAY 1 – MONDAY APRIL 28
Illuminating the shadows – AWE
Monday 10.00 – 10.15
A brief history of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, which has been ever present since the 1950’s but quietly and secretly operates in the shadows; this talk will illuminate some of the rich history including some of the interesting people who were involved.
Hitachi Rail, 4 Lines Modernisation (4LM) Project – Geeta Morar
Monday 11.15 – 12.45
Join Geeta Morar as they share insight into how an urban rail signalling Project of this complexity and immense scale is being delivered by hundreds of Hitachi Rail engineers, across multiple countries, with true teamwork and innovation at its heart. The 4 Lines Modernisation (4LM) Project is an exciting, large-scale Project being delivered by Hitachi Rail for the London Underground; a Project that truly embodies this years’ WES Conference theme of, Together We Engineer.
The 4LM Project involves the deployment of the SelTrac ™ Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system across four of the London Underground Lines; the Hammersmith and City Line, the Circle Line, the District Line, and the Metropolitan Line. The objective of the 4LM Project is to deliver safety, reliability, and improved capacity to the city of London, all whilst minimizing any disruption to London Underground’s travelling public while we design, install, test and commission our CBTC System.
Hear about the technical hurdles that have been overcome, through collaborative ingenuity and sheer determination. Also explore the key lessons that have been learned throughout our Project journey, and how these learning points have significantly improved how we have engineered and delivered our solution.
Rethinking engineering ethics: Climate (an interactive workshop) – Paula McMahon
Monday 11.15 – 12.45
Join Paula and others from the WES Climate Emergency Group to explore What climate dilemma are you struggling with today that will be ethically or legally unacceptable by 2035.
This is your chance to be part of something bigger as the WES Conference has been hand selected for an inclusive pilot to consider one of the one of the world’s biggest ethical engineering challenges; for all disciplines.
The outcomes from this workshop style discussion will be presented at the international ICE Strategy Sessions on 22nd July 2025 and inform the wider industry.
The insights generated will contribute to collaborative working between other Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) including the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE).
You will take away ‘food for thought’ and better understand you are not alone with not knowing what to do when with ‘grey’ issues.
Feel free to consider in advance and the following materials:
- ICE Tech Talk: Driving the Decarbonisation of Infrastructure Projects (Vimeo): https://vimeo.com/903265119 (7mins)
- IStructE Viewpoint Article: Business as Usual? by Mike Bather: Viewpoint-Business-as-usual (1).pdf (2 pages)
Together let’s rethink engineering ethics.
The Future of Energy in the UK: Building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable energy system – WES X WENA Panel
Monday 13.45 – 15.15
The UK’s 2050 net-zero targets highlight the urgent need for a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive
energy system. Achieving this requires expanding renewable energy, nuclear technologies, and
developing the essential infrastructure, energy storage, and securing critical minerals. At the
same time, addressing technological and social/economic challenges is key to ensuring the
transition is fair and equitable for all regions and communities.
This panel will explore the challenges and opportunities in building a sustainable energy system,
focusing on the integration of renewables, nuclear, and energy storage, as well as securing critical
resources. We will also examine how to create a just transition that provides opportunities for
workers and regions impacted by the shift away from fossil fuels.
Join thought leaders Kruthika A. Bala (Women’s Energy Network Alliance), Kerry Anne Shanks (AFRY), Rebecca Allison (Net Zero Technology Centre), Susana Neves e Brooks (National Grid), Helen Robinson (International Geothermal Association), and Stephen Barrett (Energy & Utility Skills) for a compelling discussion on “THE FUTURE OF ENERGY IN THE UK: BUILDING A RESILIENT, INCLUSIVE, AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEM.
Find out more about this expert panel of speakers here
Leveraging your Career Success: Get insights and practical tips
Monday 16.00 – 17.50
This workshop lead by the IMECHE aims to provide attendees with practical career insights, lessons learned, and advice on navigating their engineering career, tailored to varying career stages and diverse routes into the field.
Leadership for Senior Career Engineers – Workshop – Laura Shrieves & Claire Johnson
Monday 16.00 – 17.50
Join Laura Shrieves, VP Engineering, Ultra Maritime, and Claire Johnson, interim VP Engineering at Thales, for an Interactive workshop. This workshop is for those who want to learn a bit about themselves, their leadership super-powers and to be able to leave with an actionable plan for their career.
DAY 2 – TUESDAY APRIL 29
Harnessing the Power of AI – Alan King
Tuesday 9.30 – 10.30
Led by AI strategist and author Alan King, this session will delve into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, focusing on how businesses can effectively integrate AI to drive efficiency, innovation, and strategic growth.
Drawing from cutting-edge insights and real-world applications, this event will cover:
- The history and rapid evolution of AI, including large language models and their capabilities.
- The role of AI in optimizing data, automation, and decision-making processes.
- The five-layer AI integration model for seamless organizational adoption.
- Overcoming challenges, ethical considerations, and the future trajectory of AI-powered industries.
Attendees will gain actionable strategies to embrace AI, navigate change, and future-proof their organizations in an AI-driven world. Whether you are an industry leader, entrepreneur, or AI enthusiast, this event will provide the knowledge and frameworks needed to stay ahead in an increasingly intelligent business environment.
Let’s start the conversation
AI is here, and the future belongs to those who harness its potential!
Together we engineer in construction
Tuesday 29th 11.00 – 12.00
Kerry will take us on journey of what working together means to deliver successful outcomes, and think about what happens when not everyone wants to pull in the same direction.
Attracting talent is just the beginning, STEM Returners
Tuesday 29th 12.00 – 12.30
Join Anouska Carling, Operations Director at STEM Returners, to discuss why organisations need to go beyond simply attracting returners back to the industry and instead take proactive steps to promote inclusivity and equity in the workplace.
Anouska will share her expertise in developing actionable strategies that dismantle barriers and create opportunities for returners to re-enter STEM fields.
Designing for Inclusion: Intersectionality in Action – Workshop – Isobel Rann, RAENG
Tuesday 12.00 – 12.30
Join the Royal Academy of Engineering for an energising and action-focused 30-minute workshop designed to build on the themes of this year’s annual conference ‘Engineering Intersecting with Life’. “Designing for Inclusion: Intersectionality in Action” explores how the engineering sector can take practical steps to embed intersectionality into design thinking, organisational culture, and industry partnerships, using the framework of the 4 P’s: People, Product, Process, and Partnerships, from the Academy’s EDI Engine Report.
Facilitated in an interactive and collaborative format, participants will break into small groups and work through real-world engineering scenarios that highlight common barriers experienced by individuals from intersecting identities. Whether it’s inclusive recruitment, accessible infrastructure, equitable workplace policies, or meaningful collaborations this workshop empowers attendees to identify challenges and co-create innovative, inclusive solutions that can be applied in their own contexts.
What to expect:
• A quick primer on intersectionality and its relevance to engineering
• Hands-on scenario-based group work tailored to each of the 4 P’s
• A rapid-fire pitch session to share key insights and inclusive design ideas
• A clear call to action, with tools and resources to continue the journey
Participants will leave inspired and equipped with at least one actionable step they can take to champion inclusion in their own workplace, projects, or partnerships building a stronger, more equitable engineering sector for all.
A Career is a Marathon, Not a Sprint – Kristine Hammond – Amazon Talk
Tuesday 14.00 – 14.20
Is your career a sprint of a marathon? Kris Hammond, a Chemical Engineer turned Amazon Senior Engineering Manager, believes it is the latter. Her talk ‘A Career is a Marathon, Not a Sprint’ will take you through her international career journey, from Unilever to Amazon, with stops in consultancy and operations management along the way. Whether you are interested in careers in tech, engineering or logistics this session gives an insight to taking opportunities when they present themselves and the learnings she has gained from her experiences.
Together We Engineer: Strength in Diversity – Partner Panel
Tuesday 29th April 14.20 – 15.00
When we come to work we bring so much more with us than just our technical skillset: How we interact with our teams, how we approach our jobs is a product of our backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, personalities and more. This panel aims to explore the resilience and creativity that diversity can bring to engineering.
Addressing the Climate Emergency – WES CEG Panel Discussion –
Tuesday 15.30 – 16.30
This panel will showcase the work of the WES Climate Emergency Special Interest Group and the breadth of experience and sectors we cover.
Each panel member will provide insights into their work and sector showing how they are addressing the climate emergency through stories and experiences.
You will learn more about how you can ‘enhance by engineering’ a better world and make your work more sustainable.
In this session we will offer ample time for questions and provide everyone with inspiration and ideas on how you can positively contribute to a more sustainable world.