Meet the speakers of AFBELIVE 2026

Anca Raines is the Chief People Officer at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, where she is responsible for the team’s HR, Health, Safety and Wellbeing functions and plays a key role in shaping the organisation’s people strategy. Born in Romania, Anca spent a portion of her childhood in Beijing before moving to the UK at the age of 19. She has built a career spanning over 20 years in HR and management consulting where she has excelled in change management, operating model development, and talent strategy across sectors such as travel, technology, and engineering. In her current capacity at Mercedes‑AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, Anca is focused on building a sustainable, inclusive and high-performing culture within one of the world’s leading motorsport teams. She is passionate about creating opportunities for diverse talent and helping individuals and organisations reach their full potential through people-centred leadership.

Poggy Murray Whitham is a multi-award-winning DEI expert and researcher, global TEDx and keynote speaker, and best-selling author of Inclusion Moments. A professionally accredited engineer, Chartered Fellow of the CMI, they have been recognised as one of the UK’s Top 100 Manufacturing Professionals and as a National Diversity Awards finalist for being a positive LGBT role model in engineering. A former senior manager in automation engineering, Poggy now works at the intersection of technology and inclusion, demonstrating how embracing diversity drives innovation, productivity, and culture change, combining strategic insight with the lived experience of being Black, Queer, Disabled, and Neurodivergent. Founder and Director of OutEngineered and Chief Operating Officer of Divrsity, Poggy also holds several advisory positions with the Royal Academy of Engineering, Engineering Council UK, Engineering Professors Council, Women in Manufacturing, and LGBT Foundation, amongst others.

Surakat Kudehinbu is a venture capital investor, engineer and startup mentor with a passion for helping founders turn innovative ideas into successful businesses. As a Senior Investment Executive at Green Angel Ventures, he works with early-stage climate and deep technology companies, supporting them from investment through to growth. Before moving into venture capital, Surakat was part of the founding team of a deeptech startup, helping to commercialise novel engineering technology from concept to market. Beyond his investment role, he mentors entrepreneurs through a number of startup and innovation programmes and serves as a board director and observer for early-stage technology companies. He is passionate about widening access to engineering, championing entrepreneurship, and helping the next generation of diverse innovators and business leaders succeed.

Dr Ikechukwu Onyegiri PhD, CEng, MIMechE is a Principal Engineer at TechnipFMC in Aberdeen, where his professional work spans pipeline integrity, fracture mechanics, and fitness‑for‑service engineering, supporting complex offshore projects that are central to the UK’s evolving energy landscape. With a strong research background and a career rooted in industry, Ikechukwu is a firm advocate for stronger pathways between education and engineering practice. He regularly engages with universities, early‑career engineers, and students to demystify engineering careers, highlight transferable skills, and show how academic learning translates into impactful industrial outcomes. Beyond his technical role, Ikechukwu is widely recognised for his leadership in STEM inclusion, progression, and representation. Through his work as co-chair of the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE‑UK), and wider community initiatives, he champions practical actions that improve access to STEM, support mid‑career visibility, and develop inclusive leadership across the profession. His contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion in engineering have been acknowledged through national industry awards.

Nyasha Mutembwa is a graduate civil engineer whose career has been shaped by leadership, resilience, and a strong commitment to inclusion within the engineering profession. Her passion for representing underrepresented voices began at university through her involvement with Women in STEM and collaboration with industry and academic leaders. She later made history as the first Black woman and the first engineering student to be elected President of the Students’ Association, an experience that continues to influence her approach to leadership and advocacy today. AFBE UK has been a defining part of her professional journey. Attending her first AFBE conference in 2022 was a transformative experience, providing a sense of representation and belonging that strengthened her confidence in pursuing a career in engineering. She returned to AFBE Live! 2024, where she was honoured to be named runner-up in the Next Big Idea innovative pitch competition. The experience expanded her professional network and provided valuable connections and support as she began her career in Scotland, where Black women remain under-represented within the engineering sector. Her path into industry was not without challenges. After completing her degree, Students’ Association presidency, and summer placement in 2024, she experienced a year of unemployment. Rather than stepping away from the profession, she remained determined and engaged, drawing support from organisations including AFBE UK, Equate Scotland, and Black Women in Engineering. This period strengthened her resilience, deepened her sense of purpose, and reinforced her commitment to creating opportunities for others facing similar barriers. Now working in industry, she actively uses her voice through speaking engagements, mentoring, and platforms such as the Engineering Talent Podcast to share authentic experiences that resonate with aspiring engineers. Having once looked up to the professionals and leaders who inspired her, she is now committed to helping the next generation see themselves in engineering and believe that they belong in the profession. Provide your feedback on BizChat

Jainna Bhalla is a multi-award-winning Project Manager at Leonardo, specialising in Communications and Institutional Affairs. She is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion and co-chairs the company’s Ethnicity Inclusion Network, an award-recognised network that supports initiatives to foster a more equitable and representative workplace. Having progressed from a degree apprenticeship, Jainna is currently undertaking a Senior Leader Apprenticeship, working towards an MBA. This experience continues to develop her strategic perspective, alongside her focus on delivering impactful work. Jainna is a strong champion of apprenticeships, STEM, and social mobility, actively supporting early careers talent through organisations such as Future Leaders UK. Beyond her corporate role, she is the co-founder of The Brown Girl League, a community dedicated to empowering global majority women through meaningful connections, career development, and personal growth.

Loraine is the Global EDI Director at Arup and previously was a leading consultant at Nichols Group. Before that for 10 years Loraine was the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail, which maintains and develops Britain’s rail infrastructure. With some 43,000 employees, it was the fastest growing railway in Europe. Loraine led a centre of expertise which supported Network Rail’s ambition to be a more open, diverse and inclusive business. Previously, Loraine led a multi-award-winning team, delivering a programme of equality and inclusion and employment and skills in the construction of the infrastructure, venues, and facilities on the Olympic Park for London 2012. For this work Loraine was awarded an MBE. As the vice chair of the Trust for London, a grant-making body which tackles inequality and poverty in the capital, Loraine led the working group that funded the London Living Wage campaign. In October 2019 Inclusive Boards and the Financial Times included Loraine in the top 100 women influencing engineering in the UK. In November 2019, Loraine was awarded the Mike Nichols Award (Association of Project Management APM) which recognises contributions to transformational change for the world and society. Loraine was part of the independent advisory panel for the Windrush Lessons Learned Review. And in the 2020 Queen’s New Year’s Honours list, Loraine was awarded an OBE her work on diversity and inclusion at Network Rail. Loraine is a non-executive director (NED) of DFS Group, and a Board member of POWERful Women and the Black Business Association (part of the London Chamber of Commerce). Loraine is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

George Imafidon MBE is the CEO of Motivez, an award-winning community organisation that has trained over 13,500 under-represented students and graduates aged 14-25 to secure competitive STEM jobs and become change-makers. Since 2015, Motivez has reached millions through its campaigns and been backed by Idris Elba, Beyoncé and the Royal Family. He is also a Race Engineer in Sir Lewis Hamilton’s electric racing team, Team X44, and a Vice Chair of The Co-op Foundation.

Tamara Finkelstein is the Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering. She studied engineering and economics before starting her career as an economist in HM Treasury. Her career in government included leadership roles in Sure Start, Adult Social Care and the Building Safety Programme in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire. Before joining the Academy in 2026 she spent six years as the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs having previously led the department’s work on EU Exit Delivery. As Head of the Government Policy Profession she worked closely with the Academy on the Policy Fellowships Programme. Tamara is a trustee of a number of community and social care charities

Santina Bunting stands out as a multi-award-winning trailblazer. She was the only one out of 150 students to embark on an apprenticeship journey after GCSEs. She completed her Level 3 Civil Engineering Apprenticeship at Arup in two years. Now a qualified Technician with the Institute of Civil Engineers, Santina is in her third year of a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship at Warwick University whilst also working at Arup on multi-million-pound infrastructure projects. Santina was the Youngest overall winner of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the year 2024 in its 24-year history as well as Apprentice of the year winner. In 2024 she was ranked #6 on the power lists Future Leaders Magazine. She was also the Construction Excellence G4C Apprentice of the Year 2024 and won Highly Commended in the Engineering category of the Multicultural apprenticeship awards 2023. Passionate about empowering apprentices and early careers, representing the youth voice, Santina has spoken at esteemed venues such as the House of Lords and the House of Commons and was invited to 10 Downing street and contributed to the UCAS Apprenticeship Advisory group and the government recent skills for life campaign. She is also a skilled events and award host having hosted the Inspirational Youth Awards, Federation of Awarding Bodies Awards, Colmore food festival, WMCA adult learner to name a few.

Awai is currently a Lead Systems Engineer at Siemens Mobility Limited. She holds a BEng degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Nottingham and a PhD in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Manchester, UK. She is a STEM Ambassador and is passionate about promoting the engineering discipline to young people.

Dr Ollie Folayan MBE is Head of Process Engineering at Costain Group PLC and a Visiting Professor at the School of Science and Engineering at University of Dundee. He is also the Deputy President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and a co-founder of Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers. Ollie graduated with a BEng in Chemical Process Engineering with Fuel Technology from University of Sheffield in 1999 and earned a PhD in Fuels and Combustion from University of Leeds in 2002, authoring five international publications in the field of combustion and engineering. Over the course of his career, Ollie has worked on major CAPEX projects spanning Front End Engineering Design (FEED), detailed design and commissioning across the energy and engineering sectors. In 2018 he was elected a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers. A passionate advocate for widening participation in engineering, Ollie has championed successful outreach programmes including Making Engineering Hot, NextGen (Scotland), Transition, and Real Projects. He has co-authored several publications exploring the role of representation and role models in supporting the transition from academic study to professional engineering careers and promoting the long-term sustainability of the engineering profession in the UK. Ollie is a regular speaker on engineering leadership, diversity and professional development. He has chaired numerous industry seminars featuring senior leaders and policymakers and has served on the All-Energy Diversity and Inclusion Task Group established by Oil and Gas UK in 2019. He has also served as a judge for several prestigious industry awards including the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards, the Offshore Achievement Awards, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering Awards, and the Oil and Gas UK Awards. Ollie was a finalist for Mentor of the Year at the OGUK Awards (2021) and Diversity Hero at the Herald Awards (2021), and in the same year he received the Diversity and Inclusion Award from IChemE. In recognition of his significant contributions to advancing diversity and inclusion within the engineering profession, Ollie was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours.

Dr Nike Folayan is Chartered Electronics Engineer with a doctorate in Electronics engineering focusing on electromagnetic bandgap antennas for mobile applications. Nike is currently Associate Director and the Technical Discipline Leader for Communications and Control within WSP, an engineering consultancy where she leads a team of telecommunications engineers in the UK and India working on a variety of projects within the transport industry including railways and the highways projects in the UK, Australia, South America, Middle East and Africa. She is also a Technical Blogger on SMART technology systems.

Nike is chair and Co-founder of AFBE-UK a not for profit organisation AFBE-UK promotes higher achievements in education and engineering particularly among people from black and minority ethnicity (BME) backgrounds. |

Nike was featured in Britain?s 100 most influential people of African and Caribbean heritage 2012 Powerlist. In 2019 Nike was named in the Financial Times published 100 most influential women in engineering. She is also a Trustee at the Engineering Development Trust (EDT). She is also on various Diversity steering groups including the Science Council and Transport for London amongst others. She was recently a judge at the IET Young Woman of the Year 2019 Award. She is a fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).