Finmeccanica UK

In December 2014, the Institute of Engineering Technology (IET) named Finmeccanica – Selex ES engineer, Naomi Mitchison, as the Institute’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year.

The YWE award recognises the female engineers working in the UK today. According to recent figures released by the IET’s Skills and Demand in Industry survey, women represent only 6% of the engineering workforce. The IET therefore aims to address this issue by encouraging women into the engineering and IT sectors. Seeing the best female engineers and technicians recognised and rewarded for their ground-breaking achievements, is one way of doing this, as well as inspiring the next generation of young women to consider engineering as a career.

After growing up in Italy, Naomi moved to Edinburgh for university, graduating with an MEng in Electronic and Electrical Engineering in 2009. Naomi joined Selex ES in 2012(13) and is currently a Senior Hardware Engineer at the company, working in the Advanced Targeting division and specialising in laser warning systems for military aircraft.

Here she brings her commitment, imagination and enthusiasm to an ambassadorial STEM role, participating in a broad range of activities such as the Scottish Robotics Games, the Edinburgh Science Festival, and career events for local schools and universities. Her imagination and experience teaching children is frequently put to good use to develop new activities and unique ways to engage her audience. Naomi recently starred in the company’s video for schools: "Wake Up to a Career in Engineering"

Naomi is also the Chair of the IET Young Professionals committee for Scotland South East, and is heavily involved in organising local events for students and working engineers, such as technical talks, tours and workshops.

Throughout 2015, Naomi will play an ambassadorial role for the IET, raising awareness of careers in engineering, while acting as a role model for potential female engineers. IET research has also revealed that only 1% of parents of girls were likely to encourage their daughters to enter into engineering careers, compared to 11% for parents of boys.

Naomi said: "I’m really grateful to receive this award and it’s a real honour to be the IET’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year. I’m really looking forward to taking an ambassadorial role for the industry and doing what I can to encourage more women into engineering."

Michelle Richmond, IET Director of Membership said: "The lack of women in engineering is a very significant problem, contributing to skills shortages which damage the economy. The shocking reality is that the UK is missing out on half of its potential engineering and technology workforce by failing to attract women into the industry. Naomi will be a fantastic role model to all young people thinking of a career in engineering and technology."