Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Engineering

Yohanes Scarlett is a Diversity & Inclusion research and policy specialist at the Royal Academy of Engineering, where he leads a high-impact DEI research programme shaping national conversations on equity in engineering. He was a principal researcher on the Hamilton Commission and has spearheaded flagship publications including EDI Engine, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in Engineering – A Decade in Focus, and Inclusive Cultures in Engineering 2023. Yohanes regularly briefs APPGs, government officials, and industry leaders, and founded the Academy’s BAME staff network. Earlier, he helped launch the Academy’s Leaders in Innovation Fellowships in 2014, bringing over 100 international engineers to the UK for intensive training.

He is also the author of the pioneering Engineering Ethnicity Index (EEI), developed in collaboration with major engineering employers and now being rolled out across the sector. As EEI Advisor at AFBE-UK, Yohanes chairs the Ethnic Network Leaders Forum, convening ERG leads from over 15 organisations to drive collective action on race equity in engineering.

Born in West London to Jamaican parents, Yohanes’s professional practice is rooted in community-led inclusion, shaped by youth work across North Kensington and Shepherd’s Bush and volunteering with the Black women’s charity WILDE. He holds a BA (Hons) in Politics & International Relations from the University of Westminster and has received the RAEng Values Award (2019) and the US Embassy Young Ethnic Minority Leadership Programme (2014).

Susan Robson MBE is the Chief Executive (interim) of the Women’s Engineering Society. Building on over 25 years of experience in business consulting and strategy – 16 of which in the engineering and energy sector – Susan brings sound strategy and operating model frameworks to connect diverse engineering talent to anengineering industry that is experiencing skills and capacity scarcity. Aligning to the growth and innovation targets of major societal goals such as the transition to net zero, her work in supporting women in engineering have fulfilling careers and ensuring the industry is an enabler for diverse talent growth, will provide an important contribution to the delivery of key engineering programmes in the UK.

Susan's performance and commitment to unlocking diverse talent and building inclusive spaces has earned her recognition as the Financial Times and HERoes Champion of Women in Business, and she has been shortlisted in The Sunday Times Non-Executive Director list. In 2024 she was awarded an MBE for services to
inclusion and diversity in the engineering and energy industry.

Susan's vision is to create an engineering industry that reflects the diversity of society it serves, to solve the biggest societal issues of our time.

Joy Drury is Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager at Lloyd’s Register, where she leads initiatives to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace across a global organisation with deep roots in the maritime and engineering sectors. With experience spanning strategy development, inclusive recruitment, and cultural transformation, Joy focuses on breaking down systemic barriers and driving sustainable change. She is particularly passionate about increasing representation in technical fields and ensuring underrepresented voices are heard in shaping the future of engineering.

Simone leads Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at GKN Aerospace, where she’s working to make engineering more inclusive, one conversation at a time. She’s spent years navigating complex systems and shaking them up when needed.

She’s been driving D&I for over six years, blending data, storytelling, and the kind of honesty that makes people laugh and think at the same time. Whether it’s building inclusive cultures or challenging the status quo, Simone brings both heart and strategy to the table.

Elizabeth Andrews joined the People and Culture team at TWI in 2017. Since she started with TWI she has implemented her vision to create a truly global and inclusive People function. Her career in People and Culture has spanned both Public and Private sectors and she brings a wide experience in all aspects of Human Resources.

She is an esteemed Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD) and believes continuous learning is key to a successful career. She believes that our people are the most important element of our business and is committed to creating an environment where our people feel engaged and empowered to achieve to the best of their ability.