Stockport engineer shortlisted for Young Woman Engineer of the Year prize

Stockport’s Titi Oliyide is among those shortlisted to inspire the next generation of woman engineers by the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards 2023.

32-year-old Titi is a Senior Process Safety Engineer for Supercritical Solutions, where she provides technical process safety expertise for innovative hydrogen production technology. Hydrogen is one of the fuels being used to facilitate the energy transition, and also contributing to the energy security strategy and the UK’s net zero plan for 2030.

Titi is also part of the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK), managing two organisational partner accounts, facilitating their Diversity and Inclusion improvement programmes.

Commenting on becoming a finalist, Titi said:

“The quality of the solutions to the global challenges we currently face in the world would be greatly impacted by the diversity of talent we attract and retain within the engineering industry. This is why I am very passionate about demystifying and promoting the engineering profession.

“I am immensely honoured to be a finalist for this year’s awards as it is an amazing platform for me to introduce more young people to what engineering looks like, as well as why and how they can pursue a career in such an impactful profession.”

As well as highlighting engineering talent, the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards seek to find role models who can help address the UK science and engineering skills crisis by promoting engineering careers to more girls and women. Just 16.5 per cent of those working in engineering occupations are women (source: Engineering UK).

With three prizes to be won – the Young Woman Engineer (YWE) of the Year Award, the Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices and the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) Prize – Titi is up against:

• Georgina Andrew (21), a Civil Engineering Graduate Apprentice at Amey Consulting
• Jade Kimpton (22), an Apprentice Substation Engineer at National Grid
• Krystina Pearson-Rampeearee (35), a Hydrostatics Team Lead and Product Owner at BAE Systems
• Laura Hoang (33), a Consultant at ERM
• Zainab Adigun (31), a Senior Structural Engineer at Pell Frischmann

Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the IET, Dr Laura Norton said:

“Engineering and technology have been improving our world and shaping our future for centuries. Engineers make an ongoing difference to the world around us, and we want to celebrate those engineering a better world for us all.

“However, due a lack of understanding around what engineering is, perceived gender norms and not enough visible role models for the next generation, the UK has a shortage of women engineers.

“Our awards tell the stories of incredible women engineers who are changing our world for the better and shines a spotlight on them as roles models to get more girls excited and inspired about a career in engineering.

“I’d like to congratulate Georgina, Jade, Krystina, Laura, Titi and Zainab for making the final six and demonstrating the tremendous talent of women working in our industry today.”

The winner will be announced at the IET’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards ceremony on Thursday 7 December 2023.