Young Woman Engineer shortlist announced

An Institution of Engineering and Technology product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 14, 2006

Following a record number of entries, and a rigorous round of interviews, the IET has announced the finalists for the 2006 Young Woman Engineer of the Year awards.

Following a record number of entries, and a rigorous round of interviews, Europe's largest professional engineering society, the IET has announced the finalists for the 2006 Young Woman Engineer of the Year awards.

The five selected candidates, who range in age from 24 to 28, have been chosen, not only for their exceptional academic and technical experience, but also for their active involvement in raising the profile of engineering to young people and pushing the boundaries of what is expected of them.

The Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award is the most prestigious award of its kind and rewards the very best female engineers in the UK, highlighting the achievements of women in the profession.

The awards also help to highlight that engineering provides an exciting career option for women which is both well paid and provides the opportunity to make a difference to people's lives.

The award attracts prominent supporters and sponsors including BT and Cosmopolitan magazine, who share with the IET a concern that only eight per cent of the UK's engineers are women.

The finalists will attend a national award ceremony at the BT Centre, in London on 25th January 2007, where the winner will be announced.

Katy Linforth, 26, from Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire is an Electrical Engineer for Kirklees Metropolitan Council.

She has successfully implemented a variety of renewable energy projects, for which she has received other award nominations.

She regularly shares her enthusiasm for engineering by speaking to students at local secondary schools and is also an active scout leader.

Stephanie McBader, 27, from Southampton currently works for Semtech as IC Design Engineer.

She speaks several languages, has worked on high profile engineering projects both in the UK and overseas and has spent time as a lecturer in engineering.

Maire McLoone, 28, from Belfast is a Lecturer and RAEng Research Fellow for ECIT Research Institute at the University of Belfast.

Her achievements include leading a research team, building international relations and securing funding for her research projects and also giving talks to other young women about the profession.

Suzanne Stamford, 24, from Eaton Socon in Cambridgeshire works as electronics platoon commander for the 3 Battalion REME, HM Forces and is currently serving in Iraq.

She leads a platoon of 35 men, controlling the productive resources and making critical engineering decisions in a variety of areas.

Claire Williams, 27, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire currently works as Area Engineer for Huntsman Tioxide, a pigment manufacturer.

She helps to encourage young people in her local area into engineering and regularly visits local schools to tell students about what she does.

She has also spent two years with the VSO, rebuilding science facilities for students in remote Tanzania.

Dr Alf Roberts, Chief Executive of the IET said: "We have had an excellent response for this year's awards and the standard of entries has been particularly high".

"I would like to congratulate all the finalists who have achieved many great things in their careers to date".

"All of the finalists are fantastic role models for other young women who may be considering a career in engineering".

"The Institution is committed to raising the profile of engineering to young people and we hope that the awards will help to address the shortage of women within the profession".

The winner of the Young Woman Engineer of the Year award will receive a cheque for GBP 1000 and an engraved trophy.

The runner-up will receive the WES prise of GBP 500 (WES - Women's Engineering Society).

In addition to this, The Mary George Memorial Prise will be presented to a candidate who has completed her academic studies and shows great promise and potential within the profession.

The IET is also launching a new award this year to acknowledge the achievements of women on apprenticeship schemes.

Sponsored by the James Dyson Foundation the Dyson Young Woman Apprentice Award credits the importance of on-the-job training within the profession.

The winner of this award will receive GBP 750 from the James Dyson Foundation.