The inspirational finalists have been revealed for the AFBE-UK Awards, which celebrate success in diversity and inclusion in the engineering industry.

The event, which aims to recognise exceptional performance and outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations, will be held on Thursday, November 6, at the P&J Live in Aberdeen.

This year’s ceremony, themed ‘Tapestry of Impact’, will bring together more than 700 guests. Headline sponsor for the event is the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Nominations were received across seven award categories, including two new additions - Entrepreneur Award of the Year and Ethnicity Employee Resource Group (ERG) of the Year. An independent panel of judges carefully selected the top finalists in each category.

Mo Oyetunji, head of the award’s planning committee, said: 
“We are excited to be hosting what promises to be our biggest ever awards with so many inspirational stories shared on the night. Congratulations to all our finalists and to those who entered the awards – the standard was extremely high.”

The finalists are:

STEM Champion of the Year, sponsored by Wood plc

• Chloe Lipton - Data Management Engineer, Capgemini Engineering
• Hayyaan Bashir - NextGen Programme Officer, AFBE-UK
• Dr Chika Judith Abolle-Okoyeagu - Associate Professor and Head of Postgraduate Studies, RGU
• Donna Otchere - Director, SiSTEM UK
• Krystina Pearson-Rampeearee - Engineering Delivery Lead, BAE Systems
• Hawa Kandeh - Founder, Globally Linked

Young BME Professional of the Year, sponsored by Leonardo

• Mariah Ichakpa - Graduate Project Engineer, Worley
• Cynthia Okwosha - Geotechnical Engineer, Mott MacDonald
• Chinwe Odili - UK Innovation Lead, Kent
• Georgia Thompson - Design Manager, Costain Group
• Surakat Kudehinbu - Senior Investment Executive, Green Angel Ventures
• Aisha Mehmood - Software Development Engineer, Elekta

Mentor of the Year, sponsored by AspenTech

• Miguel Cabrera Vivas - Service Recovery Programme Manager, Heathrow Airport
• Hope Okhuoya - Production Technology Manager, EnQuest
• Rohit Malhotra - Project Manager, AtkinsRealis
• Timi Adegunwa - Cyber Risk Manager, Wood Mackenzie
• Edwin Ehiorobo - Digital Delivery and Innovation Consultant, EA Technology
• Professor Babakalli Alkali - Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Glasgow Caledonian University

BME Leader of the Year Award, sponsored by Shell

• Tendayi Munyebvu - Director, Amentum
• Dr Anusha Shah - Global Senior Director - Climate, Water and Nature, Arcadis
• Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE - Managing Director, ETK Group
• Sharon Rose - Director, Arup
• Edafe Onerhime - Enterprise Data Architect, Royal London
• Cyril Bruce-Cathline - New Business Manager, Fugro

Company of the Year, sponsored by Oceaneering

• Ramboll      
• Mott MacDonald
• Leonardo                
• STEM Returners
• Balfour Beatty

Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by SLB

• Edward Obi - HR Hub Plus
• Abhishek Bhatia - IDEA
• Shiladitya Ghosh - Mission Zero Technologies
• Dr Muhammad Sadiq - Active Needle Technology
• Saad Mahtar - XTRACT
• Florence Aluu - Flosverse Techsphere         

Ethnicity ERG of the year, sponsored by Harbour Energy

• POEM - Royal Academy of Engineering
• Ethnicity Inclusion Network - Leonardo
• PEN - bp
• Harambe - Jacobs
• RAF EM Network - Royal Air Force
• Embrace - Siemens

Two other awards will also be presented during the evening - Special Appreciation Award, sponsored by Mott MacDonald, and Volunteer of the Year.

In keeping with the tradition of fundraising for key causes, AFBE-UK will highlight the important work of the International Justice Mission, a global organisation dedicated to combating slavery and violence.

Entertainment will be provided by the Velvet Notes, a band known for their wide and eclectic range of contemporary and classic genres, including RnB, hip-hop, Afrobeat, and dancehall. 

Tickets for the event start at £90 for student members, £120 for professional members and £170 for non-members. 

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: AFBE Gala & Awards 2025 Celebrating Diversity in Engineering

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: AFBE UK  

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