International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is celebrated annually on 23 June, and is a global celebration of the achievements, influence, and impact of women in the engineering profession. What began as a UK initiative by the Women’s Engineering Society has grown into an international movement with UNESCO patronage, bringing together communities, organisations, and individuals who are committed to shaping a more inclusive future for engineering.
The day shines a light on three core ambitions:
- Inspiring future engineers – encouraging girls and young women to explore engineering pathways and helping address global skills shortages.
- Showcasing women’s contributions – celebrating the innovation, leadership, and problem-solving women bring to the sector.
- Championing equality – supporting women to thrive and promoting diverse, inclusive engineering workplaces.
A conversation about belonging, opportunity and change
At UWE Bristol, we’re marking International Women in Engineering Day with a special podcast featuring women at different stages of their engineering journeys. The discussion explores what representation means, how opportunities are created, and why engineering is a place where more women should feel like they belong.
Huge thanks go to our five brilliant panel members for talking so candidly and thoughtfully, and for sharing their experiences and insights:
- Amelia Davies, Business Partnerships Manager for Advanced Engineering and Defence at UWE Bristol.
- Dr Laura Fogg Rogers, Associate Professor for Engineering in Society and lead for the Women Like Me programme at UWE Bristol. Laura was awarded the Nurturing New Talent Award at the WISE Awards in 2025.
- Emily Boys, Faculty Leader for Science at Cotham School.
- Madeleine Starling, fourth-year Degree Apprentice at GKN Aerospace.
- Alexia Williams, Chartered Engineer and Technical Lead at Rolls Royce. Alexia was recently named in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2026. She was awarded an MBE in recognition of her outstanding services to skills and education, her leadership in encouraging more women into STEM, and her commitment to closing the UK skills gap.
The conversation delves into the lived experiences and diverse pathways that brought each guest into engineering, highlighting the moments – both big turning points and quiet realisations – when they thought “yes, this is for me.”
The panel unpacks the persistent misconceptions that discourage girls from choosing subjects such as maths, DT and physics at school, reflects on early widening participation efforts in schools that can shift those patterns, and considers which mentoring approaches genuinely support women to thrive in engineering.
Throughout the conversation, several themes resonated strongly:
- Representation matters – seeing women in engineering roles helps others to imagine themselves in those spaces and believe they belong.
- Curiosity counts – problem solving, resilience, and a willingness to explore are often just as important (if not more important) than grades.
- Engineering shapes the future – from healthcare to sustainability, engineers are tackling the world’s biggest challenges.
The overarching message was clear: engineering has space for everyone.
Building skills that empower women to thrive
At UWE Bristol, we are committed to creating pathways that support women entering and progressing through engineering careers. Our degree apprenticeships combine academic learning with hands-on industry experience, helping apprentices build confidence, capability, and a strong professional identity from day one.
We also work to create environments where women feel supported and connected. Mentoring opportunities link learners with role models across the sector, while award-winning initiatives such as Women Like Me amplify real stories and lived experiences that challenge stereotypes and open doors for the next generation.
By investing in inclusive routes into engineering and supporting talent at every stage, we’re helping to build a more diverse, skilled, and innovative engineering workforce for the future. And as our podcast guests reminded us, representation, curiosity, and community all play a vital role in shaping that future. When women see themselves reflected in engineering – and are given the space to thrive – the whole sector becomes stronger.