2026: ENGINEERING INTELLIGENCE

WE50

The Top 50 Women in Engineering celebrates the women across all disciplines and career stages whose work, leadership and advocacy are helping shape a more inclusive engineering profession.

Find out how you can nominate yourself or your peers for 2027.

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The 2026 Theme: Engineering Intelligence

In an era defined by rapid technological shifts this year’s theme, Engineering Intelligence, focuses on how human creativity and technological innovation combine to solve complex challenges and drive inclusive progress.

Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations for this year’s award.

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10 years of celebration

1,500+ nominees

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500 winners honoured

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The Women’s Engineering Society founded The Top 50 Women in Engineering Awards (WE50) in 2016 to showcase the diversity of women engineers making a difference to people’s lives.

Since then we’ve honoured hundreds of influential women.

The awards are announced each year on 23 June which is International Women In Engineering Day (INWED) a campaign started by WES to raise the profile of Women Engineer’s around the world.

The final 50 are announced on 23 June for International Women in Engineering Day.

Group of women at an awards ceremony on stage, holding trophies, with a large screen behind them displaying a woman’s photo, the text 'WE50 WINNER', and the name 'Muneebah Quyyam'.
Group of women at an awards ceremony on stage, holding trophies, with a large screen behind them displaying a woman’s photo, the text 'WE50 WINNER', and the name 'Muneebah Quyyam'.
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Nominations open
11 February 2026

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Nominations Close
27 March 2026

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Top 50 announced
23 June 2026

Eligibility

Essential Criteria – all nominees must satisfy these:

  • A woman, aged 18 or older

  • Based in the UK – nominees do not have to be UK citizens

  • Not a previous WE50 winner

  • Can demonstrate the creation or improvement of a product or process

Desirable Criteria:

  • Acting as an advocate for other women in STEM

  • Working or studying in engineering industries and allied sectors, engineering education, or engineering research

  • Achieving beyond what would normally be expected for career stage – nominations welcome at all career stages

Collage of diverse women engineers with text reading, 'Together We Engineer, The Top 50 Women in Engineering 2025, WE50, WES.' Includes logos of GCHQ and Women's Engineering Society, and a green box with charity information.
Collage of diverse women engineers with text reading, 'Together We Engineer, The Top 50 Women in Engineering 2025, WE50, WES.' Includes logos of GCHQ and Women's Engineering Society, and a green box with charity information.

Entries that focus solely on engineering or solely on supporting women will not do as well as those that demonstrate both.
We regret that we cannot include nominations for anyone based outside of the UK, even if they are UK citizens, with the exception of women serving the armed forces.

Previous Winners

A large conference room with high ceilings, ornate columns, and purple lighting accents. There is a stage at the front with a large screen displaying a woman's face and the text 'WE5 WINNER ADA NWADIGO'. The audience, seated at round tables with white tablecloths, are engaged in conversation. Overhead hanging lights provide warm illumination.
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“I’m incredibly proud to share that I’ve been named a WE50 Winner! Being recognised on International Women in Engineering Day is especially meaningful as we reflect on the progress we’ve made and the challenges that still lie ahead.

To every woman forging paths in STEM, and to the mentors, allies, and colleagues who believe in inclusive innovation – this recognition is for all of us. Let’s keep building, dreaming, and engineering a better world.”

- Dr Nour Ghadban
2025 winner

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Get Involved

Know an incredible woman in engineering but missed the nominations deadline?

The next generation of WE50 role models is already shaping engineering across the UK. Nominations reopen in spring 2027.

Follow us online or sign up for updates and be the first to hear when they launch.

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WE50 2027

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Want to support a more inclusive engineering profession?

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Join WES and connect with a network of women engineers driving a more inclusive future.