Six impressive female engineers are announced as the 2021 Young Woman Engineer of the Year (YWE) finalists.

These prestigious engineering industry awards, facilitated by The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), celebrate women working in modern engineering and aim to help change the perception that engineering is predominantly a career for men by banishing outdated engineering stereotypes of hard hats and dirty overalls. 

Industry pioneers and changemakers

The winner will be announced at the IET's virtual awards ceremony where the audience can meet these impressive women leading the way in the engineering industry.

Meet Frazer-Nash Systems Engineer, Anna Will

Anna is a Systems Engineer for Frazer-Nash Consultancy. She is responsible for delivering complex solutions to clients as part of the company’s System Design and Management team. Alongside delivering a huge range of technical multidisciplinary projects, Anna leads the medical technology and asset management service offerings for the company, presenting and exhibiting at conferences.

Anna is passionate about promoting STEM to young people and has attended many events at schools and universities, as well as undertaking individual mentoring of other female engineers.

Meet University of Manchester Aerospace Systems Lecturer, Dr Ciara McGrath

Ciara is a Lecturer in Aerospace Systems at the University of Manchester. She carries out engineering research projects in the areas of astrodynamics and space mission design, working with industry and policymakers to design space systems that can help support life on Earth.

Ciara also teaches university courses and supervises student projects in space system design, to support the education and development of the next generation of engineers.

Ciara’s public engagement aims to make complex ideas accessible to everyone, through hands-on examples, podcasts, radio interviews, written articles and public talks.

Meet Herotech8 Junior Software Engineer, Dilani Selvanathan

Dilani is a Junior Software Engineer for Herotech8, where she works alongside the technical delivery team to support growing technical requirements and helps build the products and services.

Dilani recently completed a Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship with the BBC, where she worked on a variety of projects and learned about the different aspects of Software Engineering. She was a recipient of an IET Engineering Horizons Bursary, supported by the Engineers Trust.

Dilani is a STEM Ambassador and took part in the STEMazing programme, giving online interactive sessions to primary schools. She is also a WISE role model, promoting young women in STEM.

Meet Amey Consulting Senior Civil Engineer, Eftychia Koursari 

Eftychia is a Senior Civil Engineer for Amey Consulting, specialising in scour, the main impact of climate change on infrastructure, whilst also undertaking part-time PhD Research on scour at the University of Glasgow.

Effie is developing innovative scour monitoring and prediction tools and methods, protecting infrastructure, whilst also aiding in the response to the Climate Emergency.

She is part of Amey Consulting’s Carbon and Climate Change Working Group, as well as the Women’s Engineering Society’s Climate Emergency Group and a member of CIRIA’s steering group, producing the new engineering manual on scour. 

Effie is an active STEM Ambassador and has been named one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering for 2020 and was also awarded the Women Leaders Association Rising Star in STEM.

Meet Arup Building Services Engineering Apprentice, Lauryn Jayes

Lauryn is a Building Services Engineering Apprentice for Arup, specialising in mechanical engineering.

She designs and coordinates building services systems for commercial and residential buildings and is on course to become Assistant Mechanical Engineer post-graduation.

Lauryn dedicates her time to promoting women in STEM careers, ensuring everyone has good access to strong female mentors within the industry. She was awarded the Nottingham Post Women in Business Apprentice of the Year in 2018.

Meet Rolls Royce Digital Technology Model Factory Manager, Nipuni Karunaratne

Nipuni is a Digital Technology Model Factory Manager at Rolls Royce Plc, where she manages and leads a team of experts who are responsible for delivering and improving advanced analytics, using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to deliver a major digitalisation programme.

In 2019, whilst being at Rolls Royce, Nipuni started her own Research and Development company with a focus in fourth-generation industry solutions.

Nipuni is actively involved in STEM activities, helping the younger generation by mentoring, coaching, and inspiring.

She has been a motivational and STEM panel speaker in many leading events worldwide and was elected in 2019 as the UK chair for the Gender Diversity Network at Rolls Royce.

Be part of The IET annual YWE Awards

Are you a dynamic woman engineer who'd like to be inspired about the opportunities within the industry? 

Get involved with the annual The IET YWE awards and celebrate impressive engineering achievements.

Find out more