Building a stronger engineering community: IMechE at the WES Annual Conference

Engineering is at its best when every voice is heard, but many women in the industry still face hurdles when trying to increase their visibility. To address these barriers, we joined forces with the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) at their annual conference in Birmingham.

This collaboration is about more than just attending an event. It is a commitment to ensuring that talent is not lost to systemic challenges. For our members, these discussions provide the tools needed to progress into leadership roles and ensure that diverse engineering solutions reach the wider world.

Practical strategies for visibility and voice

One of the standout sessions of the conference was an interactive workshop led by Mary Guerdoux-Harries, a mechanical engineer and resilience coach with two decades of international experience:

"The more we can equip engineers with tools to address their leadership challenges, the more we will see their ideas and talents translated into engineering solutions that will benefit us all."

The session, Speaking Up in Engineering: Practical Strategies from Real Experience, tackled the common feeling of being the only woman in the room. Mary shared actionable insights on how to navigate informal networks and build professional confidence in a way that feels authentic rather than forced.

Key takeaways from the workshop included: 

• recognising the workplace dynamics that can hold back career progression 
• learning to navigate "unwritten" networks to increase professional influence 
• applying simple tools to ensure ideas are heard in technical environments.

"The energy across the two days is always inspiring," noted Kristina Korsaks, our IMechE representative at the event. "It’s a brilliant space to have open conversations about supporting women to progress in their careers and share more about IMechE’s work across membership, policy, and learning."

Support for your career journey

Whether you are looking for leadership training or policy updates, IMechE is dedicated to supporting your growth at every stage of your career. We provide the platform for you to connect with the wider engineering community and develop the skills needed to lead with confidence.

Ready to take the next step in your professional development?

Explore our latest Learning and Development courses and find out how IMechE membership can help you reach your career goals.