Year in Review: Celebrating Innovation & Collaboration.

"A year’s review is never in insolation. It builds on everything that came before, and sets the scene for what is to come."

I am full of gratitude for a brilliant '2023 ?chapter' – for the twists and turns… for the moments of great clarity and for the heart pounding moments of nervousness and pure excitement.

My role as an Innovator took centre stage and my engineering experience provided the necessary support to see ideas through to innovative solutions.

I loved spending time with organisations, engineers and innovators, educators, learners and ?changemakers. And what struck me every time, was the common thread and aligned focus on making the world a better place.

For the last 7 years now, my year has started with very last minute plans to take on a nearly impossible cake baking task or lastminute themed birthday party – for my ?daughter’s special day. It was SING 2 in 2023. An animation that has a very special place in our household. I pulled it off and it might have set up for the year. Her birthday party's success.... with its significant considerations and demands.... is in so many ways MY Success!

Anyone who knows anything about me, will know I draw deep inspiration from interacting/working with students. And so one of my first engagements of the year was officiating graduation ceremonies at the University of Warwick- a priviledge and honour. There is something so incredible moving about being in a hall -overflowing with the outcome of hardwork, relief, sacrifice and pride. The brass band.. the procession… the hand shakes, the leaps of joy… the hugs.. and smiles. Just amazing. I always use my time on campus ?(when I can) to meet up with students and offer support where I can. I loved spending time with the Warwick Boring team who have been absolutely amazing. Check them out here https://www.warwickboringteam.com/

?QEPrize- Celebrating Engineering Excellence & Impact

Hosting the announcement of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering was a huge honour. HUGE Huge Honour. It is not often you literally have some of the world's most respected Changemakers, Engineers and Innovators in your audience. I remember getting the memo that HRH Princess Anne would be attending and thinking ‘THIS really feels like the Oscars of Engineering’. And it did. Just over 10 years ago, Sir Ian Blatchford, the late Zaha Hadid, Sir Nicola Serota and myself came to together to decide the winner of the first ever trophy design for the awards. Then schoolgirl, Jennifer Leggett was crowned winner. It was so so special to meet her again after 10 years and even more special to be able to celebrate the fact that she is now a chartered Senior Engineer. If you would like to watch the #QEPRIZE 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ-eurcNYx4

Innovation: Prospering from the Energy Revolution – Innovate UK Conference

It was a pleasure to host and chair conversations at the Innovate UK Prospering from the Energy Revolution (PFER) conference in Manchester. Absolutely super to join the brilliant PFER team, PFER changemakers and the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham in Manchester at a celebration of 5 years of intentional work on demonstrating a local, place based smart approach to energy distribution. I shared some key thoughts in a linkedin post. Definitely worth resharing here because they apply to all aspects of innovation for the built environment. (1) A place based approach can save significant ￡ and revitalise regional industries in the UK. (2) The last five years of the PFER programme have generated fantastic value in the areas of stakeholder engagement- demonstrating partnership models as well as exploring financial models for a place based smart energy approach. (3) If we are going to make tangible progress towards Net Zero, there is a need to evolve regulation such that it is able to place tangible value on 'non traditional' energy provision models. ?- (4)There is significant work required to build capacity within local authorities and in local industries. (5) We need programmes and systems that ensure that there is a pipeline of talent- with the right skills to tackle the challenges ahead.

Diversity & Inclusion: A Special gathering in Newcastle

There was so?much joy at the 2023 The Common Room Face of Engineering conference.?Joy, laughter…. open and honest conversations and lots of pure inspiration. Delivering a keynote allowed me to reflect on the last 2/3 years of my career- the leaps of faith and intentional work. One main take away for me – there is amazing power in taking a step in the direction of our ambition and sense (place) of purpose (whether one is doing it afraid or not). The day was full of some profound examples of big leaps. ?Career changes, dropping job titles to live a life of true purpose, overcoming the fear of public speaking- .....actually, more like speaking in public despite the fear, asking for better compensation despite the fear of rejection and more! It made me think of our Engineering Industry and our ambitions….. towards sustainable innovation and improved inclusion. It also, in a way, highlighted the fact that in our Diversity & Inclusion conversations, we should emphasize that (1) It takes courage to take intentional steps (2) It is also necessary to dissolve (and NOT build around) the existing barriers to inclusion. (3) We must rebuild with systems that ENABLE true sustainable progress.

STEM Inspiration: the Inspire Series

The Inspire Series is one of the projects I am most proud of from 2023. An idea to show Engineering in a different way finally came to life. There were many nights of plotting and planning and tweaking a self-funded and very limited budget. All validated when a room full of learners and industry friends gave it their 100 percent approval at the premiere at the Science Museum. Super pleased to share it is now available to watch on youtube with plans on the way for more episodes. Super super special to work with an incredible team. We are all open to collaboration opportunities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGap5LQt-Bg More information here www.inspiretheseries.com

Education & Skills: Gatsby Charitable Foundation, Department for Education and the Institutes of Technology.

It was such a pleasure to host the first IoTs conference and sit in conversation with the brilliant teams of Educators, ministers and industry. It is always super special to work with the planning teams on projects and I especially enjoyed working with the brilliant team at the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. Kudos to the wonderful Institutes of Technology education providers and employers and the Department for Education for all the purposeful and impactful work done through the Institutes of Technology. Hugely inspiring to spend time with lord David Sainsbury. I am super excited to see how the Institutes continue to provide a place for learners to receive high quality technical education and training across a range of STEM occupations.

Mental Wellbeing in the Construction Industry with B1M & Procore

I am literally bursting with gratitude for the vision and hardwork of Fred Mills Tooey Courtemanche and the incredible teams at The B1M and Procore Technologies . Who are using the incredible platform of The B1M & Procore and its 3million...and growing subscribers to tackle mental health challenges in the construction industry. They are working to help ensure the construction industry sees a transformation in its culture- such that all of its incredible aspects shine even brighter. The campaign and mission...is an instrumental tool in the transformation of the industry. It is a potential lifeline for the wellbeing of the amazing people who create our cities and built environment. To all of my contacts and friends in construction, please join in the mission. The stats tell us there is much work to be done..and ensuring physical safety is AS IMPORTANT as ensuring psychological safety.?https://www.getconstructiontalking.org/

?Creating Spaces for the next generation of Scientists, Engineers & Innovators

It was much joy.... to be part of such a wonderful statement for Creativity, Science, Engineering & Technology and Mathematics in Warwickshire, the Midlands and beyond. It was a real honour to open the fantastic new Science Centre at Princethorpe College. A sustainable building that is providing spaces for young people to be curious, to learn, to be creative, to dream and know that they can bring tangible progress to our world. Massive congratulations to the leadership at Princethorpe, the architects, all the design teams, the contractors - on delivering an excellent building which is going to have such an amazing impact on the lives of many students.

Engineering Work Experience for Students from all over the world.

The Big Engineering Work Experience this Year was a wonderful and fulfilling week. I remain immensely grateful to the team and my absolute heroes- former colleagues and new collaborators who came together to deliver the brilliant sessions to students from all over the work. The feedback from the students has been nothing short of amazing. See what we are doing at bigengweek.com

Vice President of the Institution of Engineering & Technology

Taking on the role of Vice- President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in 2023 remains an absolute honour and I am grateful to the membership and staff for putting their trust in me. Sleeves rolled up. Ready to serve.

There were times I thought I had really hit my limit with boards and committees last year. But on reflection, all of the contributions... all of the time spent was absolutely necessary. From advisory boards in the research and STEM education space to governance of organisations, I have zero regrets for all the times I was able to play my part (and learn) towards acheiving real tangible progress....tangible progress. Thank you to all the organisations who opened their doors to me; for our conversations and workshops on Innovation and Diversity & Inclusion. Let's do it again in 2024 and build excellence. I am also grateful for the awards and recognition. Super super humbled. Thank you.

Ps: I was going to write a paragraph on ‘2023 with a 6 going on 16 year old and a 2 going on 18 year old.’ But I think I will leave that for several chapters of the book I know I must one day write.

?Here is to a wonderful 2024. Please feel free to reach out if there is anything we can collaborate on – for PROGRESS and IMPACT.

www.yewandeakinola.co.uk/contact

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