Panel discussion report: the future world of engineering

Debbie Kempton - Engineering Director, BAE Systems plc
Dr Rhys Morgan- Director of Engineering and Education, Royal Academy of Engineering
Natalie Desty - Founder & Director, STEM returners
Katy Davies - Managing Director of CamdenBoss Limited
Chi Onwuhra - Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and  Shadow minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

From the accelerating march of technology to the impact of growing geopolitical instability; the push for net zero; and the challenges posed by the pandemic, the engineering landscape is changing fast. In late December 2022 The Engineer brought together a panel of experts from across industry to explore how individuals and organisations are evolving to address these challenges.  

The session opened with a discussion around the specific trends that are reshaping the world of engineering and what this means in terms of skills requirements.

Looking at her own employer, BAE Engineering Director Debbie Kempton identified the drive for sustainability; the emergence of disruptive digital and automation technologies; the growing cybersecurity threat and the lingering impact of the pandemic as key trends that are driving radical change and new ways of working.  “We have to consider different things now,” she said, “and that means different skills, different training, and different tools incorporating different technologies.”