Samantha Hubbard BEng IEng FIET

An active IET volunteer since 1999, Sam Hubbard has served over 20 years on main boards or as a Trustee as well as representing the IET as a Trustee for the Engineering Council and has recently been elected as a Fellow.

Sam stepped out of university to take up an apprenticeship, experiencing the practical side of engineering and finding her true career call.  Returning to university life part-time later, she has now worked in engineering for 30 years within paper manufacture and then nuclear.

Her experience includes the Lead Control Engineer at Shotton Paper and as a Senior Engineer at Urenco and has held positions as C,E&I Lead in Maintenance, as a System Engineer and more recently within Engineering and Projects.  She enjoys the diversity of an engineering career, applying knowledge and standards to so many varied applications.

Passionate about promoting STEM, Sam has been doing this since she was an apprentice herself. In 2000, Sam won the Young Woman Engineer of the Year and later the WISE Excellence Award, this afforded her many more opportunities to speak to young people, particularly other females about the exciting prospects engineering holds.  Countless school visits, recruitment events, competitions, national press and television coverage helped to get the message out.

Having held numerous roles with the IET including Trustee, Qualifications Board, Membership and Professional Development Board, Council, Communities Resourcing Committee, Finance and Investment and Audit and Risk Committee and various Local Network roles, she also was on the advisory group for the Professional Home for Life Programme and Apprentice Trailblazer pilot, ensuring that the voice of IEng and EngTech is well represented in all forums.

Sam’s aims to utilise her governance experience from the Engineering Council and her wealth of IET knowledge to contribute to the IET strategy.  She has a passion for attracting and retaining women in engineering will contribute to the support of women at all ages within engineering and provide focus on menopause support and policies.

Dawn Ohlson MEng CEng FIET

Dawn Ohlson is Vice President of Engineering at Ultra Cyber. Previously, Dawn was the Technical Director for Northrop Grumman National Security Services with responsibility for the technical strategy and the leadership and development of capability of a multi-site engineering team.

She joined Racal Avionics (to become Thales) as an engineer on graduation from Oxford, spending her early career working as both Hardware and Software Engineer, eventually becoming an accomplished Systems Engineer in the field of navigation systems.

Dawn worked for almost 30 years in Thales, becoming the UK Systems Engineering Director and latterly the Engineering Director for Thales Avionics UK, the company she joined as a graduate.  Her career has taken her to many different countries including a 6 year period working with the SVP, Chief Technical Officer in Thales HQ in Paris.

Dawn’s passion for developing younger engineers led her to present the IET Faraday lecture to promote engineering and technology to 14 to 16-year-olds, touring the UK, Ireland, and Asia. 

She went on to transform graduate development and STEM Corporate Social Responsibility activities in Thales and received the WISE excellence award for her work in promoting the role of Women in Science and Engineering.

Dawn was also the 2015 winner of the First Women Award for Engineering and in 2019 she was included in the prestigious directory Who’s Who. Dawn is well known for her determination to make a difference. She is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

She is a Professional Registration Interviewer, former chair of the Professional Development Operations Committee, Professional Registration Scheme assessor, and Fellow assessor.

Simon Harrison BSc PhD CEng FREng FIET FEI FRSA

Simon is Group Head of Strategy and Fellow at global consultancy Mott MacDonald, working across built infrastructure and energy.  

He specialises in energy policy and is well known in government as an engineer making the case for change in an industry in profound transition, until recently serving as a Clean Power Commissioner.   A Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, he most recently co-chaired with Sir Patrick Vallance its work on accelerated electricity decarbonisation that formed much of the basis for the government’s energy policy.  He chaired an independent panel for the UK government on engineering standards in electricity, and for many years on behalf of the IET led other work in developing an underlying engineering strategy for the future decarbonised electricity system and contributing to the debate for greater whole systems thinking.  

He also co-founded the Net Zero Infrastructure Industry Coalition, a group of leading organisations in the private and public sectors seeking to determine and share best practice in built infrastructure decarbonisation.

He has been a visiting professor in electronics and computer science at Southampton University and serves on its industrial advisory group.

In his career at Mott MacDonald Simon has held numerous leadership roles – in group strategy, in the development of global energy business, and in building its presence in renewable energy, as well as playing key roles in the engineering, development and financing of numerous infrastructure projects in sectors including power, water, transport, telecommunications and the built environment, in most corners of the world.

He also chairs Creative Island, a charity that acts as the cultural development agency for the Isle of Wight. 

Jim MacDonald

David Cleevely

Katy Deacon BEng MEng CEng FIET

When her apprenticeship with British Airways ended, Katy Deacon held a first-class honours degree in Air Transport Engineering from City University, London.  The difficulties in the aviation industry caused by 9/11 resulted in Katy moving her skills and knowledge to focus on electrical design in buildings.  This developed, through her master’s degree in Advanced Engineering from Loughborough University, into a focus on renewables and low carbon buildings.  She was the Chief Engineer, in charge of the development of the Kirklees Renewable Energy Toolkit which won the NICEIC Energy Efficiency Product of the Year.

In 2006, she was awarded the prestigious IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year award.  This tremendous achievement was in recognition of her work to implement low carbon technologies within existing buildings.  Katy toured the UK, speaking at length to young people, encouraging them to consider taking up a career in the engineering sector. It was this hard work, which led her into a closer relationship with the IET.

The Women’s Engineering Society awarded Katy the Karen Burt Memorial Award in 2009, given to the best newly qualified Chartered Engineer, chosen from the disciplines of engineering, applied science and IT.  Also that year, in her role as a Scout Leader, Katy inspired her Scouts to create an activity booklet encouraging young people to “Save a Tonne” of CO2 which was highly commended at the inaugural Yorkshire Post Environment Awards.

In 2012 she received a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis and became a wheelchair user.  This did not stop her pursuing her goals, however she had to adjust her career focus into data governance and cyber security and develop strong strategic, change-management skills.  It has made her resilient and tenacious in her approach to achieving positive outcomes.

Since then, Katy has become a wife and is the mother of two children, she was the Information Governance Manager & Data Protection Officer for Kirklees Council until recently.

Katy is also Chair of the IET Diversity, Inclusion and Equality Main Board, Visiting Professor at University of Aston and Huddersfield and Founder and Managing Director of Towards Belonging.

Graham Herries BEng(Hons) PhD CEng FIET

Graham is Vice President Information Technology – Europe & Africa at Lear Corporation.  He has enjoyed a cross-sectoral career in engineering and technology with over 30 years of success delivering cutting edge high technology solutions across automotive, defence, aerospace, security, built environment and industrial engineering.

In his current role, he is accountable for 350 IT professionals supporting 100+ manufacturing and engineering sites, delivering >$8Bn of annual revenue, where his background leads him to drive technology innovation through adoption and deployment of Industry 4.0 & 5.0 technologies.

His previous experience included Executive Director of Digital Technologies at Laing O’Rourke, where he successfully supported multiple PhD’s and collaborative innovation research projects with Innovate UK. This included leading a project funded by the EU H2020 Factory of the Future framework, delivering innovation through the development of Industry 4.0 technologies for scheduling optimisation, utilising IoT, AI and Digital Twin technologies. This was one of the first instances of using the term Digital Twin within a Built Environment context. A further career highlight was being parachuted into The Francis Crick Institute in London and the CHUM Hospital in Montreal to resolve technical and leadership problems, leading to the completion and acceptance of both.

Graham has been a chartered engineer for over 25 years and Fellow for over 13 years, gaining a PhD in AI in 1997. He was appointed as a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor, focussing on Industrial project-based learning. As part of this role, he works with Birmingham City University on engineering course modernisation to enhance attainment and employability of the student cadre; and has served on the Strategic Advisory Group for STEM Learning.

Professor Paul Needham FREng PhD CEng FIET 

Paul Needham is the Head of Engineering for Air & Space Products and Chief Engineer for Historic Aircraft at BAE Systems, and he has over 30 years’ of international experience in Aerospace Design and Manufacture Engineering.

As the Head of Engineering he is responsible for leading and developing strategic solutions for the next generation of Air and Space products, leading the way in the global sector. In his role as Chief Engineer, he has responsibility for the Lancaster Bomber in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. He has worked in both the UK and in the United States, working on the design and development of the F-35 Lighting II aircraft where he was Head of Engineering

Paul is a Fellow of The Royal Academy of Engineering, Chartered Engineer, Global Engineering Fellow of BAE Systems and a Fellow of the IET.

He came into engineering via a vocational route starting as an apprentice and studying part-time with The University of Huddersfield continuing through to a PhD in Aerospace Design for Manufacture, which achieved an IET Innovation Award. He has also been awarded the title of Visiting Professor within the School of Computing and Engineering at the University of Huddersfield and in 2022 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of the University for his contributions to Engineering.  His background has made him an inspiration to many engineers from non-traditional backgrounds, by demonstrating that engineering excellence is open to all

He mentors many engineers in their careers and on their journey to professional registration both within BAE Systems and in his role as a professional registration advisor within the IET

Trudy Norris-Grey FIET 

Trudy is a pioneering technology executive, board advisor, and champion for inclusive leadership, with more than four decades of experience leading and transforming major businesses across the global technology sector. She has held senior executive roles spanning the UK, Europe, EAMER, and global operations, operating at the highest levels of scale, complexity, and commercial accountability. Widely recognised as the first woman to lead a major technology business in the UK, she has been a visible role model and path-breaker at the very top of an industry historically dominated by men.

Renowned for her strategic clarity, commercial impact, and partnering approach, Trudy has built a distinguished career at the forefront of digital transformation—where emerging technology, responsible innovation, and measurable business outcomes intersect. She is recognised for building and leading high-performing organisations, developing next-generation leaders, and guiding enterprises and public-sector partners through large-scale cloud, data, and AI-driven change.

Today, Trudy holds a portfolio of non-executive, advisory, and council roles across technology, engineering, and education. She is a trusted board-level voice on data, artificial intelligence, and the future of work, and regularly chairs executive forums and customer advisory boards focused on agentic AI, digital responsibility, and the evolving demands of leadership in an AI-enabled world. Her work bridges deep technical innovation with governance, talent strategy, and both commercial and societal impact.

A long-term and influential advocate for women in STEM, inclusive leadership, continuous skills development, and opportunity for all, Trudy is the recipient of multiple honorary university fellowships recognising her contribution to technology, engineering, and business leadership. She is a visible role model for social mobility and is deeply committed to widening access to careers, leadership, and education. She is also an active mentor to senior executives and emerging leaders, supporting the development of diverse, values-led leadership for the next generation.

Her leadership voice is defined by optimism, intellectual rigour, and a deep belief that technology, when guided with purpose and integrity, can be one of the most powerful forces for progress.

Mamta Singhal MBE BEng MSc MBA CEng FIET

Mamta Singhal graduated from her BEng (Hons) in Product Design Engineering in 2001 from Glasgow University/Glasgow School of Art, her MSc from Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management in 2002 and then her MBA with distinction from Strathclyde International Business School in 2009.  During her MBA she was in the top 4 global for AMBA’s MBA student of the year.

She began working as a trainee engineer at Polaroid and then moved on to Dyson Ltd graduate scheme in 2004.  She then progressed to a Global Design Engineer for Toy Manufacturer Hasbro Inc where she combined creativity, engineering, manufacturing, technology and sharp project management skills.  Over her 2 decades following her graduation she has world for massive global players in technical, manufacturing and supply chain roles for firms such as Coca-Cola European Partners, Mars Chocolate, Mattel and most recently Diageo Plc. 

Mamta has taken an active and passion role in supporting those with neuro-diverse thinking and those from culturally diverse backgrounds.  She is a tri-national herself and has worked globally for most of her career as well lived range of countries. 

She is a Visiting Professor at Middlesex University, sits on the Women's Engineering Society (WES) Board of Trustees.  Active in the STEM outreach forums including being a spokesperson at times for the IET, Royal Academy of Engineering, WES, Engineering Council, Stemettes and many others.  Speaking to the BBC, ITV news and a range of other national and local networks about the important role that engineers play in society.  In 2021 she was awarded IET Fellowship and the year before she gained her WES Fellowship.  She was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year's Honours List for services to engineering.

She was a member of the Council and the Volunteer Engagement Board for 3 years and sat on the IET Manufacturing Policy Panel and Neurodiversity Network.  She has given talks at the IET Open House events and other key IET activities.  In 2008 she won the IET WES Young Women Engineer of the Year Prize and went on to judge and chair the award on a number of occasions. She has also judged the IET Global Innovation Awards.  She also appeared in the award winning IET's 'Portrait of an Engineer' campaign in 2017 which featured in the Cosmopolitan Magazine. She is always taken aback when people still say 'you don't look like an engineer'!

Andy Downton

Mark Goudie MEng CEng FIET

Mark is the Head of Whole System Strategy & Optimisation for SP Energy Networks. His career spans the nuclear, electricity networks, and renewables sectors with EDF Energy, Atkins, and SP Energy Networks with engineering experience that includes Research & Development, early stage project development, front end feasibility studies and detailed design for a range of public and private energy sector projects.

He is currently focused on the future operation of the electricity network as a key enabler of the transition to Net Zero. Mark is a Chartered Engineer and one of the youngest elected engineering Fellows in the UK and was announced as the VisitScotland Young Legend for the Energy sector in 2019 as someone who best represents the country’s spirit of pioneering innovation through contributions to the energy sector.  

He is an active volunteer and is passionate about encouraging, mentoring, and supporting the next generation of STEM professionals through several organisations. This includes the Glasgow Science Centre as a Non-Executive Director, the IET as a Non-Executive Director & Chair of the Awards & Scholarships Committee, and as STEM Ambassador He is also the past Chair of the IET Council for 2023/24 and the past Vice Chair of the IET Future Talent Awards.

Justina Ho BMath MSc LLB HonFIET

Justina is an engineering consultant, specialising in technology transfer and in turning innovative ideas into feasible projects. Her work spans diverse sectors, from mining and refining to manufacturing, new materials, data management, and emerging technologies and industries, such as blockchain, AI, and esports. She specialises in supporting enterprises and startups seeking private equity and funding. A critical aspect of her consultancy has been venture building – validating new business and technical ideas while exploring untapped opportunities. She also acted as the Executive Director of Institute of Big Data Governance, a Non-Profit Organization dedicated to establishing best practices in the big data industry.

With that experience, she has been an Entrepreneurship Committee Advisor and a mentor for Cyberport Incubation Program, helping startups to excel in both local and Greater China markets. She was also appointed as the Chair of Bay Area International Industry Development Association to facilitate industrial development and talent cultivation, supporting the Hong Kong Government and Chinese Government.

For over a decade, she established and chaired the IET Hong Kong STEM Task Force, bringing 30 years of STEM works and researches from the IET headquarter to Hong Kong and overseeing local STEM programmes.

Justina works closely with the Education Bureau and lead on various significant STEM programs, serving more than 120 primary and secondary schools. She also introduced IET’s collection of over 600 STEM materials to the Education Bureau and took the lead in localizing and adapting some of these materials into Education Bureau “Science (S1-3) STEAM Learning Module”, which was launched in the 2023/24 school year.

Justina currently sits in the “CDC Standing Committee on STEAM Education” and “Steering Committee on Strategic Development of IT in Education” for the Education Bureau.

Ian MacGillivray MSc CDipAF CEng MIET

Ian MacGillivray is a chartered engineer and management consultant.  During a 27 year career in the Royal Navy he led teams in operations, engineering support, acquisition and training.  This culminated in heading up the Design Authority for the complex systems of systems constituting the fighting capability of all the Navy's frigates: covering performance, design integrity and safety of integrated sensors, information systems and weaponry.  Wider roles included organisational change programme management and government department strategic communications.  More recently Ian has been consulting for public and private sector clients – mostly based in the UK – from government organisations to small technology start-ups.

Ian connected with the IET’s Solent Local Network in 2011, keen to explore how the IET could make a positive contribution to the fledgling Local Enterprise Partnership policy brought in by the UK government of the time.  He went on to chair the local network and subsequently stood for election to IET Council, on which he served from 2020 to 2023, chairing it in the final year of his 3 year term.

Ian is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, has a MSc in Engineering and Management and has post graduate qualifications in Accounting and Finance, Defence Studies, and Professional Research Methods.  He now lives in Spain but remains strongly engaged with the UK, both professionally and personally, the latter including pursuing his love of coastal sailing.

Sam Presley MEng MIET

Sam Presley is a Technical Product Manager at Nordic Semiconductor with expertise in low power wireless connectivity. He is responsible for product definition and strategy across hardware and software, working internationally with end product manufacturers and ecosystem partners to enable development of successful connected products in the consumer, medical, and industrial markets. 

Sam holds a First-class MEng in Electronic Engineering from the University of Southampton. His prior industry experience spans product leadership and hands-on engineering. At Dyson, he contributed to connected product development, evaluating and integrating new IoT capabilities into consumer products. He later moved to RS Components, where he designed education-focused initiatives connecting suppliers, universities and student engineers to strengthen early career pathways into industry. Earlier engineering experience includes research within the UK defence sector. 

Sam’s relationship with the Institution of Engineering and Technology began as an IET Diamond Jubilee Scholar, which sparked a longstanding volunteer journey. He founded IET On Campus Southampton and has served as Chair and member of the IET Global Young Professionals Committee (2016–2020); Member of Council and Volunteer Engagement Board (2020–2021); Member of Council and Membership and Professional Development Board (2023–2025). Currently he serves on the future Talent Awards panel which supports the next generation of engineers and technologists, alongside his role as a trustee.

Alkis Spyrou