Giving back is a big part of who Helen is and she is proud to be able to champion the professions of biomedical, pharmaceutical and mechanical engineering to wider society.  Helen gives up a large proportion of her time to voluntary work in particular:

STEM Learning - Helen continues to advocate for STEM education and believes that the engineering sector needs to change the way STEM careers are presented to the wider public; in particular, how women and girls are communicated with and empowered.

 

Institution of Mechanical Engineers - Helen continues to support the biomedical engineering workforce and is an active member of the division having been vice chair and now Chair of the Division representing over 3000 engineers in the profession. Her work involves: Managing the Division committee, organising monthly meetings and coordinating output. Attending the Institution’s Council in an Ex-Officio capacity to provide guidance to the Trustee Board.Delivering policy and impact as a member of the Technical Strategy Board. Taking part in Task-Finish groups to implement governance changes & develop strategic objectives for the Institution. Working with the Biomedical Engineering Joint Steering Group alongside six other Professional Institutions to promote collaboration across the profession.

Helen was a Trustee of the Institution from 2018 to 2020 providing leadership to the 120,000 members within the Institution under the regulations of the Charities Commission.  Helen has been involved in implementing the governance of the Institution through strategic planning and financial management. Directing the Executive Team in setting strategic goals and KPI’s.Chairing the Regional Strategy Board which represents the views and recommendations of the 16 UK regional committees. During this time, she was also Vice-Chair of the Education and Skills Strategy Board, working with the education policy manager and leading education experts to develop thought leadership in STEM.

 

Since her time working for the IMechE as Healthcare policy manager, Helen has had a seat on the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Healthcare Policy Topic Group.  Helen continues to volunteer on this panel as CEO of The Care Machine providing insight into RAE projects and consultation.

 

Helen is keen to ensure that healthcare technology is appropriately funded and became Vice-Chair of the SBRI healthcare funding panel in 2021. Her role is to consider applications, making shortlisting decisions and recommendations for funding to NHS England and NHS Improvement on two £1m funding programmes for stroke and net zero projects.