Background to the sector
Despite the evidence that shows diverse teams increase innovation, productivity and revenue, there are clearly still vast imbalances in the UK STEM workforce. In technology in particular, the lack of women from black and brown communities is worrying when the use of technology in our everyday lives.
When we look at the engineering sector, a 2018 Engineering UK report found that only 8.1% of men
and women working in engineering were from Black groups, with Black & Brown women only comprising less than 2% of all engineering professionals.
When we look at figures for high-level employees, the representation of Black & brown women is vastly worrying. Within the top tech firms in the UK, over 70% of boards and senior executive teams do not have a Black member; in fact, Black & brown women make up around 2% of boards and senior executive teams.
In this episode I am speaking with Trish Uwanogho an inspiring Senior Portfolio Manager working for the Defence Artificial Intelligence Centre which is part of
the Ministry of Defence. She currently leads the assurance and delivery of multiple engineering projects.
She has gained over 23 years’ experience working across various sectors such as Defence, Aerospace, Infrastructure, Oil & Gas, Manufacturing and
Management Consultancy.
She is the Intersectionality Co-Lead for the Defence African and Caribbean Network (AfCab), where she helps to improve inclusivity within the workplace and is also implementing the Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship Scheme at the DAIC.
Trish graduated top of her class in 2016 with a Distinction Award in MSc Engineering Management from UWE and holds an MBA as well as a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering.
With a passion for STEM and promoting diversity, Trish volunteers as a STEM Ambassador to encourage students especially young girls towards becoming the next generation of Project Managers and Engineers.
Trish is a non-Executive Director at the Stepping Up CIC after successfully completing the Stepping Leadership Programme in 2021.
