Q. What excites you most about judging this year’s Women Leaders in Electronics Awards?

I’m looking forward to hearing first-hand from the leaders and advocates representing a wide cross-section of the women in the Electronics sector. In particular, hearing the different viewpoints, perspectives, technical achievements and innovations – it is imperative platforms such as Women Leaders in Electronics Awards continue to shine a spotlight so that the sector can celebrate the achievements of many of the great women in Electronics, but also the entrants and all other women working in the wider ecosystem within Electronics!

Q. Which trends or innovations do you think will shape the electronics industry in the upcoming year, and what do you see as the next “big thing” for women leaders in this space?

I run Zen Semiconductor Search which is a European semiconductor recruitment business – from that perspective, we see unprecedented movement in the Electronics sector and its importance is being highlighted more than ever. AI (including Edge-AI) is of course the big one. We also see significant movement in areas such as Semiconductors, Quantum, Photonics and Optics. Given the ever-evolving landscape of technology, it’s critical to remain agile, dynamic and versatile, continuing to upskill, be proactive and embrace change. For example, we are seeing a rise in start-ups while many of the larger companies consolidate - this will provide the most immediate leadership opportunities.

Q. How do awards like these help drive positive change, raise visibility, and support long‑term growth, innovation, and inclusion across the industry?

The Women Leaders in Electronics Awards provides a platform to showcase women in Electronics and provide an insight into the vibrancy and energy of the sector. More specifically, it showcases that the profession is rich with intellectual fulfilment and academic endeavour; an abundance of different career paths with technical or managerial routes; the option of flexible work arrangements with on-site, hybrid or fully remote; an extensive variety of job opportunities with large multinational companies or small start-ups; working in multicultural environments; the option of local or international travel; good financial prospects; the opportunities are vast and there is one to suit all tastes. Improving visibility at the Awards will help to ensure the next generation of women can be inspired by those already successful and drive further long-term growth and positive change in Electronics.