FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11May 2009

Contact:
Suzanne Korn or
Tonia Page,
WES PR Consultant,
email: tonia@pagerelations.com
mobile: 07770 845984

The power of change

Solving the big problems we now face cannot be done with the same kind of thinking that got us into these problems’ said Albert Einstein... and he was right. It needs women, and the 90th anniversary conference of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) in September will challenge all engineers – female and male – to meet the future head-on.

The Power of Change: inspiring the next 90 years, to be held at the University of Surrey in Guildford from 11 to 13 September 2009, will bring together an exciting line-up of engineers, technologists, thought leaders and personal development professionals. The varied programme will showcase women engineers' and innovators' achievements examine predictions for the future and provide a dynamic and engaging forum for engineers to extend their networks and broaden their horizons.

Participants are welcome from all career stages, disciplines and industry sectors, including education, and discounted rates apply for those who register for the conference before 1 July.

The two-day programme includes sessions on:

• Exploring the future and how engineering and technology interacts, stimulates and responds to change
• Environmental impact and sustainability infrastructures
• Connecting technical women across employers and sectors
• Emerging technologies
• Changes in the supply and demand of energy
• Futures workshop
• Innovation and creativity workshop
• Mentor / mentee training
• Career break planning

Futurologist Wendy Shultz will challenge engineers to consider how the creativity and innovation of engineers and scientists is shaping the technology landscape.  The conference will hear from outstanding women engineers including Siobhan Woods, Professor Dame Ann Dowling, Professor Maria Petrou, Jo Parker and Michelle MacDowell.

As part of our on-going goal to engage with young people this year the conference will feature an interactive school activity to connect regional school girls with professional women engineers in sessions sponsored by Rolls-Royce plc.

“The only constant in life seems to be change,” says WES President Jan Peters. “Responding to change requires ever broader contacts, networks and knowledge. Join us for all these and more and be inspired at our annual conference to make the links that can help you respond to change in your life or your work. The WES conference offers a fabulous opportunity to connect with like-minded, ‘can-do’ women and to enjoy having enlightening technical conversations on how to change the world, planning a career break or how to get that pay rise.” 

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS

1.    The 90th Anniversary WES Conference will be held at the University of Surrey, Guildford, from 11 to 13 September 2009. An early bird registration rate applies for those registering before 1 July. Please call +44 (0)1438 765506 or contact conference@wes.org.uk to register.

2.    Bursaries are available to help those on low incomes to attend. Advice is also available on making a case to an employer for attending the conference.

The Women’s Engineering Society’s mission is to inspire women to achieve their potential as engineers, scientists and technical leaders. It works with many other organisations to achieve this, but has a distinctive role as an association of women working in the engineering, computing, hit-tech and science sectors. Created in 1919, the Society has a history of championing issues and innovating solutions, and the drive of our members has spun off several related projects and organisations. Amongst its current activities, WES runs MentorSET, the national mentoring scheme for women in STEM. WES also runs its own awards and bursaries including the Karen Burt award for the best newly chartered women engineer.

 

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Press release: 11 May 2009 (PDF 126Kb)