Welcome

You may have noticed there was no newsletter last week. That’s because it has been a particularly busy fortnight.

I’ve been working on two filming projects at the same time. The first is a series of short videos on major accidents, sharing context, key learnings and reflections on what they can teach us today. The second is Engineering London, where I visit some of the city’s major landmarks to explore the engineering behind them and uncover interesting stories along the way.

Alongside that, we hosted the first EqualEngineers Student Summit last week, and this week I’ve been delivering training in Oxford. More on the Student Summit below, and I’ll share more about the Oxford training next week.

EqualEngineers Student Summit 2026

Last week we delivered the first EqualEngineers Student Summit 2026 in partnership with the UCL Centre for Engineering Education.

Hosted at the Aston Conference Centre in Birmingham, the summit brought together 28 students and recent graduates for an overnight residential focused on the future of engineering education and early careers.

Across the two days, sessions were facilitated by myself and John Mitchell from UCL, with support from Chloe Agg and Steve Hunt leading focus groups. The group brought a brilliant mix of backgrounds, disciplines, perspectives and lived experiences, which made the conversations especially rich.

We explored questions including what it means to be an engineer today, and how universities can better prepare students for engineering careers. We also looked at themes such as safety, ethics, inclusivity and sustainability, all of which are central to the future of the profession.

One of the final questions we asked students was:

What one change would most improve how students are prepared for engineering careers during university?

The responses were varied, honest and thoughtful. There was no single answer, but there were many important insights that we will now analyse as part of the research following the summit.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the event such a valuable experience.

Nominations Closed

Nominations for the Engineering Talent Awards 2026 are now officially closed.

The deadline passed last Friday at midnight, and we’re delighted with the response. We received a huge number of entries this year, likely an all-time high for nominations.

Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry, nominated a colleague, or helped spread the word.

The next stage is the judging process. Our judges will now review the nominations before coming together in June to deliberate and agree the shortlists.

Once confirmed, the shortlists will be shared across our social media channels and website, so keep an eye out for the next stage of the awards journey.

This Week on The SAFE Leader Podcast

This week I’m joined by Dr Meghan Waldron, educator, advisor and founder, for a thoughtful conversation about the power of education to change lives.

From teaching in high-needs schools near Washington, DC, to supporting students in healthcare pathways and building a tutoring business focused on writing, Meghan reflects on what it means to help learners find confidence, resilience and their own voice.

Together, we explore how education is changing in an age of AI, digital communication and post-pandemic disconnection. We discuss why learning must remain relational and relevant, the importance of intentional connection, and Meghan’s work launching Women in Change USA.

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!