b'Member News March 2023 23Equality, diversity and inclusionMeet the Chair of theMeet some of the other EDI Working new EDI Working PartyParty members 60% of respondents to the EDI Volunteer SurveyWhy have you taken in 2022 (see previous page) felt that the IET EDIon this new role? Strategy was very or somewhat effective in improvingLearning to live with EDI within the engineering and technology profession.a severe disability has But how do we ensure that our EDI Strategy doesreally shown me how, as more to deliver and advance excellence in solvingan engineer, I can use complex global engineering challenges? In 2022my perspective to make a difference not just to the Board of Trustees approved the formation ofmy life, but to the livesToni AllenSimon Timmis, an EDI Working Party to help us do just that. of people around me.IET Director ofIET Head of The IET is incrediblyInternationalCorporate Katy Deacon, Board ofCan you tell membersforward-thinking and whenStrategicCommunications, Trustee EDI Champion,about yourself?I was asked to considerMarketing andBrand, Digital and has taken on the excitingthis role, I was proudEngagement Impact Marketingchallenge of leading thisI started my career asand enthusiastic about new Working Party. Thean aircraft maintenancethe positive difference IETs Head of EDI, Lauraapprentice with Britishwe could make for the Norton, met with Katy toAirways. I loved workingengineering community ask her about this role. on the aircraft. I was luckyand also the wider world.enough to go to City University in London to studyCan you share some Air Transport Engineeringof the Working Partys and from there I movedgoals for 2023? into designing electricalOver the past few systems in buildings. Aftermonths I have met withJustina HoAndy Parker completing my Masters inthe main IET BoardsMIET CEng MIETAdvanced Engineering atand had some great Loughborough University,discussions with other I won the IETs Youngengineers who really Woman Engineer of thewant to help shape how Year Award and also thethe IET moves forward NICEIC Energy Efficiency Product of the Year with thewith our approach to EDI. Katy Deacon BEng MEngRenewable Energy Toolkit,There are so many areas CEng MIET IET Trustee anda product I have designedto tackle and throughout Chair of EDI Working Partyas part of my masters2023 we need to work dissertation. I had sometogether to identify theWayne Hodgkiss,Sadie Peacock, great times leading teamskey priorities to achieveIEng MIETCEng MIETand managing projects,the EDI Strategy goals but then I was diagnosedand the ambitions in with multiple sclerosis andthe IET 2030 Strategy. my world had to changeMy main priority for direction and speed. I2023 is to work with adjusted my technical focuscolleagues towards a full and learned how to liveEDI Committee which my best life with a verywill drive EDI forwards complex and sometimes veryand build a positive frightening condition. Nowinclusive culture. We want I am privileged to be an IETto work with membersBen Obiri-BonneyJim Smith, Trustee, and I am incrediblyand volunteers to gain aCEng MIETCEng FIETLaura Norton proud to be Chair of thebetter understanding of IET Head of EDI new EDI Working Party. their priorities.Learn more about our EDI Strategy at theiet.org/edi'