Dr Fauzia Idrees, from the Department of Information Security at Royal Holloway, University of London, has become one of 50 women in the UK to win the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) award (WE50).
The 2025 WE50 celebrates women who are trailblazers in the world of engineering, under the theme Together We Engineer.
This year’s WE50 winners represent a diverse range of sectors including transport, construction, technology, and healthcare.
Dr Idrees said: "Coming from an underprivileged rural background, winning the Top 50 Women in Engineering award means more than just a personal achievement; it’s a powerful message to thousands of girls and women that with persistence and dedication, anything is possible.
“If I can do it, so can you.
“I’m truly grateful to the judges and the WES team for this fabulous initiative and for honouring me with this award."
The nominations were made both by individuals and professional institutes, and were put forward because they have excelled in their field.
The awards were judged by a panel of independent industry experts led by head judge, Laura Shrieves, VP Engineering at Ultra Marine.
The theme for this year’s WE50, ‘Together We Engineer’ showcases the powerful impact made by women engineers.
The winners are involved in everything from digital health, decarbonisation, and heritage projects to space science, sustainability, and accessibility.
The Top 50 Women in Engineering are announced each year on International Women in Engineering Day (INWED). INWED was founded by WES and takes place annually. This campaign continues to lead the way in providing female engineers around the world with a voice.
