Verena Holmes Anniversary and Networking Event: Celebrating and Championing Women Engineers

Alice Kan: Life Sciences Director, Kan Do Ventures

Alice studied Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management at UMIST (now part of Manchester University), and then joined AstraZeneca on an IMechE accredited graduate scheme.  She worked in a wide variety of manufacturing departments in engineering, leadership, and project delivery roles, and supported many individuals with working towards varying levels of membership with the IMechE and other institutions.

In 2014, Alice and her husband established Kan Do Ventures, a management consultancy that used lean manufacturing principles to help clients from various industries improve their businesses. Unfortunately, at the start of the pandemic, many long-standing clients cancelled contracts due to the uncertainty of the future.  A couple of months later, Alice was approached to set up the fill-finish manufacture of the Oxford-AZ Covid-19 at a contract manufacturer.

Alice developed the manufacturing process for the Oxford-AZ Covid-19 vaccine at an unprecedented pace to deliver all 100m doses for the UK population.  This once-in-a-lifetime experience inspired her to share her knowledge and make significant contributions to vaccines manufacturing. Alice is currently working on manufacturing a vaccine for Ebola, which will be manufactured for use in any future outbreaks.

She is also very keen to support and inspire the next generation of engineers (particularly girls) to follow a rewarding career path for anyone curious about how the world works, and to instil a desire to improve it.

Elizabeth Donnelly: Chief Executive Officer, Women's Engineering Society

After an early career in IT, Elizabeth graduated from the Open University, specialising in systems thinking. She was awarded Membership of the Royal Aeronautical Society as a result of her work with Rolls-Royce and went on to lead skills policy in the aerospace industry. Elizabeth was also responsible for the regional diversity strategy of the East Midlands Regional Development Agency during her time as a Board Member. She chaired the RAeS Education and Skills Committee and was Deputy Chair and a founder member of its Women in Aviation and Aerospace Committee. Elizabeth also founded the RAeS Amy Johnson Named Lecture. Later, Elizabeth established her own consulting company, working with charities and universities on change management, and graduated with an MSc in Systems Thinking in 2017. In 2018 Elizabeth was appointed CEO of the Women’s Engineering Society. In 2019 she became a Member of the International Council of Systems Engineers UK and was celebrated as one of the Financial Times’ Top 100 Most Influential Women in Engineering. In 2020 Elizabeth was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

Ama Frimpong: Head of Product Development, 52 North Health Ltd

Ama, Head of Product Development at 52 North Health Ltd, is an accomplished and highly regarded engineer, garnering multiple awards for her outstanding contributions. In 2022, she was honoured as the Young Woman Engineer of the Year by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and among the Top 50 Women in Engineering (Inventors and Innovators) by Women’s Engineering Society. She has also been recognised as one of the most Influential Women in Tech and Top 7 People to Watch in 2023 within the Cambridge Technology Ecosystem.

Her passion for Global Health has driven her to the forefront of healthcare innovations, where she has dedicated her career. She holds a PhD in Medical and Biological Engineering from the University of Leeds, which is complemented by expertise in mechanical and materials engineering.

Beyond her professional achievements, Ama is actively involved in volunteering and advocacy. She has collaborated with influential organisations like iMechE, IET, WES, One2One Mentoring Network, Bridges for Enterprise, and Invent Foundation. Her focus lies in advancing STEM education, particularly for young girls and individuals from minority ethnic groups. She is also committed to ensuring that current and aspiring young engineers receive the necessary support to thrive in their careers.

Annelies Look: Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Chief Delivery Officer, UK Space Agency

Annelies is Deputy CEO (job share) at the UK Space Agency.

Together with Chris White-Horne, she is responsible for the delivery of all the UK Space Agency’s major programmes, from space science, exploration and Earth Observation missions, to enabling satellite launch from UK spaceports and improving space sustainability.

Annelies joined the UK Space Agency in 2023, having previously been the Senior Responsible Owner (job share) for the Rail Transformation Programme in the Department for Transport. Previously Annelies had a 23-year career in the civil service specialising in transformation, capital and digital project delivery focusing on the early project lifecycle at the policy/delivery interface.

Annelies is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Project Professional and spends her spare time having fun on the water with her husband and son.

Isobel Pollock-Hulf: Chair, IMechE D&I Committee and Nominations Committee

Isobel is the IMechE Past President and Chair of the IMechE Pension Scheme responsible for investment assets of ~ £55 million.

Isobel graduated from Imperial College, London in 1976 and became FIMechE in 1991.

As Patron of WES (Women’s Engineering Society), she works with WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) and is one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering announced in 2016.

Appointed OBE in 2015 for services to mechanical engineering. Awarded Honorary DSc from Huddersfield University in 2004 and from the University of Leeds in 2016. FCGI in 2010 for services to engineering and in 2016, awarded Honorary Fellow of the IET.

Isobel continues to promote the importance of measurement through her BEIS & NPL appointments and as a British Hallmarking Council member.

Steve White: Managing Director, Southeastern

Steve White became Managing Director of Southeastern in October 2021, ahead of its transfer to DfT OLR Holdings. With an annual budget of over £1 billion Steve is driving Southeastern’s business plan ‘Building a Sustainable Future’ – a plan which responds to the changing needs of customers, is focussed on delivering a better, more reliable, and sustainable railway, and seeks to secure a thriving future for the railway and the communities it serves.

Steve is a Chartered Engineer, with over 30 years’ experience in the transport industry, holding leadership roles in metro, suburban and high-speed railways, and the supply chain.  He is a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a board member of NSAR.