Gordana Collier: The volunteer powering tomorrow’s engineers
Gordana Collier’s portfolio is varied and inspiring, from working in the STEM industry and academia to volunteering and Formula One.
As Head of the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics at Oxford Brookes University, she oversees ambitious projects, nurtures collaborations in the motorsport industry, and leads a Formula Student team.
Behind her professional success lies another driving force: a lifelong commitment to volunteering.
Gordana Collier speaking to young engineering professionals at a recent conference
Gordana began volunteering with the IET in 2011 as an Academic Accreditor and went on to become a member of the Committee. She has served on the Awards and Scholarships Committee and the Future Talent Awards Panel. She has also poured energy into inspiring the next generation – running Robo-club and Space Satellite Club for college students and organising Engineer Your Future and IET Faraday® Challenge events. Most recently she organised the International Women in Engineering celebration for year 7-9 girls.
Gordana reminisces, “We were inspired by the visit from the amazing Iron Dames, a powerful all-female motorsport European project. It was a day of advice and inspiration, encouraging young girls not to be afraid of anything and to understand their secret superpowers.”
Volunteering has also impacted Gordana’s career. “For many years, my involvement in Academic Accreditation panels has provided me with deep insights into the UK academic environment.” Gordana explains, “directly influencing my approach to programme content and standards at Oxford Brookes University. As well as my own professional growth and programme management. Engaging with participants in STEM activities has reinforced my passion for passing on knowledge to the next generation.”
She reflects, “As the saying goes, you truly gain more than you give through volunteering. Collaborating with inspiring young people, and seeing the difference you make in their lives, is incredibly rewarding.”
Gordana's experience with mentoring, inspiring younger generations and investing time in projects that she loves shows how volunteering can sharpen professional skills, expand networks and open doors to experiences you’d never expect.
For Gordana, volunteering also gives her time to spend on one of her favourite hobbies: motorsport. “I run our Formula Student team, Oxford Brookes Racing. This is such an awesome project, which allows me to work with great young engineers and build them up to take on the world. I now have graduates in every Formula One team; I am very proud of their success!”
In her life, volunteering isn’t just an act of giving back – it’s a way of fueling careers and accelerating progress for the next generation.
Read more of Gordana’s incredible story on EngX here.