News
13 October 2026, 11am | Online
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Women remain significantly underrepresented in the UK Electronics sector, despite sustained efforts to improve gender diversity across engineering and technology.
UKESF has worked with its partner universities to explore the pathways that lead women into Electronics, and to better understand the motivations, influences and experiences of women choosing to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering and related degrees.
Drawing on research with women studying across 28 UK universities, the Pathways into Electronics report explores themes of choice, exposure and belonging. It provides insight into what inspires women to choose EEE, the people and experiences that influence them along the way, and the barriers that can still remain once they enter university.
Building on the ambitions of EngineeringUK’s 40 by 40: Gender Equity in Engineering and Technology Education, the report brings a specific Electronics perspective to the wider challenge. It highlights the roles that schools, universities, outreach providers and employers can play, and identifies practical actions that can help more women see Electronics as a pathway for them, and thrive once they get there.
Join us on Ada Lovelace Day, 13 October 2026, as we launch the findings and bring together people working across education, outreach and industry to discuss what the evidence means for action.
Webinar Programme
11:00 – Introduction
Mahdieh Ghoddusi, Director of Delivery, UKESF
11:05 – Opening remarks
Kate Bellingham, Broadcaster and Research Student at UCL
11:15 – Panel discussion
Joana Leitao, King’s College London
Steve Alty, Royal Holloway, University of London
Pete Marshman, Digit<all>
Beatrice Barleon, EngineeringUK
11:40 – Closing remarks
Mahdieh Ghoddusi, Director of Delivery UKESF
11:45 – Webinar ends
Register for the Report Launch Webinar: Pathways into Electronics here
If you are unable to attend but would like to receive a copy of report when it launches on 13 October 2026, please register your interest here.
Meet the Speakers
Kate Bellingham is an engineer, broadcaster and long-standing champion for opportunities in STEM. She has an MSc in Electronics and is currently a doctoral researcher at UCL’s Centre for Engineering Education, where her work focuses on gender balance in undergraduate engineering. Kate is best known as a presenter on BBC TV’s Tomorrow’s World, and her past roles include BBC broadcast engineer, National STEM Careers Coordinator and secondary school maths and physics teacher. She has been awarded several honorary doctorates for her work championing opportunities in STEM.
Steve Alty is a Professor of Electronic Engineering at Royal Holloway University of London, dedicated to inspiring and developing the next generation of engineers. His career spans three decades of undergraduate and postgraduate education, curriculum innovation, and research in biomedical signal processing and engineering pedagogy. He is passionate about creating engaging and inclusive learning environments, widening participation in engineering, and building strong connections between academic study and real-world engineering practice. Through teaching, research, and industry engagement, he strives to equip students from all backgrounds with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to succeed.
Peter Marshman is founder and CEO of Digit<all> – a multi-award winning charity setup in 2022 developing the digital skills of underrepresented and underserved young people through the lens of Climate Action and Sustainability. Peter is the UK Code Ambassador and previously an assistant headteacher at Park House Secondary School and is best known for his work across the UK and Europe promoting girls in STEM and Computing through a focus on self-efficacy. Peter has appeared on BBC Panorama and ITV News sharing his work engaging girls in STEM.
Dr Joana Leitão is Senior Outreach Officer in the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences at King’s College London. She supports and delivers outreach programmes across the faculty, with a particular focus on Engineering and Computer Science. Joana is involved in King’s Girls Robotics Challenge, a six-month programme for girls aged 12–15 that gives students hands-on experience of engineering, coding and robotics in a welcoming environment. Before joining King’s, Joana worked in research, communications, engagement and widening participation roles. She holds degrees in Applied Mathematics and Computation and Biomedical Engineering, and a PhD in Cognitive Neuroimaging.
Beatrice Barleon is Head of Public Affairs and Policy at EngineeringUK, where she leads policy and public affairs work across education, skills and workforce issues. She has played a leading role in EngineeringUK’s 40 by 40 work, focused on increasing the proportion of women in engineering and technology education pathways. Beatrice brings extensive experience in national policy, coalition-building, research, communications and external engagement.
Mahdieh Ghoddusi is Director of Delivery at the UK Electronics Skills Foundation and leads the Girls into Electronics programme. She studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering before spending 17 years in a global electronics company, working across a range of roles in the sector. Her work now focuses on helping more young people understand, access and feel confident in electronics and semiconductor pathways. Mahdieh authored the Pathways into Electronics report, bringing together her own experience of EEE, her industry background and UKESF’s work with students, universities and employers to explore what helps women choose and belong in the field.
