Engineers should invest as much effort in understanding people as they do in developing technical expertise, according to one of this year’s Women’s Engineering Society (WES) Top 50 Women in Engineering winners.
The call comes as the Women’s Engineering Society marks International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) 2026, with this year’s theme, “Engineering Intelligence”, celebrating the expertise, creativity and judgement behind the systems and technologies that shape modern life.
Among those recognised in the WES Top 50 Women in Engineering list are three members of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE): Selin Shefik of Arup, Kathryn Davies of AtkinsRéalis and Divya Shimoga Prakash of AtkinsRéalis.
For Shefik, engineering intelligence extends beyond technical knowledge and begins with understanding the people engineering serves.
“Engineering intelligence only exists when you take the time to properly understand people,” she said.
Reflecting on her experience leading operations for the Voluntary Western Kenya Project, where she oversaw the delivery of sanitation and energy solutions for rural schools, Shefik said the experience reinforced the importance of engaging directly with communities.
“Teachers describing what overcrowded classrooms mean for learning. Parents speaking about their children’s futures with hope, even in difficult circumstances. Community leaders explaining what change would actually look like for them, not in theory, but in reality,” she said.
Davies, who has progressed from graduate engineer to leading multidisciplinary teams delivering major storm overflow and river health improvement programmes across Wales and south-west England, said engineering intelligence is about approaching challenges differently.
“It’s about taking what we already know and using it in smarter ways – connecting data, people and disciplines rather than working in isolation, and finding more efficient and strategic ways to deliver,” she said.
The growing importance of combining technical expertise with collaboration and communication reflects wider changes taking place across the engineering profession, as organisations increasingly embrace digital technologies, automation and data-driven decision-making.
For Shimoga Prakash, who is currently working on the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station project, engineering intelligence is the ability to transform complexity into practical outcomes.
She described it as “the fusion of technical expertise, critical thinking, and foresight, turning complexity and uncertainty into safe, practical, and buildable solutions that create real-world impact”.
Having built a career spanning more than 17 years and leading global engineering teams, she emphasised the importance of balancing safety, quality and efficiency while continuing to learn throughout a career.
All three engineers also highlighted the importance of mentoring and encouraging the next generation to enter the profession, serving as STEM ambassadors and supporting engineers working towards professional qualifications.
Davies encouraged young engineers to build strong technical foundations while embracing emerging technologies and digital tools.
“Be willing to step outside your comfort zone,” she said.
Shefik echoed the importance of lifelong learning and broadening perspectives beyond the workplace.
“Volunteer. Travel. Engage with your communities. Stay curious. Challenge your own thinking and never stop learning from those around you,” she said.
“The more we understand people, the better engineers we become.”
The WES Top 50 Women in Engineering list is published annually to celebrate the achievements of women across the profession and raise the visibility of female role models in engineering. This year’s list was announced as part of International Women in Engineering Day, which aims to inspire more women and girls to pursue careers in the sector.
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