Katy Deacon’s career is a great example of tenacity, resilience, determination, and passion. She studied maths, physics, chemistry, and computing for A-Levels, as well as participated in extra-curricular engineering schemes, which sparked her interest in the engineering field.

She went on to gain an MS in Advanced Engineering, and an MSc in Renewable Energy, Low Carbon Buildings, and Electrical Building Services Design from Loughborough University; a postgrad degree in Information Governance and Assurance rom Aberystwyth University; and a Bachelor of Engineering in Air Transport Engineering, and a BEng in Air Transport Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering from the University of London.

Her career started as an engineering trainee at British Airways at the same time as studying at the University of London, before moving to Daletech Electronics Ltd as a Technical Support Engineer.

Difficulties in the aviation industry caused by 9/11 resulted in her to focus her skills on electrical design in buildings. In turn, this led to her working for Kirklees Council for 20 years as an Electrical Engineer, Senior Energy Engineer, Information Governance Manager, and Data Protection Officer.

Katy is also a Vice President of the Institute of Engineering and Technology where she chairs the Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Board; she is also a Visiting Professor for Aton University and the University of Huddersfield, specialising in inclusive engineering design.

ACCOLADES

Katy’s expertise has seen her win a number of awards and accolades:

– She won the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award in 2006

– Her work on the Kirklees and Yorkshire Forward Renewable Energy Toolkit won the NICEIC Energy Efficiency Product of the Year

– She was awarded the WES Karen Burt Award for the most outstanding newly Chartered Women Engineer of the Year

TOWARDS BELONGING LIMITED

Towards Belonging Limited stemmed from Katy’s own needs following a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis back in 2012. After spending 12 years in a wheelchair, she realised the difficulties posed by a lack of understanding from engineers in how to build accessible and inclusive environments.

Through her company, she wants to bridge the gap between the disabled community and the engineering community, enabling disabled people to share their experiences of inaccessible space, and to help engineers understand the importance of designing for everyone in mind.

Disability Pride is something that is often marked throughout the month of July, with individuals and organisations trying to eradicate the stigma of disability. Whilst important, Katy believes this is something that should be understood every single day of the year, which is why Towards Belonging Ltd often give disability pride presentations throughout the year, helping to improve workplace culture, and to steer away from cultures which consider disabilities as shameful conditions.

Towards Belonging Limited partner with engineering businesses, universities, and research organisations to assist with knowledge generation and improve the understanding of the needs of disabled people. They do this through workshops, education sessions, and keynote speeches.

Through their engineering education, Katy helps go beyond building regulation requirements, and really provides a solution which takes all potential users into account.

Katy is a popular keynote speaker on the topic of Engineering Insights With a Heart. She provides insightful, heartfelt, and engaging speeches for individuals, organisations, or conferences, and can be targeted to particular subjects referencing accessibility, engineering, and inclusion.

Clients: Aston University, Disabled Adventurer, Hoare Lea, University of Huddersfield, IET, Rock Engineering.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book Electrical Engineer & Disability Speaker Katy Deacon for your next live event.

Contact us.