2023 Judges

Rachel is Deputy Director, Research Base at EPSRC where she  leads the EPSRC’s ambitions across their core physical and mathematical sciences, advanced materials and engineering portfolios.  Prior to this was theme leader for EPSRC research themes including Circular Economy, Quantum Technologies, Healthcare Technologies and Energy. Other roles included Head of impact, International, and Public Engagement. 

Rachel has a first degree in Chemistry from the University of Leicester and studied for her PhD in Physical Chemistry at the Royal Institution of Great Britain and Imperial College, London. She also worked as a post-doctoral research scientist in the coatings industry.

Rebecca is the Director of Business Development & Partnerships at EngineeringUK. Having worked in national and global partnership development within the non-for-profit sector for 13 years, Rebecca joined EngineeringUK in February 2023 to lead growth of partnerships with the engineering and technology industry.

EngineeringUK has over 20 years’ experience working to increase both the number and diversity of engineers and technologists, to enable more young people from all backgrounds to be informed, inspired and progress into the sector. Rebecca’s department collaborates with more than 300 like-minded businesses to achieve this mission, and ensure that the UK has the diverse skilled workforce it needs to drive economic prosperity, improve sustainability, and achieve net zero.

As Director of Aerospace Technology and Future Programmes Alan is responsible for the formulation of the global technology strategy and delivery of the supporting programmes to underpin product development and enable new business opportunities.  Previous engineering leadership roles included EVP, Future Programmes, Engineering Director Rolls-Royce Deutschland and Chief Engineer V2500.  He joined Rolls-Royce in 1987 from NEI Parsons. Alan is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Royal Aeronautical Society.  External appointments include non-Executive Director of the Henry Royce Institute and Aerospace Technology Institute and Chair of the Derby Branch of the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust.

Sue Simmonite is the Global Project Management & Control Director for BAE Systems. She has been with BAE Systems for nearly 28 years with experience across a range of complex projects in different sectors and business units leading on Project Control, Project Management, Contract Closure and Business Integration, having joined initially as a Business Modern Apprentice.

Operating within the Chief Technology Information Office based in the UK, Sue works across many different cultures and geographies to provide the enabling Project Management & Control capabilities to achieve operational excellence in projects, programmes and portfolios.

Sue is actively engaged in operational support to the global Portfolios, Programmes and Projects through Chairing key independent reviews such as Integrated Baseline Reviews and Phase Reviews. Sue also is the corporate sponsor for all senior PM leadership programmes working closely with thought leaders in this area in academia.

Sue is the company representative for the Association for Project Management (APM), the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the UK Major Projects Association (MPA) and achieved recognition as an APM Fellow as well as having been recognised internally as one of the inaugural BAE Systems PM Fellows. In 2021 also Sue was successfully elected to the APM Board of Trustees.