Women Innovators in Foundation Industries Awards 2025 Shortlist

Nwakaego is an architect, sustainability consultant, and researcher focusing on low-carbon materials and sustainable practices. She is working on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership on integrating low-carbon solutions into off-site construction and has published extensively on sustainability in the built environment. She actively engages with professional bodies like CIAT and the Green Building Council of Nigeria to advance industry standards.

Dr. Yu specialises in advanced ceramic technologies. She joined after completing a PhD at Nottingham University and contributed to breakthroughs such as fully vitrified MgO for the nuclear industry and ceramic anodes for waste refinement. Her work has earned recognition, including a King’s Award for Innovation in 2024.

Sara is a sustainable materials designer for the ceramic industry. Sara’s most recent project in Indonesia has resulted in 35 tonnes of ceramic factory waste being saved from landfill this year. As co-founder of Golden Earth Studio, she repurposes excavated clay into fine art, reducing waste and bridging industries. Her work prioritises impactful, scalable solutions that redefine sustainability in ceramics.

Dr. Josa is committed to advancing sustainability in construction materials by reducing their carbon footprint and ensuring equitable impacts. As co-convener of the International Federation of Concrete’s Task Group 6.3, Irene leads efforts to integrate sustainability into prefabricated structures. Irene actively mentors young women in engineering and is an advocate for a more sustainable and inclusive construction industry.

Liz is the inventor of the core technology at Mimicrete, a spinout from the University of Cambridge. Mimicrete develops self-healing concrete that repairs itself, reducing waste and maintenance. The company has partnered with Tier-1 construction firms, secured a $1M government project in 2024, and received over £1.5M in grants.

Katie is a degree apprentice in materials science at Lucideon, excelling in advanced ceramics projects. She has shown commitment to her own personal development as well prioritising client satisfaction on commercial projects. Katie is part of the team responsible for operating a 100% hydrogen kiln, for which she co-authored the standard operating procedures. Passionate about STEM outreach, Katie mentors peers and promotes inclusivity. She is a role model for aspiring scientists.

Phoebe is committed to making materials more sustainable. She identified key bioplastics with unique properties and engaged potential end-users. Phoebe is developing scaling strategies to bring these solutions to market, advancing sustainable materials.

Jihane spearheaded the programme of Surfacing in the organisation which involves innovating in cladding, hardfacing, and overlaying processes with independently controlled energy and feedstock parameters. The result: completed proof of concept for cladding components used in the production of steel, where demonstrable savings of up to 40% can be achieved, with corresponding positive impact in the environment.

Megan drives Almac’s flow chemistry platform, combining technical expertise with business strategy. She has grown the team, secured £1M for a flow lab, and achieved significant revenue growth. Awarded a £1.5M UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship in 2022, Megan is recognised as an industrial expert and thought leader in flow chemistry. Her leadership inspires young scientists, and she actively engages in outreach activities.

An R&D chemist, Samantha specialises in glass compositions and refractory materials. She develops novel glass for solar control and aesthetics, supports decarbonisation strategies, and is responsible for materials required for furnace durability and efficiency. Despite being at the company for only two years, she is already leading three glass composition projects and supporting various others. Samantha’s technical skills and leadership make her a standout in her field.

Asfarina is a degree apprentice in materials science at Lucideon. In just eight months, she contributed to projects on novel sintering techniques and sodium-based batteries. She co-authored a successful funding proposal for ultra-high-temperature ceramics and promotes STEM outreach. Asfarina’s drive and inclusivity mark her as a future industry leader.

A previous Women in Innovation award winner, Dian-Jen leads innovations addressing sustainability in fashion and textiles. She developed bio-based colour technology that absorbs CO₂, reducing water use by 97%. Her leadership extends to industry panels and workshops, promoting regenerative practices. Dian-Jen’s work bridges chemistry, sustainability, and systemic change.

Alexandra leads high-impact ceramics projects in defence and aerospace. She excels in R&D, including 3D printing and ultra-high-temperature ceramics. Alexandra is driven to solve complex, real-world problems. Beyond her technical expertise, Alex has shown leadership on developing her team, mentoring apprentices and creating opportunities for them to succeed.

Battery component manufacture is an industry where sustainable and green solutions are a major challenge. Maria leads the development of solvent-free battery component manufacturing, tackling toxic waste and high scrap rates in the industry.

Roya developed a smart, compostable bioplastic that reduces food waste by indicating freshness and offers easy recyclability. Her work benefits consumers, manufacturers, retailers, and the environment by minimising packaging waste and improving food safety.

Irma created a blockchain-powered marketplace for 3D-printable spare parts, enabling on-demand, low-carbon production. Her work significantly reduces emissions and costs, while promoting decentralised, sustainable supply chains.

Gabriela invented the K-Briq, a sustainable brick made from 90% construction waste, cutting carbon emissions by 95% compared to traditional bricks. This invention led to a spinout, Kenoteq, and her innovation is driving circular construction practices and supporting net-zero targets.

Born from a from a three months long group project from MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering at Imperial College and the Royal College of Arts, Chloe pioneered recyclable, metal-free RFID tags, reducing electronic waste and cutting CO2 emissions by 70%.  The tags are also compatible with paper recycling. Her creativity and approach pushes supply chains towards a circular economy, benefiting businesses and the planet alike.

Pam established the Castings Industry Net Zero Panel, driving sustainability in the UK foundry sector. Pam has influenced industry-wide research and policy; she has developed a roadmap for a Globally Competitive Net Zero UK Foundry Sector, and is the founding partner of the Back British Metals Initiative. Pam has raised the profile of the castings industry as a key part of the circular economy for metals in the UK, and has championed the industry as a key supplier of components for many other sectors, including sustainable energy generation, micro transport, medical and construction.

Dr. Harrold is an experienced sustainable materials engineer, with a passion to drive transformative innovation for the UK’s foundation industries. At FIVe, grown from a concept to MBA project through to actively supporting innovators to disrupt the Foundation Industries, Sarah’s work addresses regulatory barriers to net zero innovation and supports early-stage disruptive technologies aimed at achieving net zero. As an Industrial Decarbonisation Ambassador for Climate Connect, Sarah’s advocacy extends to amplify the dialogue on climate solutions for industrial sectors, championing commercialisation of cutting-edge solutions.

Yagmur’s mission is to make the construction industry more sustainable by repurposing agricultural waste into building material. She leads a pioneering effort to transform discarded olive pits into high-performance bio-composite panels for interior construction, creating opportunities for sustainable supply chains and greener building practices.

Liz is revolutionising the cement industry with MevoCem, an ultra-low carbon alternative reducing emissions by up to 85%. By integrating AI to optimise material performance and spearheading the construction of a groundbreaking production facility in Wales, Liz’s work not only aligns with global net zero goals but also revitalises local economies and sets new standards for industrial decarbonisation.

Shona has led transformative efforts to reduce NSG Group’s environmental impact through innovative glass manufacturing practices. She has championed many project such as efficient solar power generation, increasing use of recycled glass, and logistics innovation e.g. allowing more glass to be transported for every kg of CO2 emitted in its transport, and packaging with greater longevity and capability for reuse.

Marta has pioneered MIDAR®, a groundbreaking low-carbon geopolymer technology that encapsulates nuclear waste and is also a low-carbon alternative to traditional Portland cement. Under Marta’s leadership, this versatile MIDAR® materials has been successfully scaled up, transforming it into a real-world, cost-effective solution for nuclear waste management, supporting net zero goals nationally and internationally.

Through Project Butterfly, Shailaja has advanced sustainable smart manufacturing by using AI and IoT to optimise energy usage and reduce carbon emissions in UK manufacturing. Her innovations have achieved significant carbon and energy savings over the year long project; reducing overall carbon emissions by 20%, improved manufacturing energy efficiency by 25%, and achieved a 12% reduction in material waste.

Sustainable materials engineer by background, Lucy has been instrumental in transforming the business model of MPI from service provider to the steel industry, into a dynamic cross-sector facilitator, relationship builder and leader. She has driven impactful projects like Cement2Zero, scaling net-zero cement production in collaboration with an academic group, RTO, foundation industry partners and a newly formed spin-out. Lucy also co-leads Foundation Industries Ventures (FIVe), connecting start-ups to scale-up opportunities and serves as an Industrial Decarbonisation Ambassador.

Verity has been a driving force in R&D projects like Com2Coat, creating efficient, sustainable coatings for glass and steel industries. Now leading global collaborations within NSG Group and managing the Horizon Europe PROPLANET project, Verity is advancing innovative solutions across multiple sectors, while mentoring emerging talent and contributing to STEM outreach.

Dr. Hickey’s ability to unite organisations, secure transformative funding, and deliver measurable benefits has revolutionised the ceramics sector, by leading the £18.27M Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group initiative and establishing the £10M AMRICC Centre. Her visionary leadership has accelerated innovation, created jobs, and improved sustainability in ceramics and beyond, making the UK globally competitive in advanced materials.

Valerie has led groundbreaking collaborations in net-zero technology, including spearheading a global consortium on Chemical Looping Combustion. Her leadership on the £700,000 Innovate UK-funded REE Recovery project is advancing sustainable recovery of critical materials, aligning with the UK’s net-zero and supply chain goals.

Annabelle’s pioneering work with Tensei has transformed agricultural residues into high-quality décor paper, reducing reliance on virgin wood pulp. Her efforts are driving innovation in sustainable materials, proving the potential of non-wood fibres in specialty paper production.

As a bioprocess and biotechnology engineer with 15 years of experience in the pharma and chemicals industry across Europe and the UK, Lara developed an innovative X-ray sterilisation method for single-use systems, addressing supply chain challenges and reducing environmental impact. Her work is shaping sustainable practices in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, enhancing reliability, and minimising contamination risks.