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List of female fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering facts for kids

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The page lists female fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng), elected by the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK.

The Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng), founded in 1976, is the youngest of the five national academies in the UK. It represents the nation's best practising engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs, who are very often in leading roles in industry, business, and academia. Fellowship of the RAEng is a national honour, bringing prestige to both the individual and any organisation the Fellow is associated with. In recent years between 50 and 60 new fellows have been chosen each year by peer review from nominations made by the current fellowship;. Those proposed for fellowship must come “from among eminent engineers regarded by virtue of their personal achievements in the field of engineering as being of exceptional merit and distinction”.

All 130 of the founding fellows in 1976 were men. Four women were elected in the first 20 years, the first in 1982. In all, 13 female fellows pre-date 2000, with a further 20 elected before 2010 and 65 in the decade before 2020. In 2010 the Council determined a policy that over time 10–20% of newly elected fellows should be women.

The Academy published a diversity and inclusion action plan for the five years from 2020 but does not regularly publish the proportion of female engineers in the current fellowship, estimated in 2019 to be less than 7%. In July 2020 it launched a campaign aimed at delivering a 'Fellowship that is Fit for the Future' by the time it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026 and set an aspiration that at least half of all candidates elected each year will be from under-represented target groups. In 2023 six of the 60 new Fellows were female.

As of 2023, 137 women have been elected to Fellowship, plus twelve international fellows, twelve honorary fellows, and one royal fellow.

Fellows

List of female fellows
Year of election Image Fellow Field(s) of work; academia/industry RAEng appointments/awards and notes Refs.
1982 Killick, ElizabethElizabeth Killick Electronic engineering, marine technology; industry Died 2019
1987 Platt, BerylBeryl Platt Aeronautical engineering; industry Died 2015
1992 Kaposi , AgnesAgnes Kaposi Electrical engineering; academia and industry
1995 Foster, PatriciaPatricia Foster Electrical engineering; industry
1996 Ann Dowling.jpg Dowling, AnnAnn Dowling Mechanical engineering, aeroacoustics; academia First woman President of the RAEng, 2014–2019
Dame Sue Ion at QED Question Explore Discover conference 2015 01.jpg Ion, SueSue Ion Nuclear engineering; industry A vice-president of RAEng, 2002–2008; first woman to be awarded RAEng President's medal 2014
Spooncer, RachelRachel Spooncer Chemical engineering; industry First woman to win MacRobert Award, (with ICI, 1993)
1997 Dr Joanna Kennedy FREng OBE.jpg Kennedy, JoannaJoanna Kennedy Civil engineering; industry
Professor the Baroness Brown of Cambridge Royal Society.jpg King, JuliaJulia King Fracture mechanics; academia Led RAEng working party on ‘Educating Engineers for the 21st Century’ 2007
Lyons, SusanSusan Lyons Manufacturing engineering; industry and academia
1999 Barton, YvonneYvonne Barton Geotechnical engineering; industry and academia
Higgins, JuliaJulia Higgins Chemical engineering; academia A vice-president of RAEng, 2008–2011
Pam Liversidge 14 Ap 2014.jpg Liversidge, PamelaPamela Liversidge Mechanical engineering; industry
2000 Saving the Web June 14, 15, and 16 2016 at the Kluge Center 104.jpg Hall, WendyWendy Hall Computer science; academia First woman to be RAEng Senior Vice-President 2005–2008
2001 Dame Stephanie Shirley - 2013.jpg Shirley, StephanieStephanie Shirley Information technology; industry and philanthropy
2002 Professor Polina Bayvel FREng FRS.jpg Bayvel, PolinaPolina Bayvel Optical networking; industry and academia
Chessell, AmandaAmanda Chessell Computer science; industry and academia First woman to be awarded the RAEng Silver Medal 2001
Stone, HelenHelen Stone Civil engineering; industry
2003 Gladden, LynnLynn Gladden Chemical engineering; academia
Wainwright, FaithFaith Wainwright Structural engineering; industry Editorial Board member of RAEng magazine Ingenia
2004 Petrou, MariaMaria Petrou Signal processing; academia Died 2012
2005 Petford-Long, AmandaAmanda Petford-Long Materials science; academia
2006 Tanner, (Kathleen) Elizabeth(Kathleen) Elizabeth Tanner Biomedical engineering; academia Editorial Board member of RAEng magazine Ingenia; RAEng Trustee Board 2017-
Venables, JeanJean Venables Civil engineering; industry and academia
2007 Atkinson, HelenHelen Atkinson Materials engineering; academia A vice-president of RAEng, 2012–2014; RAEng Trustee Board 2014–2016
Mitchell, DervillaDervilla Mitchell Civil engineering; industry A vice-president of RAEng, 2011–2014
2008 Jo da Silva Civil engineering; industry and international development
Alison Noble Royal Society.jpg Noble, AlisonAlison Noble Biomedical engineering; industry and academia
Spurgeon, SarahSarah Spurgeon Control engineering; industry and academia
2009 ETH-BIB-Springman, Sarah M. (1956-)-Portr 17377.jpg Springman, SarahSarah Springman Geotechnical engineering; industry and academia
Thornhill, NinaNina Thornhill Chemical engineering; industry and academia
Wernick, JaneJane Wernick Structural engineering; industry and academia
Wilson, SophieSophie Wilson Computer science; industry and academia
2010 Atkinson, JaneJane Atkinson Chemical engineering; industry
Bryant, JayneJayne Bryant Chemical engineering; industry
Burke, CarolCarol Burke Manufacturing engineering; industry
Carole Goble by Rob Whitrow (15682291039).jpg Goble, CaroleCarole Goble Computer science; academia
Judith Hackitt Nov 2011.jpg Hackitt, JudithJudith Hackitt Chemical engineering; industry
Anne Neville Royal Society.jpg Neville (engineer), AnneAnne Neville (engineer) Mechanical engineering; academia Died 2022; RAEng chair in Emerging technologies, University of Leeds
2011 Clarke, (Sarah Regina) Ginny(Sarah Regina) Ginny Clarke Civil engineering, highway engineering; industry Editorial Board member of RAEng magazine Ingenia
Deeming, LianneLianne Deeming Materials engineering; industry
Harkin-Jones, EileenEileen Harkin-Jones Polymer engineering; academia Bombardier-RAEng chair in Composites Engineering at Ulster University from 2014
McDowell, MichelleMichelle McDowell Civil engineering; industry
Mundy, JeniJeni Mundy Electronic engineering; industry
Saunders, FrancesFrances Saunders Electronic engineering; industry RAEng Trustee Board 2015-
Sellen, AbigailAbigail Sellen Human-computer interaction; industry
Smith, LianeLiane Smith Materials science, corrosion engineering; industry
2012 Best, SerenaSerena Best Materials science; academia
Cynthia Carroll.jpg Carroll, CynthiaCynthia Carroll Mining engineering; industry
Jane Jiang at the EPSRC Manufacturing Hub.jpg Jiang, JaneJane Jiang Precision engineering; industry and academia Renishaw-RAEng chair in Precision Metrology at the University of Huddersfield from 2015
Martin, ElaineElaine Martin Chemical engineering; academia Formerly Editorial Board member of RAEng magazine Ingenia; RAEng Trustee Board 2014-
Plant, JaneJane Plant Geochemistry; academia Died 2016
2013 Adisa Azapagic Chemical engineering, sustainable engineering; academia
Muffy Calder.jpg Calder, MuffyMuffy Calder Computer science; academia
Climer, NaomiNaomi Climer Media technology; industry RAEng Trustee Board 2017-
Crawford, JaniceJanice Crawford Chemical engineering; industry
Carolyn Griffiths (12088196864) (cropped).jpg Griffiths, CarolynCarolyn Griffiths Mechanical engineering, railway engineering; industry
Ocone, RaffaellaRaffaella Ocone Chemical engineering; academia
Stevens, MollyMolly Stevens Biomaterials science; academia
2014 Connolly, PatriciaPatricia Connolly Bioengineering; academia and industry
Gai, PratibhaPratibha Gai Electron microscopy, nanotechnology; academia and industry
Scrivener, KarenKaren Scrivener Materials science; academia
2015 Claire Adjiman Chemical engineering; academia
Professor Karen Holford.jpg Holford, KarenKaren Holford Mechanical engineering, acoustic emission; academia and industry
Mary Ryan at World Economic Forum Ideas Lab.jpg Mary Ryan Electrochemistry; academia Shell-RAEng chair in Interfacial Nanoscience for Engineering Systems, Imperial College London from 2015
Sasse, AngelaAngela Sasse Computer science, information security; academia
2016 Butler, JaneJane Butler Electronic engineering, computer science; academia and industry
SarahHainsworth.jpg Hainsworth, SarahSarah Hainsworth Forensic materials engineering; academia
Lane, BarbaraBarbara Lane Fire protection engineering; industry and academia
Schmolke, CatrionaCatriona Schmolke Civil engineering; industry
2017 Cordiner, JoanJoan Cordiner Chemical engineering, agrochemicals; industry
El Haj, AliciaAlicia El Haj Biological engineering, regenerative medicine; academia
Hargrove, CarolineCaroline Hargrove Mechanical engineering, human–machine interaction; industry and academia
Hurst, RachelRachel Hurst Manufacturing engineering; industry
Martin, UrsulaUrsula Martin Computer science; academia
Angela Strank Royal Society.jpg Strank, AngelaAngela Strank Chemical engineering, petroleum engineering; industry
Stride, EleanorEleanor Stride Biomedical engineering; academia and industry
Trefethen, AnneAnne Trefethen Computer science; academia
Williamson, SarahSarah Williamson Structural engineering; industry
2018 Prof. Judith Driscoll, University of Cambridge.jpg Driscoll, JudithJudith Driscoll Materials Science; academia
Gray, SusanSusan Gray Aviation engineering; Royal Air Force
Lunn, RebeccaRebecca Lunn Civil engineering, geotechnical engineering; academia BAM Nuttall-RAEng chair, University of Strathclyde from 2017
Mercer, HilaryHilary Mercer Mechanical engineering, project management; industry
Thomson, RachelRachel Thomson Materials engineering; academia
Williams, RachelRachel Williams Biomedical engineering; academia
2019 Dehghan, ShirinShirin Dehghan Electronic engineering; industry
Eickhoff, BridgetBridget Eickhoff Railway engineering; industry
Freitas dos Santos, LuisaLuisa Freitas dos Santos Chemical engineering; industry
Gast, AliceAlice Gast Chemical engineering; academia
Lingwood, RebeccaRebecca Lingwood Fluid dynamics; academia
McClay, CatherineCatherine McClay Electrical engineering; industry
O'Neill, MáireMáire O'Neill Cyber security; academia RAEng Silver Medal (2014)
Pantić, MajaMaja Pantić Artificial intelligence; academia
Rayment, FionaFiona Rayment Nuclear power; industry
Russell, Leigh-AnnLeigh-Ann Russell Petroleum engineering; industry
Simeonidou, DimitraDimitra Simeonidou Telecommunications engineering; academia
Skinner, RachelRachel Skinner Transportation engineering; industry
Tachtsi, LilaLila Tachtsi Highway engineering; industry
2020 Bregulla, JulieJulie Bregulla Fire engineering, Structural engineering; industry
D Elson - Thorpe Park.png Childs, DawnDawn Childs Mechanical engineering, Aeronautical engineering; industry
Gardner, PhilippaPhilippa Gardner Computer science; academia
Greaves, DeborahDeborah Greaves Marine engineering; academia
Rodriguez-Villegas, EstherEsther Rodriguez-Villegas Wearable technology; academia and industry RAEng Silver medal (2020)
Thingmonk- Wiring the IoT- Dr Lucy Rogers.jpg Rogers, LucyLucy Rogers Mechanical engineering, Fluid dynamics; Science communication RAEng Visiting professor at Brunel University
Sun, TongTong Sun Sensor engineering, Photonics; academia RAEng Silver medal (2016); RAEng Research professor (2018)
Vincent, AlisonAlison Vincent Cyber Security, Software engineering; industry
2021 Alglave, JadeJade Alglave Computer Science; academia and industry RAEng Silver medal (2018)
Allen, RuthRuth Allen Civil engineering, Infrastructure; industry
Atkinson, AlisonAlison Atkinson Nuclear engineering, Project management; industry
Delahunty, AliceAlice Delahunty Electrical engineering; industry
Penelope Endersby.jpg Endersby, PenelopePenelope Endersby Physics, Artificial intelligence; academia and industry
Finch, ElspethElspeth Finch Entrepreneur; industry RAEng Silver medal (2013)
Glassey, JarmilaJarmila Glassey Chemical engineering; academia
Lettieri, PaolaPaola Lettieri Chemical engineering, Fluidisation; academia
Lucas, MargaretMargaret Lucas Civil engineering, Ultrasonics; academia
Morgans, AimeeAimee Morgans Mechanical engineering, Thermofluids; academia RAEng/EPSRC Research Fellow (2004–09)
Noakes, CatherineCatherine Noakes Mechanical engineering, Environmental engineering; academia
Professor Rachel Oliver.jpg Oliver, RachelRachel Oliver Materials science; academia
Tiziana Rossetto Structural engineering, Earthquake engineering; academia
Sutcliffe, JuliaJulia Sutcliffe Computer science, Aeronautical engineering; academia and industry
Thornley, PatriciaPatricia Thornley Environmental engineering; academia and industry
Weston, RebeccaRebecca Weston Nuclear engineering; industry
2022 Bonfield, DawnDawn Bonfield Aerospace materials; diversity and inclusion RAEng Visiting professor of Inclusive engineering
Farid, SuzanneSuzanne Farid Bioprocess engineering; academia
Gourvenec, SusanSusan Gourvenec Offshore geotechnical engineering; industry RAEng chair in Emerging Technology
Christine Ourmières-Widener.png Ourmières-Widener, ChristineChristine Ourmières-Widener Aerospace engineering; industry
Patel, YogeYoge Patel Artificial intelligence; industry
Powrie, HonorHonor Powrie Artificial intelligence; industry
Prof Elena Rodriguez-Falcon.jpg Rodriguez-Falcon, ElenaElena Rodriguez-Falcon Mechanical engineering; academia
Sykes, JudithJudith Sykes Infrastructure; industry
Niki Trigoni Software engineering; academia and industry
2023 Cameron, RuthRuth Cameron Biomaterials; academia and industry
Francis, RosemaryRosemary Francis Computer architecture, Software engineering; industry
Hazlewood, CarolineCaroline Hazlewood Hydraulic engineering; industry
Parry-Jones, GwenGwen Parry-Jones Nuclear physics; industry
Savage, CatrionaCatriona Savage Naval architecture; academia and industry
Shollock, BarbaraBarbara Shollock Materials science; academia

International Fellows

International Fellows are engineers of international distinction who are not of British nationality and who are not resident and working in Britain. The number of International Fellows cannot exceed one-tenth of the number of Fellows, and no more than ten may be elected in any year.

List of female International Fellows
Year of election Image Fellow Field(s) of work; Academia/Industry Notes Refs.
2004 Jane Grimson.jpg Grimson, JaneJane Grimson Computer science; academia
2011 Anne Lauvergeon - Université d'été du MEDEF 2009.jpg Lauvergeon, AnneAnne Lauvergeon Chemical engineering; industry
2012 Shirley Ann Jackson World Economic Forum 2010.jpg Jackson, Shirley AnnShirley Ann Jackson Particle physics; academia
Lawless, AllysonAllyson Lawless Civil engineering; industry
2013 Ursula-Burns.jpg Burns, UrsulaUrsula Burns Mechanical engineering; industry
2018 Frances Arnold 2012.png Arnold, FrancesFrances Arnold Chemical engineering; academia Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018
2022 Rebecca Enonchong 2019.jpg Enonchong, RebeccaRebecca Enonchong Entrepreneur; industry
Andrea Goldsmith, PCAST Member (cropped).jpg Goldsmith, AndreaAndrea Goldsmith Electrical engineering; academia and industry
Web Summit 2018 - Auto-Tech TalkRobot- Day 3, November 8 HM1 9773 (30841025847).jpg Vittadini, GraziaGrazia Vittadini Aeronautical engineering; industry
2023 Aubry, NadineNadine Aubry Fluid mechanics; academia
Kanga, MarleneMarlene Kanga Chemical engineering; industry
Vogel, ViolaViola Vogel Bioengineering; academia

Honorary Fellows

Persons not being Fellows who have made or are making a distinguished contribution to the practice of engineering are eligible for election as Honorary Fellows. Their number cannot exceed fifty and no more than five may be elected in any year.

List of female Honorary Fellows
Year of election Image Honorary Fellow Refs.
2008 Glover, AnneAnne Glover
Vanessa Lawrence 2012-11-23 TobiasK-crop.jpg Lawrence, VanessaVanessa Lawrence
2021 Roma Agrawal at the Nasa Goddard Centre (cropped).jpg Agrawal, RomaRoma Agrawal
Akinola, YewandeYewande Akinola
Anne-Marie Imafidon, Bojana Bellamy 2018.jpg Imafidon, Anne-MarieAnne-Marie Imafidon
McGovern, StephSteph McGovern
2022 Folayan, NikeNike Folayan
Hannah Fry at the Data of Tomorrow Conference 2017 (36638999274) (cropped 2).jpg Fry, HannahHannah Fry
Damilola Ogunbiyi at COP26 Glasgow.jpg Ogunbiyi, DamilolaDamilola Ogunbiyi
2023 Bingham, KateKate Bingham
Martha & Robin Lane-Fox (Martha cropped).jpg Lane Fox, MarthaMartha Lane Fox
Dame Angela McLean.jpg McLean, AngelaAngela McLean

Royal Fellows

Royal Fellows are such members of the Royal Family as on the invitation of the Board shall agree to become Royal Fellows.

List of female Royal Fellows
Year of invitation Image Royal Fellow Refs.
2010 Princess Anne October 2015.jpg Princess Royal, Anne,Anne, Princess Royal
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