Announcements

The Female Engineer of the Year (FEY) Awards 2025 took place on the 11th of April in the Stewart Miller Atrium, continuing a valued tradition that began in 2018. Hosted by the Women in Engineering Society at Loughborough University, the event brought together undergraduate and postgraduate students to celebrate and recognise the outstanding achievements of female engineers within our university community.

This year’s ceremony welcomed approximately 25 attendees, including a strong presence of faculty members and academic staff who have consistently supported the mission of the Women’s Engineering Society. The event gave an excellent opportunity for students to engage with peers and academics across disciplines, fostering a sense of community and shared ambition.

Izzy Kent, current President of WES, presented the awards during the two-hour event, which was thoughtfully hosted in the Atrium—a space that added to the welcoming and celebratory atmosphere. We were honoured to have two distinguished judges this year: Professor Valerie Pinfield and Professor Malcolm Cook, whose insight and expertise helped identify and celebrate our most deserving candidates.

The 2025 award recipients were:

• Grace Newman – Undergraduate Female Engineer of the Year
• Nidhi Javaharlal– Undergraduate Female Engineer of the Year
• Sona Hashempour – Postgraduate Female Engineer of the Year

Nidhi has been described as a powerful advocate for diversity and inclusion in engineering, taking on several leadership roles at university including EDI Ambassador, WES professional liaison, and Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Student Ambassador. She champions the idea of expanding outreach and mentoring efforts at Loughborough. Her passion for people and progress is evident in all she does.

Grace has shown tremendous ambitions and a deep-rooted passion for motorsport engineering. She has gained experience with Cosworth and leading Formula 1 teams, is actively involved in LUMotorsport, and has spoken at parliament with Stemettes on the importance of creativity in STEM. She has been recognised by Ricardo plc and the Royal Academy of Engineering. Her journey reflects the powerful impact that role models can have.

Sona has demonstrated an expectational commitment to creating lasting change through research and advocacy. Her work in inclusive engineering uses AI and data science to tackle gender and socioeconomic disparities in STEM education. Her work not only advances knowledge but challenges us to rethink how we create opportunity, inclusion, and equity in engineering.

We are grateful to all attendees, as well as those who contributed behind the scenes to make the event a success. We extend our thanks to all who participated in making this a meaningful celebration of engineering excellence and inclusivity.

Huyen Le, Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Materials, was recently presented with a Women of the Future Award in recognition of her exceptional contributions to science and advocacy for positive change.

Described as a talented and committed researcher, Huyen was praised not only for her technical expertise but also for her ability to make science accessible and inclusive.

Huyen’s research addresses antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR claims over a million lives annually and is projected to endanger 39 million more by 2050. While the World Health Organisation has called for urgent action, the development of new drugs remains a slow and complex process.

Under her doctoral training with Dr Nacho Martin-Fabiani, the group targets AMR at one of its origins, contaminated surfaces. By designing smarter coatings, the team aims to reduce hospital-acquired infections and mitigate resistance without relying on chemical modifications.

Our engineering experts reimagine coatings as customisable tools for healthcare, harnessing the unique potential of size segregation science and small molecule additives. Publishable data contributing to Huyen’s thesis demonstrates how leveraging these additives enables the development of multi-functional coatings with applications in healthcare, controlled drug delivery, and beyond.

This innovation not only supports AMR research and development but also aligns with the global waterborne coatings market, projected to reach $97.6 billion by 2030, showcasing the immense potential for sustainable, impactful solutions.

Looking ahead, Huyen is committed to addressing the multifaceted challenges surrounding sustainable science. Her future plans include advancing her research while mentoring underrepresented groups and driving multidisciplinary projects that bridge academia and industry. She is passionate about advocating for women’s safety and equity in STEM fields, ensuring that future generations of researchers can thrive in inclusive and supportive environments.

On receiving the award, Huyen commented: "This achievement is a testament to the excellence of women in STEM at Loughborough University. It not only celebrates my research, but also the University’s ongoing commitment to advancing diversity, innovation and sustainability. It highlights the power of humanising science. It’s not always just about data and results but about recognising the lived experiences behind researchers who shape societal values beyond the lab."

Loughborough University’s Inclusive Engineering Excellence Hub has been shortlisted for in the ‘Access, Diversity and Inclusion’ category at the 11th edition of the QS Reimagine Education Awards.

QS Reimagine Education Awards serves as a prestigious platform to recognise and celebrate the pioneers of education across the world, fostering a vibrant community of innovators committed to redefining learning and employability for future generations.

One of 18 diverse awards categories, the ‘Access, Diversity and Inclusion’ award celebrates projects that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to ensuring equitable access to education for all learners, regardless of background or circumstance. 

Projects for this award have implemented innovative strategies, policies, or programmes that have expanded opportunities, created inclusive environments, and celebrated diversity within educational settings, fostering a culture of belonging and empowerment for all.

Winners in each award category will be announced during the QS Reimagine Education Awards & Conference, to be held at the QEII Centre, London from 9–11 December 2024.

More information about the Awards can be found on the QS website.

Loughborough University Inclusive Engineering Excellence Hub receives Royal Academy of Engineering Diversity Impact Programme Grant.

Loughborough University is one of three UK universities to receive grant funding from the 2024 Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Diversity Impact Programme for its flagship Inclusive Engineering Excellence Hub (IEEH).

In partnership with Future Minds, Dr Elizabeth Ratcliffe and her work within Loughborough’s Inclusive Engineering Excellence Hub took 30 underrepresented engineering students to Amazon Headquarters London for a tour, panel discussion from Amazon staff, networking sessions and 3 x interactive breakout sessions. The event shone a spotlight on AI and Machine Learning, Software Development and the importance of creating and inclusive tech ecosystem, students were provided with career advice and hands-on interactive activities from Amazon employees. An exemplar of layered support including funding, IEEH expertise, staff and student co-development and hands-on resource prior / during / after event for Future Minds founder Flora Boa who is a current LU student and recent Amazon intern. This event was Loughborough University’s 1st collaboration with Amazon, importantly in the EDI space, a concerted effort to foster inclusion.

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