The Safety & Resilience in Engineering Awards will be judged by an elite line up of industry pioneers, influential leaders and visionaries, each bringing with them an unparalleled range of experience and depth of knowledge.
Representing the pinnacle of expertise in engineering, our panel is looking to discover emerging innovators, game changers and leaders who can propel engineering into new realms.
Having your work endorsed by our judging panel will benchmark your achievements in the sector. View the categories here.
Caroline Hamilton MBE CEng MIMechE
Chief Executive, Safety Assessment Federation Limited
Caroline’s engineering inspirations are deep rooted from a childhood spent with her father on sites all over the UK including the Channel Tunnel and watching his progression from a welder / fabricator to a Mechanical Commissioning Manager in the years before his retirement.
Caroline, a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, joined the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) in March 2020 with a career background in manufacturing and nuclear decommissioning consultancy providing a wealth of consultative, problem solving and people skills, and technical insight into a wide range of regulatory requirements. SAFed is the trade association which represents the UK independent engineering inspection and certification industry, whose members play a key role in maintaining high standards of safety within the workplace.
Caroline’s aspirations at SAFed are to raise the profile of the Engineering Surveyor as a respected and aspirational role and increase the number of routes to becoming competent. It is also her mission to improve awareness of the importance of membership to the end that SAFed is known within general engineering like ATOL/ABTA are in the travel sector.
At home, Caroline is from Aspatria, Cumbria, a small town approximately half way between the northern Lakeland fells and the Solway Firth estuary, and is an active member of the IMechE West Cumbria. In 2024 Caroline was named in the Kings’ Birthday Honours and received her MBE from HRH Princess Annes in October at an investiture at Windsor Castle for services to Business and Engineering.
Dr Emma Wilcox CEnv
Chief Executive, Society for the Environment
Emma became the Chief Executive of the Society for the Environment, the Chartered Organisation responsible for registering environmental professionals, in 2015.
Emma is a Chartered Environmentalist and Fellow of IOM3 as well as a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10k Small Business Programme.
As well as the Chair of the IOM3 Sustainability Development Group (SDG), Emma is a member of the UK Government’s Green Apprenticeships Advisory Panel (GAAP) and a Board Member of the Future Water Association.
Emma Thompson MSOE
Designate Executive Director, Society of Operations Engineers
With over 21 years of experience working in engineering, on both the Professional Engineering Institution and in a corporate engineering environment, Emma Thompson MSOE is well versed in the engineering world.
As an accomplished Head of Business Operations/Designate Executive Director, Emma not only brings a wealth of experience in driving organisational efficiency, optimising processes, and fostering growth but also a passion for the engineering sector.
Emma is driven by a passion for optimising operations, boosting productivity, and orchestrating flawless execution across departments, establishing herself as a formidable presence. Her key responsibilities include spearheading process reengineering initiatives, enhancing operational efficiency, developing strategic plans to align business operations with company objectives, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to drive revenue growth and market expansion, and cultivating high-performing teams while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Robin Bates MSOE MBES
Membership, Registration, and Professional Standards Lead, Society of Operations Engineers
With over 20 years of experience in professional development within the engineering sector, Robin currently serves as the Membership, Registration, and Professional Standards Lead at the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE). His role involves overseeing the CPD approval scheme and managing SOE’s academic panel and course accreditations. Robin plays a critical role in maintaining SOE's relationship with the Engineering Council and Society for the Environment, ensuring alignment with national engineering standards.
Prior to his current role, Robin enhanced his credentials at the Institute of Physics, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, and the Royal Town Planning Institute, where he was instrumental in supporting career progression and spearheaded initiatives to boost member engagement and professional development across various engineering and scientific disciplines. His extensive background in managing professional standards provides him with unique insights into the challenges and opportunities within the engineering community.
As a judge for the SOE Safety and Resilience in Engineering Awards, Robin brings his expertise in qualifications and standards management to evaluate the contributions of engineers striving to enhance safety and efficiency in the industry. His commitment to advancing professional development and upholding rigorous standards is reflected in his contributions to enhancing the role of engineering professionals in society.