Welcome

Earlier this week, I attended a special event at the Royal Academy of Engineering to celebrate Hayaatun Sillem as she steps down after an incredible tenure as CEO.

I owe a personal thank you to Hayaatun for helping create space for voices like mine. Over a decade ago, she supported me in establishing InterEngineering, and in 2016, I was honoured to be appointed, alongside Nike Folayan, to the Academy’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, the first time non-Fellows were invited.

It was wonderful to hear tributes from so many within the Academy community, including a heartfelt poem by Yewande Akinola MBE.

And we now look ahead with the exciting announcement of Dame Tamara Finkelstein DCB as the Academy’s incoming CEO. With her engineering roots, senior leadership across government, and deep commitment to policy and social impact, including her work on building safety after Grenfell, I’m hopeful for what’s ahead.

Advancing Men’s Mental Health

Yesterday, I attended the National Advancing Men’s Mental Health in the Workplace Conference 2025, hosted by the Institute of Government & Public Policy (IGPP), alongside my colleague Poggy Murray Whitham, Operations Manager at EqualEngineers.

Poggy delivered a keynote talk that resonated deeply with the audience. They shared their journey from technical engineering into a people-focused career, and for the first time on a public stage, courageously spoke about his personal experiences with suicidal ideation.

We also heard from an excellent speaker line-up including Mark Rowland (CEO, Men’s Health Foundation), Prof. Kevin Fenton CBE, Ben West, Rebecca Lisi, Peter Cheese, Kevin Daniels, and Carla Toro.

Although this wasn’t my first time attending a dedicated men’s mental health event, it was certainly one of the most moving.

A few reflections:

• The stigma around male vulnerability in high-risk sectors like construction and engineering continues to prevent many from speaking out.

• Supporting men’s mental health requires more than reactive crisis support, we need systemic cultural change that prioritises prevention.

• Frameworks like the CIPD Good Work Index and the five drivers of wellbeing, health, relationships, security, environment, and purpose, can offer a blueprint for safer, more inclusive workplaces.

• Men are not a monolith. Tailoring mental health interventions to the individual, rather than defaulting to stereotypes, is key.

We need more spaces like this where real stories can be shared, and more men can see that they are not alone.

Celebrating Women in Engineering

Next week, we’re proud to support the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards 2025, a celebration of the women pushing boundaries and reshaping the face of engineering.

The awards recognise outstanding contributions to the profession, while highlighting the need for greater gender diversity in STEM. These finalists are not only breaking barriers, they’re creating powerful role models for the next generation.

Young Woman Engineer of the Year Finalists:

• Amy Louise Dillon MEng CEng MICE, Principal Engineer, Design ID Consulting

• Jennifer Barry, Senior Systems Engineer, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd

• Rachel Piper, Senior Engineer, WSP

Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices Finalists:

• Rachel Donaghey, Service Introduction Manager, NATS

• Nikkala Pokojski, Senior Software Engineer, Kainos

At EqualEngineers, we’re committed to amplifying underrepresented voices across engineering, and this event is a shining example of how showcasing excellence can drive inclusion, inspiration, and real change.

We can’t wait to celebrate these phenomenal women on 11th December.

This Week on The SAFE Leader Podcast

In this week’s podcast, I sit down with Kevin Wayne Johnson, founder of the Johnson Leadership Group, to explore what it really takes to lead with clarity and intention.

Kevin draws on over 34 years in public service, corporate, and faith-based leadership, and shares the stories and self-discoveries that shaped his own leadership journey.

We dive into:

• Mentorship and overcoming fear of judgement

• How to respond with purpose during times of transition

• Why coaching is a timeless skill, no matter your sector

This is a rich, grounded conversation for anyone seeking to grow from the inside out.

Let’s Connect!

Please reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn if we are not already connected.

I love helping organisations where the angle I take with the work I do might help in someway have you make traction in your culture.

Feel free to get in touch here.

Stay SAFE!