The Women’s Engineering Society (WES) has confirmed the appointment of Elizabeth Donnelly as its new CEO. She replaces Kirsten Bodley, who left the WES at the end of August.

WES (www.wes.org.uk) president Benita Mehra said: “As we approach our centenary in 2019, I am delighted that Elizabeth Donnelly is joining the WES as CEO. She has a strong track record of success — embracing engineering, diversity and charities — and is ideally suited to lead WES into our second century.”

After an early career in IT, Ms Donnelly graduated from the Open University. She worked with Rolls-Royce from 2005 to 2008 and was awarded Membership of the Royal Aeronautical Society as a result.

She went on to lead skills policy for ADS Group Ltd (the trade association for aerospace, defence and security).

She chaired the RAeS (Royal Aeronautical Society) Education and Skills Committee, was a founder member (and later deputy chairman) of the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Committee, and was a non-executive director of the East Midlands Regional Development Agency from 2008 to 2011.

In 2013, Ms Donnelly set up her own consulting company, working with charities and universities.

During its centenary in 2019, the WES will be undertaking a variety of national and local events and activities, in recognition of the many women who have made a significant contribution in the past, and to embrace future change, “where we expect to see more women working in engineering and related careers”.  

The WES is a charity and a professional network of women engineers, scientists and technologists that encourages the education of engineering, while supporting companies on matters of gender diversity and inclusion.