Draft:Katy Deacon

Katy Deacon’s journey into engineering began in her hometown of Huddersfield, where she completed her A-levels at Greenhead College. Motivated by a desire to pursue a career in engineering, she embarked on the British Airways Professional Engineering Programme as an avionics graduate apprentice completing her HND at Perth College and then her BEng (hons) degree in Transport engineering at City University, London ^[5].

Katy’s academic path further evolved when she pursued a Master’s degree at Loughborough University, during which she focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency in buildings. It was during this time that she created an influential “tool kit” for architects and engineers, which helped professionals design buildings embedded with renewable energy. This innovative work earned her the NICEIC Award for Energy Efficiency Product of the Year in 2006^[5][6].

Katy began her professional engineering career at Kirklees Metropolitan Council in 2003, where she worked as an Electrical Design Engineer. She designed and managed electrical systems for various council buildings, integrating sustainable and energy-efficient technologies into public infrastructure. She gained her chartered engineer status in 2008.

In West Yorkshire, Katy became a key figure in promoting the adoption of renewable energy systems^[7]. Her work included the integration of wind turbines and solar power in schools, as well as the development of smart metering systems to monitor the consumption of electricity, gas, and water across large building complexes. Her dedication to sustainability and energy efficiency earned her recognition in the field of renewable energy.

In 2012, Katy transitioned her focus to information governance and cyber security to further her career and take on a leadership role in a more office-based environment. She led the information governance team at Kirklees Council from 2012 until 2022, successfully navigating the intersection of technology and management.

In 2019, Katy was elected chair of the West Yorkshire Information Management Forum, where she represented the region at national forums and earned recognition as a technical leader in her field.

In 2022, Katy founded Towards Belonging Limited^[8], a consultancy firm focused on promoting inclusive engineering practices. Through her company, she works with universities, corporations, and other institutions to advocate for greater inclusion and accessibility in the engineering sector. She also collaborates directly with disabled individuals to ensure that the voices of those affected by engineering design are heard, keeping her messages current, relevant, and grounded in lived experiences.

Katy’s commitment to inclusive engineering extends to her role as a visiting professor with the Royal Academy of Engineering, where she teaches at both the University of Huddersfield and Aston University.

Katy’s leadership in engineering and inclusion is further exemplified through her work with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). In 2020, she was appointed to the IET’s Board of Trustees^[9] and became the Trustee Champion for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)^[10]. In this capacity, Katy led the formation of the IET’s formal EDI board in 2023, which she now chairs^[11]. Under her leadership, the IET is striving to become a trailblazer in creating an inclusive and diverse environment for engineers.

In January 2024, Katy was named a Fellow of the IET and elected as Vice President for the 2024-2025 season. As Vice President, she continues to steer the EDI agenda and advocate for inclusive practices throughout the engineering profession.

Katy’s contributions to engineering and her advocacy for inclusion have been widely acknowledged. In 2004, she was awarded the IEE Mary George Memorial prize, for the most promising female apprentice^[12].

In 2006, she was awarded the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year award^{[13][14][15][16]}, recognizing her outstanding achievements early in her career. In 2009, she received the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) Karen Burt Award^[17], which is presented annually to the most exceptional newly-chartered female engineer in the UK.

In addition, Katy has been featured as one of the UK’s “ingenious women engineers” in both Engineering & Technology magazine and the UKRC, underscoring her influence in the field.^[18][19][20]

She was listed as a highly commended nominee in the 2024 Top 50 Women in Engineering Awards (WE50), recognised for her exceptional advocacy in STEM.^[21]

Katy was also listed in prestigious Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 in 2024 recognising her work as a disability changemaker, and advocate for inclusive engineering design ^[22].

In December 2024, as Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) vice president and chair of the equality, diversity and inclusion board, she presented the Young Women of the Year Award, WES Award, Mary George Memorial Prize, Gender Diversity Ambassador Award and announce the three new honorary fellows of the IET ^[23]

Katy was born and raised in West Yorkshire, where she lives with her husband and two children.