Northern Ireland engineer celebrated nationally as inspiration to future generation of women engineers

Her portfolio includes landmark projects such as the Northern Spire Bridge in her hometown, alongside leading Design ID’s Health and Safety Strategy and championing wellbeing, communication and inclusive leadership across the company.

A Chartered Engineer and ICE STEM Ambassador of the Year, Amy is passionate about outreach. She founded The Big Bridge, a not-for-profit initiative that brings a 13-metre-long buildable bridge kit to schools and community events across Northern Ireland and Ireland. Students work together to assemble the structure and then walk across it, giving them a tangible experience of civil engineering. Since launching, the project has reached more than 4,000 young people, with a deliberate focus on engaging girls and those from less advantaged backgrounds.

Her inspiration for engineering came from a sixth-form trip to Lesotho: “I didn’t really know what civil engineering was. In Lesotho, I saw shelters made of corrugated iron - very hot in the day, very cold at night. I started looking into building materials and came across a publication called The Little Book of Civilisation, which showcased innovative methods like using sandbags and barbed wire to build stronger, better-insulated homes. It captured my imagination and helped me understand that civil engineering is about helping people and changing the world.”

Amy also mentors early-career engineers and delivers training on mental health, resilience and effective communication. 

On winning, Amy said: “Receiving the WES Prize is a moment to reflect on how far I’ve come since starting out in civil engineering and to celebrate the journey. I’m passionate about showing that engineering is creative, impactful, and open to everyone, and I hope this recognition inspires others to see what’s possible.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is The Big Bridge, a not-for-profit initiative I founded that brings a buildable bridge kit to schools and community events across Northern Ireland and Ireland. It gives young people a hands-on experience of civil engineering and sparks confidence and curiosity, especially among girls and those from less advantaged backgrounds. If this award helps more people discover and support The Big Bridge, that’s a huge win for me.

“The industry has come a long way since I graduated in 2012, and I’m proud to work for a company where a third of the technical team are women. But there’s still work to do to make sure women not only join the profession but stay and thrive in it. As a mum of two with a supportive family, I hope my story shows that it’s possible to balance a rewarding career with family life.”

Other winners include Jennifer Barry, Senior Systems Engineer at Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), who was named Young Woman Engineer of the Year, Rachel Donaghey, a Service Introduction Manager at National Air Traffic Services (NATS) who won the Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices, and Vince Pizzoni who won the Gender Diversity Ambassador Award. Finalists Rachel Hayden and Nikkala Pokojski were both highly commended.

The IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards aim to showcase the breadth of opportunities for young women in engineering and technology. By highlighting these role models, the IET hopes to address the UK’s engineering skills shortage and encourage more girls and women into the profession.

Dr Laura Norton, Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the IET, said: “Engineering and technology are at the heart of solving global challenges and shaping a better future for all. Yet, despite the exciting opportunities this sector offers, women remain significantly underrepresented, making up just 16.9% of the engineering and technology workforce. This is often due to misconceptions about what engineering involves, persistent gender stereotypes and a lack of visible role models for young people.

“Our awards shine a spotlight on incredible individuals who are breaking down these barriers. They are not only leaders in their fields but also powerful ambassadors for the profession. I’d like to congratulate all this year’s winners and finalists – they are inspiring examples of what’s possible and will help encourage more girls to consider engineering as a career.

“Engineering is creative, diverse, and impactful – it’s a profession that changes lives and shapes the world. We must continue to champion these opportunities to the next generation.”

This year’s YWE Awards were sponsored by GCHQ, Leonardo, London Stanstead Airport, MBDA, Northrop Grumman, Royal Air Force, and BAE Systems.

Entries for the 2026 Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards open on 8 March 2026. To find out more information, please visit www.theiet.org/ywe.

Ends

Notes to editors:

Please note that photos from the awards ceremony are available upon request. 

About the IET

• We inspire, inform and influence the global engineering community to engineer a better world.     
• We are a diverse home for engineering and technology intelligence throughout the world. This breadth and depth means we are uniquely placed to help the sector progress society.     
• We want to build the profile of engineering and technology to change outdated perceptions and tackle the skills gap. This includes encouraging more women to become engineers and growing the number of engineering apprentices.    
• Interview opportunities are available with our spokespeople from a range of engineering and technology disciplines including cyber-security, energy, engineering skills, innovation, manufacturing, technology, transport and diversity in engineering.    
• For more information, visit www.theiet.org.    
• Follow the IET on LinkedIn and Instagram via @TheIET / @InstitutionofEngineeringandTechnology.    

Media enquiries to:

Megan Stearn
Senior Communications Executive
E: meganstearn@theiet.org