PUBLIC EVENT
If you have any questions, please contact Megan Davenport-Connolly, Policy & Engagement Officer, Royal Academy of Engineering at [email protected].
Join us for a special Royal Academy of Engineering webinar to mark International Women in Engineering Day 2025 and celebrate five years of the Global Talent Visa. This online event, held under the global INWED theme #TogetherWeEngineer, will spotlight the journeys of three outstanding female engineers who have enhanced their careers in the UK thanks to the Global Talent Visa. Each speaker will share their personal story in a short 10-minute talk, followed by a live Q&A and open discussion.
As women continue to be underrepresented in engineering - with 2024 figures showing just 15.7% of engineers in the UK are women - this event aims to celebrate and raise the visibility of international women engineers who are making a difference. You’ll hear first-hand how the Global Talent Visa has supported talented women from across the globe to contribute to UK innovation, research and entrepreneurship. Whether you're a current engineer, a researcher, a policymaker or considering applying for a Global Talent Visa yourself, this event will offer inspiration and celebration.
Hosted by Dr Shefaly Yogendra, we have an exciting panel of speakers lined up including:
- Amanda You, Director, Crescendo Biologics Limited, and Independent Biotech BD Consultant
- Mona Faraji Niri, Associate Professor, University of Warwick
- Lina Mohjazi, Associate Professor, University of Glasgow
Recording notice
Please note this event will be recorded and published on the Royal Academy of Engineering website. Your video will be off and your account will be muted throughout the entire event. Only the speakers and presentations will be visible on your screen.
Accessibility
It is very important to the Royal Academy of Engineering that our events are accessible to all. If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact the Events team at your earliest convenience so that necessary arrangements can be made. Contact details: [email protected].
Diversity monitoring form
The Academy is committed to building an inclusive economy that works for everyone. To help us achieve this, we would like to collect some basic anonymous data about the event attendees. If you would like to help, please complete the diversity monitoring form by logging into your user account on our website and completing ‘Update my D&I data’.
Dr Shefaly Yogendra
Dr Shefaly Yogendra is an internationally experienced strategist with a focus on sustainable growth, inclusive leadership and emerging technologies, which underpin her work in shaping boardroom and executive conversations. She is currently an independent non-executive board director and committee chair in regulated sectors including financial services, energy, higher education and legal services. Previously, she was an independent governor and interim chair of a university board. At the Royal Academy of Engineering, she serves on the Enterprise and the Fundraising committees and supports several programmes including EXPLORE, Shott Accelerator, LIF.
Dr Lina Mohjazi
Born in Syria and raised in the United Arab Emirates, Dr Lina Mohjazi is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow and a globally recognised researcher in sustainable wireless communications. She earned her PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the 5G/6G Innovation Centre, University of Surrey in 2018, and has since built an international academic career. Endorsed as a UK Exceptional Global Talent by the Royal Academy of Engineering, Lina has authored over 100 publications, holds a multi-million-pound research fund portfolio, and leads major education programmes, including her role as Deputy Director of the EPSRC RAINZ Centre for Doctoral Training. She has received multiple awards, including the IEEE Women in Engineering UK & Ireland Excellence Award and the IEEE Communications Letters Exemplary Editor Award. Her upbringing and thriving career in the UK has shaped her resilience, cultural depth, and pursuit of excellence. Lina proudly identifies as a ‘Third Culture Academic,’ advocating for inclusion and empowerment in STEM.
Dr Amanda You
Dr Amanda You is a biochemist and entrepreneur working to bring breakthrough science from the lab into commercial innovation. She holds a PhD in Materials and Bioengineering from Imperial College London and a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Bristol. Amanda has co-founded multiple deep-tech ventures, including Puraffinity, a materials science startup focused on clean water from Imperial College London. Her career spans scientific research, business development, and commercial leadership, with hands-on experience in team building, business model design, and fundraising. She has held roles across both research and strategy, including Chief Scientist at Puraffinity and now at Crescendo Biologics. Amanda also mentors the next generation of science-based entrepreneurs as an ‘Entrepreneur-in-Residence’ at Imperial College London’s Enterprise Lab. Endorsed by the Royal Academy of Engineering through the Global Talent Visa, Amanda continues to lead and inspire in the UK’s deep-tech landscape, championing innovation and impact at every stage of the journey.
Dr Mona Faraji Niri
Originally from Iran, Dr Mona Faraji Niri is an Associate Professor of Battery Modelling at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick, and a leading researcher in intelligent energy systems. She completed her PhD in Control Engineering at Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), where she also served as a postdoctoral researcher and Senior Lecturer before moving to the UK. Mona’s work sits at the cutting edge of battery technology, with expertise in machine learning, control algorithms, and optimisation for electric vehicle systems and lithium-ion battery manufacturing. She is a Research Fellow of the Faraday Institution and a Fellow of the Alan Turing Institute in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Endorsed by the Royal Academy of Engineering as a Global Talent Future Promise in 2021, Mona has received multiple accolades, including the TechWomen100 award and WMG Early Career Researcher of the Year. Mona’s work has also been recognised by the University of Warwick’s Postdoctoral Research Excellence Award and shortlisted for the IET Sir Henry Royce Achievement Medal.