There’s still time to book a place at a national awards ceremony which celebrates success in diversity and inclusion in the engineering industry.

The AFBE-UK Awards event – this year themed ‘Tapestry of Impact’ – will be staged at the P&J Live in Aberdeen on Thursday, November 6 [2025].

More than 700 guests will be in attendance to watch the winners declared from among the finalists in seven different categories.

Dr Ollie Folayan, co-founder and co-chairman of AFBE-UK, said: 
“There has already been huge interest in the 2025 ceremony but there are still a limited number of tickets available.

“I’d encourage anyone who wants to attend to secure their ticket soon and be there for what is invariably a very special evening for our industry.

“Our finalists, without exception, have made significant contributions in championing the principles of diversity and inclusion. They have fascinating and insightful stories to tell – we’re looking forward to another inspiring and memorable awards evening.”

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

Headline sponsor for the event is the Royal Academy of Engineering.

This year’s 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.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: AFBE UK  

AFBE-UK members enjoy free access to KeyFacts Energy thanks to sponsored access from Serica Energy. If you are an AFBE-UK member and would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please contact Chris Pettit at KeyFacts Energy - chris@keyfactsenergy.com