Karen Perry | Head of Customer Service | Daikin UK
I am currently working as Head of Customer Service for Residential business within Daikin UK, a global heat pump and air-conditioning and refrigeration manufacturer.
Having been at Daikin for 25 years working in various sales, engineering and management roles. I am now on the Senior Leadership team.
I joined the industry in 1993 straight out of school education as an office junior and feel privileged to have been given the opportunities I have to reach my career goals.
I took the decision to start an Open University Degree in 2010 part time while continuing to work. I graduated with Honours in Psychology in 2016.
Gillian Barber | Research Consultant and STEM Public Engagement Specialist | Barber Research
Gillian is an independent research consultant and a post-doctoral researcher in science communication and education.
She works with public bodies, NGOs, and universities to create engagement programmes that promote inclusive and equitable access to science. Gillian has dedicated her career to the belief that scientific research benefits from knowledge sharing by communicating with diverse audiences.
She has a strong background in health, acquiring her PhD in Immunology from Trinity College Dublin in 2021. During this time, she co-founded the successful national charity Women in Research Ireland (WIRI), which gives voice to under-represented groups in research.
After her PhD, she worked as a medical writer in clinical trials, where she managed the writing of clinical study reports communicated with major regulatory bodies.
Since then, she has been working in science communications and education. In 2023, she helped to launch the Wellcome Trust’s new podcast about global health research, which tells stories from around the world of real people and their health experiences. She is currently working as an independent research consultant who reviews and evaluates public-facing science initiatives.
Gillian is an advocate of maintaining trust in science, inclusive research, and equitable health agendas. Her work seeks to bridge what science achieves with how the public understands those achievements.
Geerthiga Parameswaran | Medical Devices Integration Team Lead | Cleveland Clinic London
Geerthiga Parameswaran is a Medical Device Integration Team Lead at Cleveland Clinic London.
Dedicated to enhancing healthcare technology, cyber security of medical devices and improving integrated workflows, she brings her engineering expertise to the forefront. With a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from the UK, she began her career as a biomedical engineer before transitioning into a role in digital health.
Frankie Thatcher | Product Assurance Lead | BAE Systems
My career has grown from early days of work experience involving stock checking fasteners for electric propulsion engines (that are now in Space) to becoming a Product Assurance Lead for a Space System.
This involves the co-ordination of and participation in various assurance activities across Satellite, Ground Segment and Equipment development. Throughout my career, I have had opportunities to work on a wide range of exciting technologies with wonderful, engaging and talented people from a variety of backgrounds.
My career is continuing to grow and I am excited now to help develop the next generation of space-industry engineers.
I joined the industry as a graduate from the University of Manchester with my Master`s degree in Physics with Astrophysics. I continue to support STEM activities to encourage new talent into the industry through various entry routes.
Donna Otchere | Co Founder | SiSTEM UK
Donna co-founded SiSTEM UK with her sister in 2022. It was created as a solution to an ongoing issue of lack of representation of women specifically black women within the STEM (science, technology, and mathematics) industry.
Donna had a passion for engineering despite not achieving the entry requirement and the discouragement from teachers she still broke barriers and studied mechanical engineering at university. Whilst she was at university, she felt very isolated as one of the few women on her course. It was support of her sisterhood which gave her the courage to complete the course. Since then, she has gone on to complete a master’s degree and now she is starting her PhD in Gender Equity in STEM. The beauty in her journey is that at every step, she has opened doors for other young ladies. SiSTEM launched as a social media platform to increase representation of women in STEM. When you searched #womeninSTEM, there was a lack of black women. It became her mission to change this. As well as showcasing women in STEM, SiSTEM educated their audience on different carers within STEM. A community of women grew and the SiSTEM movement began. Donna goes into schools, universities, festivals and anywhere that would give her a platform educating people on engineering and debunking the notion that engineering is just for men. She leads her team with unique visions through events, workshops, mentoring and social media to increase and retain women in STEM.
Ashleigh Foreman | Assistant Site Manager | Barratt London
My interest in construction began during my time at university, when I found myself in conversation with contractors developing the student accommodation.
This inspired me to seek a career path I had no idea existed previously and wasn`t something I had seen another woman fulfilling. I did some work experience with Telford Homes and started my career with Barratts in 2021 as a Trainee Assistant Site Manager. I have since promoted to Assistant Site Manager and have over seen the CMLs of hundreds of homes and personally led the program of 106 apartments in the year 2023. in 2024 I am working alongside another site manager to handover a feature block of unique design which includes 60 luxury retirement apartments, a gym, café and other staffing areas. I am aiming to promote again this year to Site Manager and look forwards to future opportunities that encourage other women into the industry.
Tamara Tankosic | Technology Delivery Lead | Accenture
Tamara is a Technology Delivery Lead at Accenture, specialised in technology project management and strategy and has been leading multi-million pound digital transformation and total enterprise reinvention projects, managing global teams and navigating complex programme delivery for large market share holders across consumer packaged goods and retail industries, including FTSE100 and FTSE250 clients.
She is a known mentor and supporter of her teams, having received recognition across projects and clients on her work and dedication to not only hitting project milestones but also ensuring teams are engaged and feeling valued.
Previously Tamara has worked as a Project Manager in travel and retail technology, managing projects including e-commerce platform development, customer relationship management, market expansion and business growth.
Tamara has a Bachelors with Honours in International Economics and Business and a Masters in Management from London Business School.
Nishika Chettry | Firmware Engineer | Renesas Electronics
As a kid, I always had a keen interest in science and maths and dreamt of becoming an astronaut like Dr Kalpana Chawla.
I grew up in India and completed my A-levels equivalent in Physics, Maths, Chemistry, Computer Science, English and Hindi. I moved to the UK after my A-levels and had to undertake a gap year due to financial issues in my family. After a year-long wait, I finally got the opportunity to study at university and I knew I had to make the most out of it.
My aspiration of becoming a top Robotics engineer like Dr Cynthia Breazeal led me into the world of Electronics. At the commencement of my degree, I did not have any prior experience in the field. However, I persevered and became the top student in my course. I secured the UKESF scholarship during the second year of my degree, which offered me a year-long placement at a global semiconductor company, Renesas. During my placement, I worked as a Firmware engineering intern, and contributed to the development of two microprocessors called the RZN2L and the RZT2L, which are out in the market. The scholarship scheme also introduced me to outreach work, promoting engineering to young children. I have secured three awards so far for my contribution to the STEM industry.
Currently, I work as a Firmware engineer at Renesas. I also volunteer as a STEM ambassador with STEM Learning UK, and as a Diversity Ally at my company.
Nicola Ironside-Skene | VP, Quality Assurance Engineer and Practice Lead | Bank of America
I'm a Quality Assurance Engineer and Practice Lead at Bank of America in Global Information Security (GIS).
I Lead a global team of QA specialists and play a pivotal role in coaching on the importance of quality in in aspects of software development.
With almost 20 years in technology, I`ve held various roles in technology, with a special interest and dedication to Quality Engineering and Software testing. I`ve built test frameworks for gaming platforms on Azure and created scalable and sustainable automation frameworks for global banking services. My passion lies in building high-performing teams, investing in people, leveraging strengths, and embracing diversity to optimize outcomes whilst maintaining a hands-on skillset.
I take an active role in embedding community and belonging at Bank of America. As Co-Founder of Women in GIS, I organize events supporting women in cybersecurity. Additionally, I contribute to our internal Employee Networks as a volunteer lead, and mentor.
I now volunteer for Restore, who provide aid and support to women during breast reconstruction following mastectomies, and participate in the PROTECTOR medical research study for ovarian cancer. I co-founded the `Women in Test` community which now has over 1,000 cross industry members . I contribute to the Test Society, advocating for Quality Engineering recognition through the Engineering Council.
As a mother to three children, I find the balance between family priorities whilst excelling in my career and being a positive role model in all I do.
Mariam Hussein | Software Engineer | Slalom
Before starting as a tech switcher, Mariam worked as an Enterprise Assistant at the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre - the UK’s leading University-based startup-incubator.
Presently, Mariam is a passionate software engineer at Slalom_build, dedicated to advancing social mobility through tailored digital skilling initiatives for women, girls, and non-binary individuals. Within her professional career, Mariam focuses on building products and providing digital transformation to clients through Slalom. As part of her work, she has focused on delivering high value transformation work as part of a wider team of engineers, project managers and consultants.
Since switching careers, Mariam has focused demonstrating her diplomatic acumen, developing her technological knowledge, and giving back to the community by highlighting pathways into tech. Through her work as a MIRAI Delegate and a JCI TOYP Delegate, where she has presented and spoken with high-profile political figures on digital skilling. As a Code First Girls Ambassador, she advocates for accessibility in digital skilling and mentors those from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue careers in technology. Alongside this role, she has taken part in several initiatives, whether that be a UN Women Delegate, collaborating with local Universities, or mentoring 1-1, to help understand how to further equalities in the digital sectors for women.
Her relentless pursuit of positive social change echoes the her commitment to creating a more inclusive and empowered future for all.