Enginuity Skills Awards 2026 in partnership with Babcock: Meet the judges behind this year’s awards

Judging for the Enginuity Skills Awards 2026 in partnership with Babcock has now been completed, with an expert panel selecting this year’s finalists and winners ahead of the official announcement.

Bringing together leaders in engineering and manufacturing, education and skills development, the judging panel reflects the full breadth of the sector. With experience spanning apprenticeships, higher education, workforce strategy, and inclusion, the judges offer a well-rounded perspective on what excellence looks like across every stage of the talent pipeline.

From rising stars to established employers and training providers, each category has been rigorously assessed by leaders who understand the real-world impact of skills, innovation and opportunity, ensuring the awards will recognise those truly driving the future of engineering and manufacturing in the UK.

Meet the judges for each category

Advanced Level Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Train’d Up

Chris Morris

Chris Morris is a senior Learning & Development and HR professional with over 30 years’ experience across engineering, manufacturing, and health & safety. He specialises in building high‑performing workforces, leading large‑scale apprenticeship programmes, and shaping long‑term talent strategies.

Now a Lead Business Development Manager at Train’d Up, Chris drives national apprenticeship growth across the engineering, manufacturing and rail sectors, following successful leadership roles at IAE and JCB. With deep technical credibility and strategic HR expertise, Chris is widely recognised for strengthening skills pipelines, supporting employers, and championing high‑quality apprenticeship pathways.

Poggy Murray Whitham

Poggy Murray Whitham is a multi-award-winning DEI expert, researcher, TEDx and keynote speaker, best-selling author, currently Director of OutEngineered, and serves in advisory positions for organisations such as the Royal Academy of Engineering, Engineering Council UK, LGBT Foundation, and others. 

A professionally accredited engineer by training, Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and former senior manager in automation engineering, Poggy works at the intersection of engineering, construction, manufacturing, and inclusion, and has been recognised as one of the UK’s Top 100 Manufacturing Professionals, and as a National Diversity Awards finalist from over 85,000 nominations for being a Positive LGBT Role Model in Engineering.

Graduate, Degree or Higher-Level Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Institutes of Technology

Rosa Wells

Rosa Wells is Deputy Vice-Chancellor at University College Birmingham, where she provides strategic leadership across academic provision and institutional development. An engineer by background, she is passionate about engineering education and is committed to creating inclusive, high-quality technical pathways that enable learners from all backgrounds to progress and succeed. 

Rosa also serves as Chair of the National Network of Institutes of Technology, with a strong focus on advancing Higher Technical Education. She works nationally to strengthen collaboration between education providers and industry, supporting clear progression routes and the development of a skilled workforce aligned to current and future economic needs. 

Nikesh Mistry

Nikesh is the Sector Head for Industrial Automation and Test and Measurement at GAMBICA the Trade Association for Instrumentation, Control, Automation and Laboratory Technology in the UK. He is responsible for representing the sector covering product groups for Variable Speed Drives, Controlgear, Soft Starts, PLCs, Terminals, Enclosures, Uninterruptible Power Supplies, Position Sensors and machine Safety Components.

Nikesh has developed a wider understanding of both the technical and commercial areas of the manufacturing industry, through both his work for GAMBICA and his previous work as a Technical Sales engineer and Account Manager within industry. This on-site industry experience has allowed him to thoroughly refine his knowledge of the sectors and sustain long term relationships with clients, customers and members.

He has an honours degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Birmingham, and has recently been working on encouraging and promoting Digitalisation within industry alongside having a vested interest in Sustainability. He is also a STEM ambassador hoping to encourage the younger generations to get involved in STEM subjects.

T Level Student of the Year – Sponsored by Eduqas

Chauvan Harding

Chauvan Harding is a Regional Representative for Eduqas, where she supports schools and colleges across England in delivering high-quality qualifications, with a particular focus on technical education and T Levels in Building Services Engineering for Construction. She works closely with providers to support curriculum planning, assessment readiness, and successful programme delivery.

With over 17 years’ experience in education, Chauvan has held senior leadership roles including Head of Vocational Education and Specialist Leader of Education. She has extensive expertise in curriculum development, quality assurance, and assessment, alongside significant experience as an examiner and team leader across multiple awarding organisations. Her work has included leading on compliance, standardisation, and maintaining the integrity of assessment processes.

In addition to her work with Eduqas, Chauvan has contributed to teacher education at the University of Sussex, where she has supported the training and development of future teachers, specialising in curriculum design, pedagogy, and assessment. Chauvan is passionate about improving learner outcomes and strengthening the link between education and industry. As a judge for the Enginuity Skills Awards, she brings a well-rounded perspective that combines educational expertise, assessment insight, and a strong understanding of the skills required for success in engineering and manufacturing careers.

Dave Ambler

Dave Ambler has served as Quality Assurance Manager for apprenticeships at Siemens Professional Education UK since August 2016. He began his career as an apprentice Toolmaker at Grundfos Pumps, later gaining industry experience at TRW before transitioning into vocational training in the early 2000s with Sunderland Engineering Training Association Ltd.

Joining Siemens in 2009, Dave has held several training-focused roles, supporting the expansion of apprenticeship programmes across Siemens UK. He currently oversees quality assurance for all apprenticeship programmes from Level 2 to Level 7, spanning multiple disciplines and sectors and plays a key role in ensuring high standards of delivery and compliance. In addition to his quality assurance responsibilities, Dave also serves as the careers lead, championing learner progression and supporting initiatives that connect apprentices with meaningful career pathways.

SME Employer Skills Champion of the Year – Sponsored by BAE Systems

Dr Jacqueline Hall

Dr Jacqueline Hall is Head of Apprenticeships and Skills at BAE Systems Plc, who place apprenticeships at the heart of a dynamic defence and digital business. BAE Systems currently supports more than 5000 apprenticeships across Air, Maritime, Land and Digital sectors across 60 different standards. Our apprenticeship recruitment has increased 500% in the last five years with achievement rates at c90%, supporting an Ofsted Outstanding grade. We have recruited c1200 apprentices in September 2025, with 88% in engineering & manufacturing roles of which 29% were women. We are currently recruiting circa c1100 for starts in September 2026 to meet demand within the business.

Jacqueline has extensive national and international experience within the education and skills landscape in particular for apprenticeships, creating employer led standards across industries critical to national infrastructure. She has extensive international experience, having set up a successful education business for a UK plc, focussed on school inspection and educational software. 

She has previously worked as an associate inspector for Ofsted and led a team building and maintaining qualifications across the devolved nations, including T levels for the engineering sector. She also set up an end-point assessment organisation for apprenticeships, which in 2016 enjoyed the first achievements across all sectors in England. She currently acts as an associate inspector for apprenticeships within HMIE in Scotland. 

Adam Tipper

Adam Tipper is Founder and Managing Director of Next Gen Makers, a growing ecosystem of employers, educators and young people, working together to raise the standard of engineering apprenticeships across the UK.

Next Gen Makers supports:

• Employers who want to build best-in-class apprenticeship schemes and be recognised for excellence
• Schools and colleges seeking trusted, employer-backed careers resources
• Students and apprentices exploring real engineering pathways and opportunities

Together, we’re strengthening future talent pipelines, sharing best practice, and helping the next generation make confident, informed career choices.

Large Employer Skills Champion of the Year

Marisa Kurimbokus

Marisa Kurimbokus is the Head of Engineering at Raeon, leading the team to develop and manufacture custom battery products for low to mid volume applications. She is a Chartered Engineer with a career spanning over a decade in product design and systems engineering within the automotive and power electronics industries, including Jaguar Land Rover, Triumph Motorcycles and Lyra Electronics. In her work, she has led a multi-disciplinary engineering design team and has been responsible for all engineering activities, including the delivery of projects, R&D, design, testing, and prototyping.

Marisa keenly supports engineers at all levels, and STEM is a huge passion for her, fuelled by her lack of guidance and inspirational role models when she was a student. She has been listed in the Top 50 Women in Engineering: Inventors and Innovators in 2022 for her work in net-zero and green technology, and the IET's Young Woman Engineer of the Year in 2024.

Vince Pizzoni

Professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nottingham, Vince has dedicated his career to inspiring future generations into STEM, engineering, technology, and energy. He mentors and sponsors thousands across the full career lifecycle, from school students to board-level executives, making this a central life mission.

With over 40 years of global business experience, Vince has held executive and board roles at major companies including ExxonMobil, Suez, V. Ships, Nalco, and Procter & Gamble, as well as working with executive search firm Preng & Associates.

Today, he manages a diverse portfolio focused on mentoring undergraduates, graduates, and alumni at the University of Nottingham, while also supporting students from leading business schools such as London Business School, Imperial, Cambridge, and Chicago Booth. He additionally holds multiple Trustee and Non-Executive Board positions.

Vince has received numerous awards, including Suez’s Chairman’s Award for Global General Manager of the Year, the IChemE Davidson Medal (2024), the IET/WISE Gender Diversity Ambassador Award (2025), and recognition from TechWomen100 and the Women’s Engineering Society.

He actively supports a wide range of organisations promoting diversity and inclusion, mentoring women in tech and business globally, including initiatives across the UK and Eastern Europe. A Chartered Engineer, he is a Fellow of several professional institutions and a strong advocate for gender equality in STEM.

Training Provider Skills Champion of the Year – Sponsored by EAL

Anna Fritz

As Associate Director for Product and Commercial Growth at EAL, Anna ensures we develop and deliver qualifications and assessments that help people meet their professional goals and improve life outcomes using insights from observational data.

She has been a Strategist at OCR-Cambridge Assessment and a Senior Industry & Products Manager at City & Guilds. Anna also has a Certificate in Educational Assessment, Testing and Measurement from the University of Cambridge.

This experience gives her the ability to design, develop and manage innovative qualifications and assessments to meet the rapidly changing needs of engineering and manufacturing industries.

Having studied Environmental Management with Information Technology at London Metropolitan University and previously played a key role in a Racial Equity Working Group, she leads EAL’s inclusive approach to ensure engineers and employers have the right skills at the right time to seize the opportunities created by sustainability skills, green technologies and the net-zero transition.

Paul Barker

Paul Barker is the founder of Enter Engineering, a specialist engineering recruitment business supporting manufacturing SMEs, colleges and training providers to attract, recruit and retain talent. 

Paul began his career straight from school as an apprentice toolmaker. He later pursued a full-time degree in mechanical engineering and went on to spend ten years working within a mechanical design team. He then moved into further education, where he worked as a lecturer, manager and Head of Department, supporting the development of apprentices and future engineers entering the industry.

Through Enter Engineering, Paul now works closely with both industry and education providers, helping engineering businesses attract the talent they need while also supporting experienced engineers to transition from industry into training and education roles within colleges and training providers.

His work provides a unique perspective across both sectors, helping bridge the gap between industry and education and supporting the development of the next generation of engineers.

New Talent Inspiration Programme of the Year – Sponsored by Rolls-Royce

Mike Percival

Mike Percival is Head of Manufacturing Engineering Capability and Technical Control at Rolls-Royce plc, responsible for Manufacturing Engineering Functional Capability (Processes and Standards, Tools & Methods, People and Skills) across the global enterprise. He graduated from Cambridge University in Natural Sciences (Geological Sciences), and has a PhD in Mineralogy.

Mike joined Rolls-Royce in 1990, working in Materials R&D before moving to Design Engineering in 1997 and Manufacturing Engineering in 2000. He has been leading Functional Capability since 2006, a key part of which has been leading the development of early career programmes (apprenticeships and graduate programmes) which ensure that our recruits gain the skills they need to contribute effectively to the community.

Debbie Johnson

Debbie Johnson is the Head of Innovation Talent & Skills at Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency. In this role, she leads efforts to strengthen the UK’s innovation ecosystem and shape talent strategy across UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Debbie’s work centres on two core priorities: enabling businesses to access and develop the talent they need to achieve their innovation ambitions; and ensuring that the UK’s education and skills system evolves in step with frontier technologies. Her focus is on aligning workforce capability with technological change so the UK can fully realise the economic and societal benefits of innovation.

Before joining Innovate UK in 2020, Debbie spent eighteen years designing and delivering collaboratively funded, business‑led skills programmes within the construction sector, supporting industry transformation and long‑term workforce development.

The Enginuity Alliance Collaboration Award

Mark Cameron OBE 

Mark has been Chief Executive of The 5% Club since April 2021, having advised the organisation from August 2020. A former Royal Navy Commodore, he brings extensive Board-level HR expertise and leadership experience from across his military and third sector perspectives.

Mark began his 38-year military career as a Weapon Engineer, completing a 5-year Artificer Technical Apprenticeship before reading for an Engineering Degree. His global deployments spanned the Arctic Circle to the South Atlantic and included military operations in the Former Yugoslavia and Indian Ocean.

Focusing on Human Resources for the last 25 years, Mark has led initiatives in talent management, training, and recruitment, earning an OBE in 2017 for transforming Royal Navy Recruiting Operations. A Chartered Engineer, Chartered Manager, and Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, Mark also holds an executive MBA, is a Windsor Leadership Fellow, and is a strong advocate of lifelong learning.

Katy Davies

Katy Davies leads Cap Air Systems, a UK electronics manufacturer supporting customers with PCB assembly, cable harnessing and box build. She’s spent her career helping organisations grow through change and is particularly focused on the “missing joins” between employers, training, confidence and opportunity.

Katy is National Chair of the Citizen Hub movement and holds a number of regional industry and skills roles, including with CPCA’s Skills & Employment Committee, sitting on the National Industrial Advisory Board for Women in Manufacturing, the SME Advisory Board for Enginuity, a Non-Executive Director of Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce and the project board for Made Smarter East. She brings a practical, employer-led lens to skills collaboration, obsessed with discovering what works, what scales, and what genuinely changes outcomes.

Save the date

The winners of Enginuity Skills Awards 2026 will be announced at a spectacular ceremony on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, where we’ll come together at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge to celebrate the people powering the UK’s engineering future. 

Buy your tickets and find out more: https://enginuity.org/skills-awards-2026

Skills Awards 2026