Panel talk empowers Engineering students to take up space and find their voice in industry

Chemical Engineering Social responsibility 5th March 2025

With politics (and policymaking) at the forefront of everyone’s minds, the topic of equality, diversity and inclusion shortly follows. Whether it’s the re-naming of geographical places, attempted eradication of gender identity and continued anti-immigration rhetoric – there is a palpable heaviness in the air right now. More often than not, it is marginalised communities carrying the weight of it.

As a result, this seems a more-than-appropriate time to host a workshop for young people on building inclusion and equity in their prospective engineering careers. Especially as this is an area of STEM that is still overwhelmingly disproportionate against minority groups.

What is the Panel Discussion?

The panel discussion was organised by Lecturer, Dr Wennie Subramonian, and Senior Lecturer, Dr Maryam Malekshahian. As Deputy Admissions & Outreach Officer, and Department EDI Lead, respectively, they both noticed the demand for support in pursuing placements or industry work in a world where the odds are stacked against you. The event was supported by the School of Engineering’s EDIA Lead, with 65 students in attendance.

The importance of conversations like these – whether it’s being the only girl in the classroom or finding prayer spaces in a new environment – soon becomes abundantly clear. Fifteen minutes before the session begins, every table is full.

From first-year students to soon-to-be-graduates, there are many who can relate to this sense of ‘otherness’. In the early stages of their career, many students from diverse backgrounds are often confronted with barriers when completing applications, going for interviews or transiting into professional roles.

The panel featured industry experts who shared their experiences of being under-represented in engineering – as well as their tips in navigating it.

Dr Vince Pizzoni, a Professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering at The University of Nottingham, held an opening talk before the Q&A. As a fierce advocate for equality and mentor to marginalised graduates in industry, Vince has fought against unfair processes for years. A loud ally for those being mistreated in the workplace, Vince operates on the belief that ‘EDI’ is much more than three letters. Instead, equality, diversity and inclusion are essentially about fairness.

Zain Akhtar (from Deliveroo HQ) talked of not being afraid to correct people on pronouncing your name and suggested including the phonetic spelling in your email signature. Meanwhile, Sonia Jan (Chemical Engineering student) described her treatment of being the only visible Muslim and woman in the room as frustrating. From assuming she was a receptionist to excluding her from conversations on anything ‘technical’, these discriminatory behaviours highlight how the lack of ‘fairness’ in these spaces is still very much a grassroots issue.

Other speakers included Melissa Ahmed (Techwuman Co-Founder and Managing Director), Kat Swan (Electrical Designer at Cavendish Nuclear), Jelena Ponocko (Lecture of Electrical and Electronic Engineering), Zara Rahim (Chemical Engineering student) and Nabihah Babar (Chemical Engineering student). All the speakers advocated for having open door chats with HR and establishing honest communication with line-managers.

Acknowledging your ‘girliness’ or abstaining from drinking because of religious beliefs shouldn’t be barriers in the workplace. These panel discussions create space to find comfort and seek necessary change, helping drive forward more inclusive and supportive working environments. Wennie and Maryam want to inspire this confidence and community so their students can thrive in their work and contribute meaningfully to their engineering industries.

As Zain so perfectly summarised, view your differences “as a strength instead of something holding [you] back. Being able to be yourself is something everyone should be entitled to.”

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