When I was writing my book Bloody Brilliant Women I became aware of so many pioneering women in so many different fields who transformed Britain. One of my favourite was the aeronautical engineer Beatrice Shilling, without whom it’s fair to say the UK probably wouldn’t have won the Battle of Britain. Her biographer said it was easier for a woman to become a lion tamer than an engineer. Now it’s probably the other way round, but women still face many hurdles, so I’m glad to participate in an event which encourages more female engineers.