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  • Volunteer Spotlight: Evona Teh

    For Evona Teh, becoming a Professional Registration Interviewer felt like a natural next step after achieving Chartered Engineer status in 2019. She found herself reflecting less on the title and more on the experience behind it. What stayed with her most was the interview itself. It was not just an assessment, but a genuine conversation where someone took the time to engage with her engineering story. That moment left a lasting impression and shaped her decision to volunteer. “I wanted to be that person for others” By then, she had built experience across technical engineering, corporate strategy, academia and leadership. It felt like the right time to give back, offering candidates more than a checklist and creating space for meaningful discussions about their work and impact. Underpinning…

  • Volunteer Spotlight: Sumeet Shah

    Supporting confidence, growth and professional success through mentoring. For Sumeet Shah, engineering has never just been a career. It's been part of his life from the very beginning. A lifelong passion for engineering Growing up in a family involved in manufacturing and engineering, some of his earliest memories are of designing and building projects at his uncle's metal fabrication factory. Inspired by childhood favourites such as Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , a young Sumeet set about creating his own model aeroplane and even a pair of nunchakus. A few years later, while still at secondary school, he spent a summer helping to commission new plastic recycling equipment at his late father's factory as part of a move towards more sustainable manufacturing. Alongside…

  • Bo Yang: A Story of Mentorship and Growth

    Mentorship is often discussed as a tool for early career development yet its value does not diminish as engineers become more senior. Bo Yang’s experience through the IET mentoring programme shows how guidance from an experienced volunteer can help established leaders sharpen their impact refine their narrative and step confidently into wider influence. “I didn’t seek a mentor to learn how to do engineering, but to refine how I position leadership and articulate impact at a systems level.” When Bo first connected with her mentor Colin, she was already operating at Director level. She was leading large teams and delivering complex engineering programmes, but her challenge was no longer technical depth. Instead, her focus had shifted to scaling impact across organisations, strategy, and…

  • Volunteer Spotlight: Alan Rossney

    Alan’s path into engineering began with a spark of childhood wonder. One of his earliest memories is watching Star Wars: A New Hope and seeing Luke Skywalker repair R2‑D2. The idea of being skilled enough to fix a robot without even checking a manual stayed with him from that moment on. This curiosity only grew during the summers he spent working in his father’s auto‑electrical garage, where he became familiar with the practical side of engineering through batteries, alternators and starters. At school, physics became his favourite subject and electronics captured his imagination, leading him naturally toward a B.Eng (Tech) in electronic engineering. “My favourite subject in school was physics, and my favourite topic was electronics, so applying for electronic engineering felt like a natural…

  • WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) Young Professionals Committee Spotlight

    For more than a decade, the WISE Young Professionals Committee (WYPC) have been driving practical change for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). In 2024 the committee celebrated ten years since its original formation, marking a decade of work that has challenged workplace culture and addressed the barriers women continue to face across the sector. One of the committee’s proudest achievements is the Unfiltered STEM podcast, launched in July 2023. The podcast creates a space for honest conversations about life in STEM and explores topics that resonate with early career professionals. With more than 1,700 plays and over 1,000 streams, it has reached an audience closely aligned with the committee’s mission. Most listeners are women aged between 23 and 34, reflecting the…

  • Volunteer Spotlight: John Lorriman

    John Lorriman’s volunteering journey with the IEE and IET spans more than 50 years and reads like a passport full of memorable stamps. From local networks and mentoring to global accreditations and international travel, John’s story is one of curiosity, commitment and a genuine passion for helping others succeed. A lifetime of volunteering I joined the IEE in 1970, straight out of Cambridge, when I was working as a Production Foreman at GEC Telecommunications. Volunteering soon became a natural extension of my professional life. In 1977, when I became Controller of Training at GEC Telecoms, I was encouraged to take on a role with what is now the IET Birmingham Local Network. I later chaired the network, became a Fellow in 1987, and went on to chair the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Network…

  • Volunteer Spotlight: Aaron Russell’s Journey into Space Engineering

    From early doubts about whether engineering was even an option, to chairing the IET’s Satellite Technical Network, Aaron Russell’s career has taken an unexpected path. Along the way, volunteering with the IET has helped him find purpose, community and a way to support the next generation of engineers. Aaron Russell never expected to find himself working in space engineering. As a teenager, he had been told that STEM was “probably a pipedream”. His exam results did not reflect his curiosity or capability, something that only made sense years later when he discovered he was dyslexic. At the time, the message felt clear: engineering was not for people like him. Instead, he imagined a future in accounting or business, subjects that aligned with his love of numbers and understanding how things…

  • Volunteer Spotlight: Govind Vekaria

    EUR ING Govind Vekaria, BSc(Hons) CEng FIET Govind Vekaria’s volunteering journey began not with a grand plan, but with a simple intention to give a little more of himself. Working for Thales UK, a company that actively encourages volunteering and even offers dedicated paid time for it, he found the spark he needed to get started. “I had often thought about volunteering but never actively pursued any opportunities,” he reflected, recalling how a personal goal of contributing at least ten hours a year nudged him from intention into action. Finding opportunities, however, wasn’t easy. Even roles like fundraising came with waiting lists, and early enquiries often went unanswered. Then came a turning point: an organisation delivered a presentation at Thales, and Govind signed up for one …

  • Volunteer Spotlight: Will Drury

    Making a Difference, One Role at a Time Will Drury is the chief executive officer at PNDC, part of the University of Strathclyde, an engineering leader focused on electrification, decarbonisation and the journey to net zero in the UK. A long standing IET volunteer, he has served on Council, supports professional registration and mentors engineers, always with an eye to making a tangible difference. Rooted in Family, Inspired by Purpose Volunteering with the IET may be part of Will Drury’s family story, his father dedicated many years to the Institution, from leading the Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) community and helping to run the PEMD Conference and undertaking accreditation visits in the UK and overseas. That example nudged Will toward service, but what sustains him…

  • Neurodiversity Celebration Week - Volunteer Spotlight: Peter Gribble

    For Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we’re highlighting volunteer Peter Gribble, who makes a difference in the engineering community. He has been supporting neurodivergent applicants for the past eight years, starting from the day he received his CEng certificate and applied to be a Professional Review Interviewer. Since then, he has continued to advocate for neurodivergent applicants and play an active role in supporting the wider neurodiverse community. For the past eight years, Peter Gribble has dedicated his time, expertise, and lived experience to supporting neurodivergent candidates within engineering. His volunteering journey began the very day he received his CEng certificate in the post, when he applied to be a Professional Review Interviewer (PRI). What started as colleagues informally…

  • Volunteer Spotlight: IET President Dawn Ohlson CEng FIET

    Celebrating International Women’s Day with IET President Dawn Ohlson CEng FIET For someone who never set out to be a role model, Dawn Ohlson has an uncanny habit of becoming one. Today, as President of the IET, Dawn’s story is a powerful reflection of this year’s International Women’s Day theme: Give to Gain — the idea that by giving our time, skills, and energy, we gain confidence, connection, purpose, and unexpected opportunities. Dawn’s journey embodies that spirit at every turn. A spark that started with numbers Dawn’s path into engineering began early. With an engineer father and a natural love of numbers, she discovered quickly that STEM felt like home. While writing assignments left her frustrated (“I’ve got all the facts right! How much more do you want?”), physics and maths…

  • Volunteer Spotlight: Samuel Elegbede

    IET Volunteer & Council Member, Samuel Elegbede MEng CEng MIET is widely recognised as a positive role model for younger engineers across the profession. His passion for involvement, development and connection shines through in everything he does, making him a valued presence within the IET volunteer community. Samuel’s volunteering story begins with an invitation that arrived at just the right moment. Fresh from graduating in 2019 and keen to find meaningful ways to get involved with the Young Engineers community, he reached out to the Young Professionals Committee. Before long, he was on his way to Leicester to attend the IET’s Present Around the World final. “I was invited to sit with the London Young Professional Network, and that introduction changed everything,” he says. He expressed…

  • Volunteer Spotlight: Brian Goodwin

    In Conversation with... Eur Ing Brian Goodwin MSc. CEng. FIMechE. MIET. FCILT From apprentice to Chartered Engineer and international business leader, Brian’s career shows just how far engineering can take you. After a lifetime of roles spanning manufacturing, project delivery and senior leadership across the UK and overseas, retirement brought a new question — how to give something back to the profession that shaped his life. In this spotlight, Brian shares his journey and explains why volunteering, mentoring and supporting future engineers has become such a rewarding next chapter. “Retirement made me realise how much I missed being part of an engineering community.” I’m relatively new to volunteering. After a long and varied career crossing engineering, operations management and functional…

  • Volunteer Graham Herries – In the spotlight!

    Graham Herries, IET Vice President and Chair of the Policy Oversight Committee, has been a driving force behind shaping education, skills, and innovation policy within the IET for over a decade. His volunteering journey began in 2013 with the Education Policy Panel and has since evolved into influential leadership roles, including Co-Chair of the Innovation and Skills Policy Panel and Chair of the Digital Futures Policy Centre. Today, as IET Vice President and Chair of the Policy Oversight Committee, Graham continues to champion initiatives that bridge the gap between academia and industry, ensuring graduates are better prepared for the world of work. What first sparked your interest in volunteering? It all began with frustration! I kept hearing employers say that fresh graduates weren…

  • Volunteer Louis Redding - The day a little boy saw the Vulcan fly overhead was to define a life

    As a boy, my grandfather took me to an air show where I saw the Avro Vulcan conduct a fly over. To me it was like watching something from out of space and the iconic ‘howl’ as the delta wing flew over where we stood was to define the direction of my life. I remember my grandfather stating that when I grew up, he thought that my wish would be to fly that one day to which I responded, “no, I want to be the person who could design and make it”. Whilst I never became an aircraft designer, it defined my ambitions and a career in engineering was to follow. Following a traditional career path Upon leaving school I joined the British Steel Corporation, Cookley Works as an apprentice tool maker where I was trained in the design and manufacture of stamping dies for the manufacture of electrical…

  • Exploring the Stars and Systems: Aerospace Technical Network Volunteer, Patrick Capaldo in the spotlight!

    From stargazing on Australian beaches to working on cutting-edge aerospace projects in Europe, Patrick’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. We caught up with Patrick to learn more about what sparked their passion for aerospace, how volunteering with the IET has shaped their career, and what advice they’d give to others looking to follow a similar path. Let’s start at the beginning, what sparked your interest in joining the Aerospace sector? When I finished secondary school in Australia, I had no doubt in my mind that the university degree I wanted to follow had to involve aerospace engineering. This strong interest in the aerospace industry probably stemmed from a deep-seated fascination with space that I had since I was a young kid - and that I think a lot of young kids do. I think…

  • Volunteer Jaya Sujeewon Rughoo – In the spotlight!

    We recently had the pleasure of catching up with Jaya Sujeewon Rughoo, whose journey from curious newcomer to community leader is nothing short of inspiring. Jaya spoke to us about how it all began, the moments that have stayed with her, and the advice she’d offer to future engineers. Let’s start at the beginning, what first drew you to volunteering with the IET, and how has your involvement evolved over time? Honestly, my story might sound familiar to others, but it all started with PATW (Present Around The World)*. I love sharing how I first came across the IET, it was during a job interview back in 2015, right after I’d finished the fourth year of my engineering degree. One of the interviewers asked if I knew about the IET (I didn’t at the time) and mentioned I could enter the PATW competition…

  • Volunteer Spotlight: David Parr

    At the IET, our volunteers play a vital role in supporting the engineering and technology community. From mentoring to professional registration, their contributions help shape careers and inspire others. In this edition of our volunteer spotlight, we caught up with David to learn more about his journey, the variety of roles he’s taken on, and what keeps him coming back. Let’s start at the beginning, what inspired you to start volunteering, and how has your experience evolved? My interest in volunteering began early in my career, inspired by the encouragement of colleagues at my first workplace, particularly my first manager, whose support was instrumental in my journey towards CEng registration. That early influence sparked a desire to get involved, and I soon joined the younger members…

  • End Digital Poverty: Sekinat Saka’s Volunteer Story

    For End Digital Poverty Day, we met with Sekinat Saka, known to many as Seki. Seki shares how her connection with the IET began during her early studies in Nigeria and how an IET bursary played a pivotal role in supporting her through a challenging period while studying for her Master’s degree in the UK. Today, Seki continues to make a meaningful impact through her volunteer roles as a Professional Development Scheme Accreditation Assessor, Registration Assessor, Professional Development Mentor and recently accepted invitation to join as a member of the Professional Development Operations Committee. Her story is one of resilience, growth, and a passion for helping others thrive in their engineering careers. Seki’s connection with the IET began in 1994, during her first year studying electrical…

  • Volunteer Tommy Cheung – In the spotlight!

    In this edition of our volunteer spotlight, we’re pleased to introduce Tommy Cheung. Tommy has been actively involved with the Younger Members Section (YMS) in the Hong Kong Local Network since 2009 and continues to play a key role in inspiring and supporting the next generation of engineers. Tommy, how did you first get involved with volunteering for the IET? I actually got involved back in 2009 when I joined the Younger Members Section (YMS) as a student. Since then, I’ve taken on a variety of roles within it, Student Section Coordinator (both Sub Degree and Macau), Local Network Affairs Coordinator, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, and Vice-Chair. Out of all those roles, being the Student Section Coordinator was definitely my favourite. It gave me the chance to connect with…

  • Volunteer Gordana Collier – In the spotlight!

    Today, we met with Gordana Collier. Gordana began volunteering with the IET in 2011 as an Academic Accreditor and went on to become a member of the Committee. She has also served on the Awards and Scholarships Committee and the Future Talent Awards Panel. Tell us Gordana, what is your role outside of volunteering for the IET? I lead a busy life as the Head of the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics at Oxford Brookes University. Recently, I had the privilege of completing a major project involving the creation of two new buildings to move my School to the centre of Oxford. On a typical day, I divide my time between running operations and devising strategies for the future of the School with my team. My favourite activities involve developing high-performance motorsport industry…

  • Building a legacy: Rambali Raghavan’s Volunteering Story

    Rambali Raghavan’s Volunteering Story Today, we explore the inspiring journey of Rambali, our Professional Registration volunteer. He began as a Professional Registration Advisor in 2016 and was elected Fellow of the IET in 2020. Since then, he has also become a Fellowship Advisor. Rambali enjoys talking to applicants from diverse backgrounds, which broadens his horizons and enriches his understanding of various career paths. The Joy and Impact of Altruistic Volunteering Rambali believes in giving back to society without expecting anything in return. He hopes his efforts will contribute to a better future for society and the planet. In a world where altruism is often lacking, Rambali finds immense joy and satisfaction in volunteering. It gives him a sense of purpose and allows him to…

  • My Love for Aerospace: Yun-Hang Cho’s Volunteering Story

    We would like to introduce you to an inspiring individual, Yun-Hang Cho, in our latest volunteer spotlight. Yun specializes in intellectual property strategies for advanced technologies across the space, robotics, energy, and manufacturing sectors. Read about Yun’s journey where his fascination with engineering was sparked by the captivating world of science and mathematics. From Museums to Megafortresses Despite his parents not being engineers, Yun found his passion through the efforts of volunteers who introduced him to STEM subjects. His fondest memory was at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, where an IET Local Network would run an annual event discussing the history of aircraft. From that moment on, Yun had found his people. Stories of radar guidance systems in WW2 bombers were music…

    IET Volunteering Team
    IET Volunteering Team in Space

  • Satellites to the Stars: Chris Brunskill’s Volunteer Story

    We would like to introduce you to Chris Brunskill, a volunteer from our Satellite Technical Network (TN). Chris studied Electronics with Satellite Engineering at the University of Surrey and earned a PhD in space robotics from the Surrey Space Centre. Chris’s career so far has seen him work on numerous missions, leading for three separate missions on weather mapping, LEO satcoms and SIGINT sensors. He currently runs his own small business providing strategic, engineering and innovation support to businesses developing new technologies for in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing missions. Let’s look at Chris’s journey in volunteer leadership which has been nothing short of astronomical. An Astronomical Journey in Volunteer Leadership Chris was first introduced to the TN early in…

    IET Volunteering Team
    IET Volunteering Team in Space

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