Women in Engineering Affinity Group
Welcome to the IEEE UK and Ireland Women in Engineering Affinity Group.
IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) is the largest international professional organisation dedicated to promoting women engineers and scientists. The mission of IEEE WIE is to facilitate the recruitment and retention of women in technical disciplines globally. IEEE WIE envisions a vibrant community of IEEE women using their diverse talents to innovate for the benefit of humanity.
IEEE UK and Ireland WIE Affinity Group adopts the mission and principles of IEEE WIE.
Our Affinity Group is aimed at both student and full members of the IEEE who would like to contribute in the promotion of women engineers and scientists through facilitating and organising regional events. We provide value through:
- Promoting and advancing the professional development of women in engineering and related fields.
- Promoting the participation of women in the IEEE UK and Ireland WIE in panel events as role models inspiring future generations.
- Encouraging women’s leadership in industrial and research events throughout the UK and Ireland.
- Expand the membership of the IEEE UK and Ireland WIE to facilitate personal and professional networks for women in Engineering and related fields
We also offer mentoring opportunities, especially to young women who are thinking about careers in engineering, computer science and the pure sciences.
Executive Committee
Pages
Groups
YouTube (WIE)
YouTube (WIE Ambassadors)
Event Review: IEEE Women In Engineering (WIE) International Leadership Summit 2018
The 2018 IEEE Women In Engineering (WIE) International Leadership Summit was held in the UK for the first time, running from the 13th to the 15th of August 2018 at the University of Southampton. On an international level, the summit offered a rich community that provided professional development for female students in all disciplines.
Women in Engineering Posters & Banners
We have produced a range of posters of our members at work. We encourage you to print and display them in your workplace, school, college or university. We aim to show diversity, and would be delighted for you to feature on a poster or send us other resources we can share with the community.
The poster goals are to:
- Highlight the dynamic role models within IEEE
- Increase public awareness about careers in engineering and related fields, and their benefit to humanity
- Promote diversity within the engineering profession
Get Involved
If you are interested in participating in future editions of the poster, please submit the following information to wie-chair@ieee-ukandireland.org
- Short biography – no more than five images of you doing your work (jpg format, high resolution, 300 dpi, landscape orientation);
- Explain why you became a technical professional;
- Information or advice you would like to pass on to a young girl interested in engineering;
- How your work as an engineer benefits humanity.
Click the images to download the posters
Women in Engineering Working Groups
Early Career and Ambassador Network
The Early Career and Ambassador Network works to support early career female engineers and to extend the reach of the IEEE WIE UKI committee. Launched for International Women’s Day in 2021, the WIE Ambassadors scheme was developed to mentor and involve early career women and students who wish to get involved in organising events and activities that promote the WIE mission but who may not be IEEE members.
WIE Ambassadors have developed two free and open series of online workshops; the annual ‘Challenges and Opportunities’ webinar and the bi-monthly ‘Early Career Talks’.
WIE Ambassadors are encouraged to propose and manage new projects that support the WIE committee’s aim, and are responsible for:
- Organising a workshop/webinar, an event with a series of workshops/webinars or a conference/online conference.
- Supporting WIE events and conferences.
- Participating in WIE events, technical or non-technical conferences and outreach activities.
Schools Outreach
The aim of the schools outreach group is to coordinate the work of IEEE UK & Ireland WIE with respect to schools, their young people and the communities in which they live. It focuses on opening up opportunities for young people irrespective of their background and circumstances.
We know that there is still a gender imbalance across many of our subject areas and to help address this we need to open up opportunities to our young women and girls to ensure they have the knowledge, confidence and understanding about computer science, technology and engineering to make informed choices about their future. The main focus of the group for the immediate future will be to equip our members with the resources to effectively engage in school outreach by sharing expertise and resources across the wider membership, learning from one another and providing information and support through a series of events and other activities. We will also coordinate and share practice with other networks and groups working for a similar agenda and continue to lobby government and other key organisations for action and support at a national level.
Professional Development and Industry Links
This group aims at supporting and encouraging women engineers in their professional paths. The group collaborates with the industry to promote students in engineering to recruiters and illustrate potential career paths to students in a number of ways including career development days, internship opportunities, mentorship programmes, and industry’s involvement in academic advisory boards.
Given that industry roles and participation differs in various fields, we seek the help from all IEEE WIE UK & Ireland members who are encouraged to suggest themes, speakers, and companies who may be interested in supporting WIE activities.
Awards & Projects
The Awards and Projects group seeks to promote and improve the visibility of women in engineering. We can inspire others when we have visible role models and this makes it easier for women to imagine themselves in the same role.
This working group provides a platform to highlight the great work of women in engineering which we do through our yearly awards which recognise the skills and technical contribution women have made. We recognise the work of community members – including allies – to promote the visibility of women in computing.
Other projects we lead include matching up our wonderful array of female speakers with the many conferences that occur throughout the year. ’50/50′ by 2050 should not only be achievable but desirable long before then if we all play our part. Put yourself forward as a speaker and let us help connect you with an appropriate conference. Join the IEEE UK & Ireland WIE to promote and inspire women into careers in engineering.
Past Chairs