Lauren Neal | BP
“I champion Diversity, it’s who I am”.
With an English father, Trinidadian mother, growing up in Scotland and studying engineering, Lauren knew she stood out from her peers. From a young age Lauren recognised herself as a ‘disrupter’. On her 6th birthday, her father helped her build a Lego Technic JCB for ages 9-11 and called her his “little engineer”. Proudly sharing this at school, she was met with the first of many such responses throughout her life and career – “You can’t be an engineer, that’s a man’s job.”
Experienced project manager with a skillset tuned to innovative ways of working in a diverse, global environment, Lauren to date has had a very impressive career in the energy industry. Over the last 17 years, she has had increasingly demanding roles on several notably valuable projects across the UK (North Sea and Net Zero Teesside (the UK’s first decarbonised cluster)), Trinidad, Azerbaijan and Indonesia.
Currently, Lauren works on a major project in a remote part of Indonesia. Her role is responsible for integrating offshore, onshore and subsurface scopes. Estimated to reduce bp’s Aim 1 emissions (net zero operations) by a significant amount, the project also intends to provide additional energy for the region.
Prior to her current role, Lauren spent five years in Azerbaijan establishing a subsea services organisation that became a model for other regions around the globe. She also transformed bp’s regional women’s international network as co-chair with the mission: to support technical women to be seen, heard, and included. Network turnout grew from 12 to over 200 within two years under Lauren’s leadership with males and females in equal attendance.
Lauren has a passion for supporting and developing others outside of her day-to-day responsibilities; channelling this drive and enthusiasm has led her to take on additional roles such as: establishing a graduate development programme, chairing the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)’s Scotland North Younger Members committee, and tutoring students in mathematics as a STEM ambassador.
Graduating with a masters degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from The Robert Gordon University, Lauren is a chartered engineer through the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and is a member of the Association of Project Management.
Sherena Masharani | Centrica
Aged 24, Sherena is a friendly character, hard-working and truly strives to go above and beyond for colleagues and customers.
Whilst achieving a 1st Class Law with Business Degree at the University of Plymouth, Sherena’s passion for supporting others began during her work with Enactus Plymouth. Enactus is a student-run social enterprise society that uses entrepreneurial action to tackle global issues. During her leadership, she grew a team from 9 members to 80 members, across 8 new social enterprises in 3 continents. Through her efforts, the projects have transformed the lives of over 500 people, including providing lifelong access to clean drinking water to villages in Egypt. The social enterprises have received both national and international attention and awards.
Similarly, whilst a student, Sherena also spent time in Vietnam working with the Centre of Sustainable Development Studies, paying it forward by supporting establish a gender-equality programme across the Association of South East Asian Nations (2018). This project empowered 30 university students to each establish their own gender-equality projects within their local community in their respective countries.
Following Graduation, in 2019 Sherena joined Centrica’s Business Leadership Graduate Programme where she has provided customer-centricity and fresh engagement to the organisation through a focus on innovation. Her placements have included Team-Leadership in the contact centers, helping vulnerable customers and project management. Sherena was also selected to participate in the first ever CEO Challenge within the company. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Leadership Team, she was tasked analyse, ideate, and produce recommendations for implementation for a retention strategy targeting tariff roll off customers. As a result of her performance, in 2020 Sherena was listed in Centrica’s Hall of Fame.
Sherena is an aspiring Lawyer and Business leader with goals including qualifying as a Solicitor and the continuation on leading substantial cultural change across multiple organisations and their wider industries. Currently, she is undertaking the Solicitors Qualifying Exam as the first Solicitor Apprentice within the organisation. She is also leading the conversations for Diversity and Inclusion within Centrica as Head of Communications and Engagement for the VOICE (ethnicity) Employee Network. The impact of her quest for inclusivity has extended to the wider energy industry and within the Legal Profession.
In recognition, Sherena has been listed within the ‘HERoes 100 Women Future Leaders List’ as supported by Yahoo Finance (2021) and featured as best practice both internally and externally for her work advocating wellbeing and empowering accessibility to the energy industry, including as a finalist in two categories at the Young Energy Professional Awards for 'Diversity & Inclusion' and listed as a 'Rising Star'.
Judith Pomfret | Cavendish Nuclear
Judith has recently taken on a new role as Business Development Manager for Cavendish Nuclear.
After graduating with a business studies degree from Sheffield Hallam University in 2002, she started her career in global banking working for Citi Financial as a business analyst. She has grown into a highly skilled Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) and graduate from Cabinet Office’s Project Leadership Programme (PLP) and has spent the last 17 years in the nuclear industry holding a range of leadership roles covering programme and project delivery, risk-based assurance, strategy development and business development and has worked for government, client and contracting organisations throughout this time.
She first joined the sector in 2005 following a move back to West Cumbria, and has always been passionate about leading by example, inspiring people to be the best they can be and championing both stem and non-stem careers in the nuclear industry. She is driven by making a difference and focuses on building relationships and breaking down barriers to promote collaboration to clear up the nuclear legacy safely for future generations and whilst delivering value to local communities. She joined the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in 2012 to play a more significant role in this mission, particularly with its relevance in West Cumbria.
Throughout her career her priority focus has been on building collaborative relationships and bringing diverse people together across multiple organisations and disciplines to do the right thing. Judith believes we can achieve greater things collaboratively together and this is evident through her successes. She prides herself on her authenticity and is highly respected across a largely male dominated sector. She is recognized at all levels for her professionalism and natural approach to building relationships, developing complex stakeholder networks, acknowledging the value in people and listening to others. She has gained trust and respect across multiple organisations in both the public and private sector with a wide and hugely diverse network built up over time.
She is passionate about giving back both in her profession and personally and was an accredited IPA reviewer assuring public sector programmes, and with her passion and enthusiasm continues to champion and inspire colleagues including early career professionals to be the best they can be. She recently led a team in Mott MacDonald to support a local initiative BrightStars in Cumbria for the first time, which supports local primary schools to run an 8 week initiative in her area, teaching children about the world of business and recognising them as the leaders of the future.
She has always been dedicated to helping people and has held additional roles throughout her career as a first aider, mental health first aider, Safety Representative and well-being champion. She is also a member of Women in Nuclear and a mentor.
Outside of work Judith loves live music, playing a variety of musical instruments, fitness and spending time outdoors with her family and partner. Judith’s most important role and the one she is most proud of, is being a mother to her two children.
Lucia Urra Viana | Scottish Power
Lucia holds an MSc in Renewable Energy Systems and the Environment from the University of Strathclyde and a BEng in Energy Engineering from Polytechnic University of Madrid.
She has had a variety of roles within the renewable industry, ranging from Project Management in Construction of Solar Projects, to Energy Analyst on Renewable Projects. Currently she is an Assistant Project Manager within ScottishPower Renewables helping to deploy the new wave of renewable projects.
Having progressed through her career and realising the impact lack of female representation in senior positions was having inadvertently in her own career goals, she decided to become a champion in promoting diversity within STEM and a more visible role model for future generations. This has led her to become involved in the development of younger generation by actively mentoring female university students and delivering STEM sessions to primary classes.
Rimi Bassi | National Grid
Currently, as the Global Employee Resource Group (ERG) Manager Rimi drives the strategic roadmap for all our ERGs across National Grids global business.
Rimi has worked in National Grid for 15 years having a variety of roles in that time across multiple functions, ranging from working on meter queries, to Customer and Stakeholder management, process improvement and managing multiple programmes through to successful completion.
Rimi is currently working in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team which combines her passion for inclusion and developing people.
Rimi also led and grew the Women in National Grid ERG, which promotes the professional development of women and operates to attract and support a network of talent that enables National Grid to deliver its strategic priorities.
Adele Bates | Behaviour & Education Specialist
“I’ve had juice poured on my head, been whacked by a skateboard – and have taught a year 7 pupil who has experienced severe trauma, how to read their first ever word…”
Adele Bates helps school leaders and teachers to support pupils with behavioural needs and SEMH to thrive with their education. She’s an International Speaker, including TEDx 2020, the author of "Miss, I Don't Give A Sh*t," Engaging with Challenging Behaviour in Schools from Sage & Corwin and a fully funded International Researcher on Behaviour & Inclusion, in particular visiting Finland, Bulgaria and the Dominican Republic (spring 2022). She has featured on BBC Radio 4 as their expert on teenagers and behaviour; is a writer for TES, Sec Ed, Headteacher Update & regular blogger for Optimus Education and a Trainer for the National Education Union, Amnesty International, Red School and schools across Europe.
For her tips and resources check out adelebateseducation.co.uk.
Ebinehita Iyere | Milk Honey Bees
Ebinehita Iyere is the founder of Milk Honey Bees and a highly respected Therapeutic Youth Practitioner at Divert Youth, working with young people who encounter the youth justice system and those who are impacted by violence in the community.
She is widely recognised for her pioneering work with young people using holistic, relational and creative methods to support their needs, as well as working with multi-agency professionals across systems and decision making.
Milk Honey Bees is a creative and expressive safe space for Black girls to flourish and put H.E.R (Healing, Empowerment and Resilience) first. Milk Honey Bees is rooted in the creativity, celebration and liberation of Black Girlhood by amplifying the voice and visibility of Black Girls in all facets of life, opening doors that can often be closed to Black girls and ensuring that they are able to put both their Blackness and girlhood at the forefront, enabling them to discover not only their full potential, but also who they are. It’s more than just a charity, it’s a sisterhood, a family.
At Milk Honey Bees, Ebinehita has personally worked with over 150 young women and girls who are often deemed as hard to engage, supporting them on their journey of healing whilst equipping them with social, employment and life skills that enable them to mobilise in their communities. Through the project, at least 60% of the girls have found long-term education and employment opportunities. The remaining 40% are school aged and have achieved better attainment. 100% have reported better confidence and improvement in wellbeing. Milk Honey Bees has also supported over 4000 girls online.
Ebinehita is an active and vocal advocate who is not afraid to speak up and highlight issues as well as seek and implement solutions, she is embedded in the community and committed to seeing results and changes.
Last year Milk Honey Bees was recently awarded significant funding from Sony Music’s Global Social Justice Fund to facilitate their Creative Connection project, created due to the need for a space to influence young women and girls alongside their role models, to feel inspired to become the best versions of themselves through wellness, healing and creativity.
Globally-renowned poet Rupi Kaur recently joined one of these workshops, which is testament to their importance and success. Sony Music UK are so impressed that they have committed to funding these programmes into the future.
Milk Honey Bees were also selected as the focus of Barbie’s new video campaigns to empower young Black girls and close the ‘dream gap’ with Radio One presenter Clara Amfo.
In lockdown in June 2020, Ebinehita partnered with a USA-based charity to launch Milk Honey Bees’ Black Girls Global Justice Initiative (BGGJI) - purposed with emboldening the voices of Black British girls through the teaching of an academic curriculum focussed on identity, creative expression and sisterhood. Engaging with each other within both a digital and physical space, BGGJI nurtures the emotions, thoughts and opinions of Black/Mixed Black girls from many different backgrounds, with an accompanying campaign to highlight how adultification and criminalisation impact Black/Mixed Black girls in educational, familial and medical institutions in the UK. The project is still ongoing.
Ebinehita’s full-time job as a Therapeutic Youth Practitioner at Juvenis involves working with 10 to 17-year-olds currently in police custody and going through the criminal justice system, offering them emotional support and more. Through this, she has become a leading authority on the culturally aware Adverse Childhood Experiences movement and more creative, therapeutically minded and trauma-informed approaches within organisations and with young people aimed at healing youth violence.
Alongside her day-to-day work at Juvenis and Milk Honey Bees, she is a Partnership Reference group member on the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, bringing the typically unheard voices of marginalised young people to the forefront.
Hei Wan Mak | University College London
I am a data scientist at the Department of Behavioural Science and Health in University College London (UCL) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Arts and Health.
As a sociologist, I have always been enthusiastic about the society and endeavour to make a difference in the world. In particular, I am committed to improving wellbeing at a whole population level through increasing the participation rate of arts and cultural community activities which have been evidently shown to have wellbeing benefits. Therefore, in my career, I conduct quantitative research using UK large-scale and nationally representative data to explore how arts and cultural activities are associated with improvements in people’s wellbeing (e.g. self-esteem, life satisfaction, anxiety, depression). In addition, I investigate the profile of engagers across the UK and identify enablers vs barriers to engagements to help improve equality in accessing the arts and culture. My work has been featured in the WHO, Arts Council England, Historic England, What Works Centre for Wellbeing, and the Social Prescribing Network.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, I joined the UCL Covid-19 Social Study team (one of the largest UK studies with 70,000+ respondents) and led on 43 regular reports, which had been used to inform the UK government, Public Health England and NHS England. I have also researched on the engagements in home-based arts activities and identified the patterns and predictors of the engagements during national lockdowns.
Sarah Chapman | 3M
A technical manager at global science company 3M and corporation board member at Farnborough College of Technology, Sarah was described as a natural dancer growing up and initially pursued a career in ballet.
Injury and an inspirational chemistry teacher led to a change of direction and she went on to pursue a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). Since graduating from the University of Southampton, with a first-class degree in Chemistry, and joining 3M as an application engineer, she has won multiple awards for her work as a STEM volunteer and diversity role model. She enjoys using her scientific skills in a collaborative, commercial environment and has held a variety of technical roles at 3M including approvals administrator, technical service engineer, regulatory specialist and build project manager for a multi-million-pound Customer Innovation Centre. She currently leads an international team of application engineers within the Industrial Tapes and Adhesives Division. As a mum of young children, Sarah is a passionate champion and role model for flexible working. She is a gold level #IamRemarkable trainer and speaks publicly on the importance of diversity to drive innovation. Sarah chairs the 3M EMEA Technical Women’s Leadership Forum and is the STEM Champion for 3M North Europe. Globally, 3M has pledged to create five million unique STEM and Skilled Trades learning experiences for underrepresented individuals by the end of 2025.
Nicole Ponsford | Global Equality Collective
Nic Ponsford FRSA is the Co-Founder and CEO, Education of the GEC (Global Equality Collective), a global grassroots #EDI movement of 15K+, a Collective of 400+ subject matter experts and creator of the award-winning GEC App, the world’s first diversity and inclusion app for schools and businesses.
Nic is also Director of Edtech UK, the national independent organisation, advisory forum and strategic body and is Editor of the digital publication, Edtech UK Magazine. In addition to this, Nic is a MSc in Digital Pedagogy lecturer at Leeds Beckett university,
Previously an AST and award-winning teacher and Harvard author (‘TechnoTeaching’), she is now an educational and technology thought leader. Whilst studying her Doctorate, she has recently been an EdTech50 Judge and headhunted for both a central roles with the Dfe Edtech Demonstrator Programme (2020-21, offering peer-to-peer support via 48 nationwide Demonstrator schools and colleges), and is now the Dfe Assistive Technology Training Pilot (which aims to grow and develop the use of assistive technology to support children and young people with SEND across 80 mainstream schools).
Nic is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist on closing gaps for the most vulnerable, #techforgood & #futureofwork, and all things diversity and inclusion in education.
Nic believes that technology is the equaliser for our time.