Engineering Technician (EngTech) of the Year and EngTech Visionary are among categories at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Vision Awards, which celebrate talented engineers who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to engineering. The awards also showcase those who work to inspire young people into the profession.

Among winners at the 2016 awards are EngTech of the Year Katja Srbljanin, a Senior Technical Communications Engineer in Technical Data Services at Siemens, Aero-Derivative Gas Turbines (AGT) in Warwick. She is on the Siemens Warwick STEM committee setting the STEM strategy and coordinating events in the local community and schools.

Keith Wylie won the EngTech Visionary award. He completed his Apprenticeship while with the RAF before becoming the UK Engineering Manager at Heat Trace Ltd.  He is a committed supporter of EngTech and encourages apprentices to become professionally registered while continually updating their skills by embracing lifelong learning.  

Among other winners was Young Member Visionary Matthew Marson, who is an Incorporated Engineer (IEng). He is a Consultant at Accenture and is responsible for the Corporate Citizenship initiative within the firm. He has also worked with Engineers Without Borders and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). Sqn Ldr Suzie Gray, also an Incorporated Engineer, achieved the Modern Day Visionary award for her efforts to demonstrate the potential of engineering careers within the RAF and for hosting girls at RAF Cosford to get hands-on experience of engineering.

Other awards include the James Watt International Gold Medal, which was given to Professor Dame Ann Dowling OM DBE FREng FRS CEng HonFIMechE for her work associated with efficient, low emission combustion; and understanding, modelling and reducing the noise from cars, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. 

IMechE President, Jon Hilton, said: “This annual ceremony is an important way of recognising the young people who will be the future of our industry. The Vision and Prestige Awards raise the profile of budding as well as successful engineers. They all talk about the exciting world of engineering, and I believe that this will encourage even more to join them.”   

The ceremony was held at One Birdcage Walk at the end of September and hosted by Jon Hilton and IMechE Director of Engineering, Dr Colin Brown. More details on the event and for a full list of winners, please visit IMechE Vision Awards 2016