Six young female engineers have been announced as this year’s YWE finalists.
These prestigious engineering industry awards 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engineering – and aim to help change the perception that engineering is predominantly a career for men by banishing outdated engineering stereotypes of hard hats and dirty overalls.
The winner will be announced at our virtual awards ceremony on Thursday, 2 December at 7pm, with the virtual platform opening from 6pm.
Registration for the virtual ceremony is now open
Young Woman Engineer of the Year (YWE) award
Launched in 1978, it was originally known as the Girl Technician of the Year, but was changed to the Young Woman Engineer of the Year in 1988.
The YWE award was originally sponsored by the Caroline Haslett Memorial Trust, which provided scholarships and other educational opportunities for women seeking or already pursuing careers in electronic, electrical or mechanical engineering.
Dame Caroline Haslett (1895-1957) was the first Secretary of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) out of which grew the Electrical Association for Women (EAW) and Dame Caroline was appointed its Director and Secretary. Through the Association she encouraged the use of power in the home believing that electricity was the real emancipator of women.
The Trust was formed in 1945 to commemorate the 21st anniversary of EAW and after Dame Caroline’s death it became a memorial to her. The Trust funds are now exhausted, but the IET continues to support the Young Woman of the Year Award.
The 2021 finalists
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.