Abstract
In 2017, Ozak Esu was named the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year. At the time, Ozak said: “It feels fantastic – I am truly honoured to receive the Award. I hope to use this platform to promote engineering as an exciting and creative career choice for young people.”
Since winning, Ozak has worked closely with the IET and other institutions on a range of key issues. She is passionate about sustainable design, agriculture, renewable energy, and international development and works with schools and organisations in her home country, Nigeria, motivated by the belief that poverty can be eradicated through engineering, knowledge-sharing, and empowerment of women. She continues to involve herself in academia, taking on guest speaking and lecturing roles in different universities.
Ozak has helped run numerous engineering activities for young people, including FIRST® LEGO® League, EDT Headstart, CREST in a Day, and Year of Engineering event. As well as serving on the Athena SWAN feasibility committee at Loughborough University, she has been a panellist for the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers UK. She has also mentored BME home and international students at London South Bank University, sharing her experience of the transition from student to engineering professional.
The YWE awards honour the very best early career female engineers working in the UK today. Launched in 1978, the YWE award was originally sponsored by the Caroline Haslett Memorial Trust, which provided scholarships and other educational opportunities for women seeking or already pursuing careers in electronic, electrical or mechanical engineering.
Dame Caroline Haslett (1895-1957) was the first Secretary of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) out of which grew the Electrical Association for Women (EAW) and Dame Caroline was appointed its Director and Secretary. Through the Association she encouraged the use of power in the home believing that electricity was the real emancipator of women.
The Trust was formed in 1945 to commemorate the 21st anniversary of EAW and after Dame Caroline’s death it became a memorial to her. The Trust funds are now exhausted, but the IET continues to support the Young Woman of the Year Award.
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Could you be our next Young Woman Engineer of the Year?
We're searching for a dynamic young engineer who represents the very best of our profession. She's a high achiever, a problem solver and a team player.
She should be an inspiration to her colleagues and, just as importantly, have the charisma and personality to inspire others to follow in her footsteps.
If this is you, or if you you'd just like to find out more, please email us at ywe@theiet.org.
