The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) recognised three exceptional young women engineers and a STEM Ambassador at its Young Woman Engineer (YWE) Awards Ceremony in London.

Challenging misconceptions and stereotypes in engineering

One of the world’s largest engineering institutions, The IET is also the most multidisciplinary institution, reflecting the increasingly diverse nature of engineering in the 21st century. It works to engineer a better world by inspiring, informing and influencing members, engineers and technicians - and they want female talent to thrive so they provide a range of exciting opportunities for women to reach their full potential, including their prestigious YWE Awards that celebrate women working in modern engineering.

These awards are important for so many reasons. Firstly, showcasing female talent in engineering helps challenge misconceptions that engineering is predominantly a career for men by changing outdated engineering stereotypes. These awards also create female role models who can help address the STEM skills crisis in the UK by encouraging more girls and women into STEM careers and showing the diverse range of career opportunities available in this thriving and growing industry.

Where Women Work is a proud supporter of the IET Awards

Where Women Work is an official supporter of the IET YWE Awards, and is proud to celebrate the highest calibre of female engineering talent. 

Further supporters included WES, AFBE UK, Equal Engineers and InterEngineering, while the awards were sponsored by leading companies such as Analog Devices, BAE Systems, Boeing, BP, Collins Aerospace, Frazer-Nash, GCHQ, GKN Automative, Leonardo, MBDA, Ofcom, Protolabs, Royal Air Force, Royal Mail, RS Components, Teledyne e2v, Wiley and National Grid.

Young Woman Engineer of the Year winner

Winner of IET YWE is 28 year old Rolls-Royce plc Manufacturing Engineer Ying Wan Loh.

During her MPhil at the University of Cambridge, she co-founded a technology startup that developed rapidly within a year and won the CSSA UK High-Tech Entrepreneurship Bronze Award. A STEM ambassador, Ying wants to use her passion in arts and engineering to engage and inspire the next generation of engineers.

"So here I am, still can’t quite believe what just happened. So many people that I am grateful for!" says Ying. "Thanks to The IET for awarding me the YWE Award. Met so many amazing people and can’t wait to hear more from you and work with you to get more Women in STEM."

A huge congratulations is also extended to the YWE finalists: Charlotte Buffey, Material Laboratories Degree Apprentice for Rolls-Royce; Shrouk El-Attar, Electronic Design Engineer for Renishaw; Dr Claire Lucas, Director of Studies – Systems and Information Engineering at the University of Warwick; Samantha Magowan Engineering Apprentice for Dale Power Solutions; and Amber O’Connor, Engineering Programme Manager/Equipment Health Monitoring & Performance for Siemens.

Further impressive award-winners

As well as the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award, IET recognised three further women for their outstanding contributions to the engineering industry.

Dr Claire Lucas was the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) Prize winner for engaging and inspiring young people’s involvement in STEM while being interested in the challenges women face in maintaining their career in engineering.

Samantha Magowan scooped up the Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices for showing great promise and potential in the profession and for being one of tomorrow's leaders in engineering.

Meanwhile, Wg Cdr (Retd) Glynis Dean, former leader of the Royal Air Force Youth and Diversity Team, was honoured with the inaugural Gender Diversity Ambassador Award.

The winners were announced at the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards ceremony at The IET in London.

MC of the awards was British comedian and television presenter, Sandi Toksvig.

The previous year's winner, Sophie Harker, provided an engaging update on her year as winner detailing her extensive activity and further achievements.

Jo Foster, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at the IET, said: “I’d like to congratulate our fantastic winners and highly commended recipients of this year’s Awards. They are inspirational and a real credit to the engineering profession and will play a huge part in altering the perception of what a career in engineering and technology can look like. It’s vital we champion engineering careers to the next generation – it’s a diverse, creative and exciting career, which offers the opportunity to do something life – or even – world-changing.”

Join exceptional women in engineering at forward-thinking companies

It's thanks to the many progressive engineering companies that are ensuring the industry is becoming increasingly more diverse and inclusive. 

Find out about what companies are doing to support women's engineering careers - then check out their many exciting job opportunities - companies like AECOM, Honeywell, Schneider Electric, Eaton, Northrop Grumman, Exyte, Arcadis and more.

Find out more