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Together we engineer: Top tips from women shaping the future of engineering
Left to right: Professor Elena Gaura, Adeen Qazi and Egle Latvyte
Monday 23 June 2025
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Creating an engineering future where no one is left behind starts with building inclusive cultures, deep listening, asking questions – even when your voice shakes – and creating spaces where all perspectives can thrive. That’s the message from researchers at Coventry University.
There are 6.4 million people working in engineering and technology in the UK, nearly one in five workers. Yet only 16.9% of that workforce are women, compared to 56% in other occupations.
According to a recent EngineeringUK report*, the sector faces critical skills shortages and workforce challenges, with the current talent pool restricted in part because it does not reflect the diversity of the communities it serves.
To mark International Women in Engineering Day, three women from Coventry University’s research community share their advice for aspiring engineers and their visions for a better future.
Professor Elena Gaura, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Professor Elena Gaura, named as one of the UK’s Top 50 Women in Engineering (2021) and former Board Member of the Women’s Engineering Society has led pioneering work in smart systems and humanitarian engineering, using technology to tackle global challenges, while consistently championing women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics throughout her leadership career.
Professor Gaura's top tip
Together we engineer a future where all voices matter — and that starts with how we lead. Leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room — it’s about creating the conditions where others can find and use theirs.
Professor Gaura's reflections
Throughout my journey in engineering, I’ve come to see leadership not as a position, but as a responsibility: to widen the path for others. As a woman in senior research leadership, I understand how structural inequalities can hold talent back and witness daily how intentional, inclusive leadership can change that.
I’ve championed initiatives that embed equity in how we recognise and applaud engineering research. From mentoring early-career women globally, to reshaping how excellence and positive research cultures are defined, I’ve aimed to create spaces where new voices can rise, not by exception, but by design.
To any woman stepping into engineering or research: own your ideas, ask the hard questions and lead from wherever you stand. You don’t have to wait for permission to drive change.
Together, we’re not just shaping the future of engineering, we’re transforming who gets to shape it.
Adeen Qazi, Postgraduate Researcher, Research Centre for Computational Science and Mathematical Modelling
Adeen Qazi is a PhD researcher working at the intersection of sustainable engineering and global development. Her work explores the real-world impact of solar technologies on rural communities.
Adeen brings a unique, human-centred approach to her work, driven by a passion for engineering solutions that are inclusive, purpose-led and co-created with the communities they serve.
Adeen's top tip
As engineers, let’s listen, learn and co-create solutions with communities, that’s how we build a future where no one is left behind.
Adeen's reflections
As a PhD researcher working with vulnerable communities in Rwanda, I’ve seen firsthand that innovation for marginalised communities begins with deep listening and empathy.
My research focuses on the impact of solar cookstoves on rural households, a solution that addresses environmental and health challenges, while helping women reclaim time and agency in their daily lives.
When I visited the households in Rwanda, one woman shared with me that she now has time to do her hair because cooking is faster and more efficient. This simple moment captures something profound: technology is not just about efficiency or carbon reduction; it’s about creating space for people to thrive in their own lives.
For women entering engineering, my advice is to stay grounded in purpose and community. Technology is a powerful tool, but the real impact comes when we listen, learn and co-create solutions that are meaningful for the people they serve. Be curious, collaborative and courageous in using your skills to drive change.
Together, we can build a future where no one is left behind, and where women lead the way in shaping technologies that empower and transform lives.
Egle Latvyte, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Research Centre for Manufacturing and Materials (CMM)
Egle Latvyte is an instrumental member of the Functional Materials and Chemistry Research Group within CMM, where she’s tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time, how to produce clean hydrogen from waste.
As a rising voice in sustainable energy, Egle brings scientific precision and a passion for inclusion to everything she does, from pioneering new materials to reshaping research cultures.
Egle's top tip
Inclusive research isn’t just good for culture; it makes science better. Make space for different voices early on, and you’ll go further than you could alone.
Egle's reflections
Throughout my journey in engineering, I’ve come to see leadership not as a position, but as a responsibility: to widen the path for others. As a woman in senior research leadership, I understand how structural inequalities can hold talent back and witness daily how intentional, inclusive leadership can change that.
I’ve championed initiatives that embed equity in how we recognise and applaud engineering research. From mentoring early-career women globally, to reshaping how excellence and positive research cultures are defined, I’ve aimed to create spaces where new voices can rise, not by exception, but by design.
To any woman stepping into engineering or research: own your ideas, ask the hard questions and lead from wherever you stand. You don’t have to wait for permission to drive change.
Together, we’re not just shaping the future of engineering, we’re transforming who gets to shape it.
- Find out more about the Research Centre for Manufacturing and Materials
- Find out more about the Research Centre for Computational Science and Mathematical Modelling
- Find out more about postgraduate research at Coventry University
*https://www.engineeringuk.com/research-and-insights/our-research-reports/engineering-and-technology-workforce-may-2025-update/
