Accelerating Action: Insights from Award-Winning Women in Foundation Industries

The foundation industries – glass, metals, paper, chemicals, ceramics and cement – form the backbone of industrial production and infrastructure development. They provide essential materials and products that are vital to various sectors, including transport, construction, packaging, healthcare and more. The foundation industries have long been innovating to allow them to manufacture materials at a scale and price that economies across the globe could afford.

As we move closer to net zero emissions by 2050, the foundation industries need to continue to innovate to:

• Address climate change challenges e.g. reducing emissions, energy transition, resource efficiency;
• Diversify industrial leadership to adopt new skills and evolve the workforce;
• Meet the future demand for new materials & products from key end-user markets.

This year, as we celebrated International Women’s Day on 8th March, we turned our focus to the exceptional women leading change in these industries. The Women Innovator in Foundation Industries (WINFI) Award Winners are not only breaking barriers but also pioneering new approaches to accelerate progress, drive efficiency, and redefine what’s possible in these industrial sectors.

We asked the WINFI Award winners to share their perspectives on innovation—what’s driving it, what’s holding it back, and how we can push the industry forward faster.

Chloe So – CEO, Pulpatronics – pioneered metal-free RFID tags compatible with paper recycling, reducing electronic waste and cutting CO2 emissions by 70%.

Liz Gilligan – CEO & Co-founder, Material Evolution – leveraging AI-driven material discovery & pioneered MevoCem, an ultra-low carbon alternative reducing emissions by up to 85%.

Marta Fedorciuc-Onisa – Senior Chemist, Lucideon – pioneered MIDAR®, a groundbreaking geopolymer technology as low-carbon cement alternative.

Cathryn Hickey – CEO, AMRICC – leading the £18.27M Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group initiative and establishing the £10M AMRICC Centre.

Verity Piercy – Advanced Technologist, NSG Group – creating efficient, sustainable coatings for glass and steel industries and leading global collaborations.

Driving Transformation Through People

Verity reiterates the importance of early engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), particularly through role models and targeted programmes:

“By funding and engaging more in STEM activities at a grassroots level, we can create opportunities for women, challenge stereotypes, and empower future generations to pursue a seat at the table and catalyse transformative change.”

She believes mentorship and sponsorship programmes are essential, noting:

“Expanding these programmes can accelerate their impact on shaping communities and industries toward a more inclusive and innovative environment for everyone to thrive.”

Collaboration as a Catalyst for Change

Cathryn highlights the collective power of the foundation industries, stating that all the six industries have more in common than separates them, particularly in terms of energy usage, environmental sustainability challenges, innovation scale-up, talent pipeline and lasting skills development for new innovative technologies.

“The biggest opportunity for transformation for these industries lies in the development of open access scale-up facilities, which help companies’ de-risk their innovative ideas and give them the confidence to implement changes.”

Her boldest career risk involved facilitating collaboration among competitors, leading to the creation of the Midlands Industrial Ceramic Group (MICG), which is now a nationally recognised organisation.

Bringing Fresh Perspectives to Foundation Industries

Chloe sees the biggest opportunity for change through sustainability and diversity initiatives:

“By focusing on diverse thinking, out-of-the-box solutions, and resource-efficient production processes, there is significant potential for growth in traditionally static industries.”

She also advocates for breaking down silos and forming partnerships across the sectors to fast-track net-zero innovation adoption and implementation.

Marta believes that to fast-track the future, industries need to collaborate more closely across the value chain:

“Research centres, small businesses and industry need to work together through targeted innovation programmes, where open communication of required demands and targets, facilities needed, and the repeatability of experimental trials will help bridge the gap between research and industry, ultimately driving more effective and innovative solutions for the foundation industries.”

Revolutionising the Cement Industry with AI

Liz shares how the cement and concrete industries are on the brink of a major transformation both through AI-driven material discovery and increasing the representation of women:

“By leveraging AI, we can reduce reliance on carbon-intensive materials and create commercially viable, sustainable solutions at scale.”

Her own journey – taking the leap from academia to founding a start-up – highlights the impact of risk-taking in driving meaningful change:

“The biggest risk I’ve taken in my career was choosing to leave behind the traditional path of academic success to start my own company. Instead of following a more predictable route, I took a leap of faith, launched a business in a garage with no money, no detailed plan, and just a machine off eBay. That risk led to the creation of Material Evolution; a company that has since grown into a force for change in the industry helping to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment.”

Accelerating Action Through Innovation

As we look to the future, the insights of these leaders remind us that accelerating progress requires both bold ideas and the courage to turn them into reality. With the WINFI Award winners leading by example, the sector is not only ready for transformation but equipped to drive real, measurable change.