Professor Yewande Akinola MBE, Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor at the University of Westminster, has been appointed to the role of UK Ambassador for Clean Growth and Infrastructure.
The role is under the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, which is integral to innovation in this country and works closely with the Government as part of the UK Research and Innovation organisation. Professor Akinola’s role will allow her to make decisions and work on aspects such as green energy, food production and travel as well as engage with other innovators in the UK. She will bring an abundance of different and diverse people together, engaging them with traditional companies and new start-ups.
Professor Akinola is an engineering designer and an innovator, having worked all around the world on different building projects in the engineering design consultancy and the construction industries. She began working at the University in 2019, interacting with other lecturers and professors as well as with students through teaching sessions on construction and innovation. She also runs career events at the University to help students gain an understanding of what day-to-day work is like in construction and design consultancy companies.
Talking about her new role, Professor Akinola said: “It is very exciting because something I am really passionate about is ensuring that we have a very diverse workforce and group of people who are super keen to shape a better world, shape a better UK and represent the diverse communities that they serve, so this, in my view, is an opportunity to bring people together from lots of different places with different backgrounds, all interested in one thing – a better world for all of us to create magic.”
Dr Peter Bonfield, Vice-Chancellor at the University, said: “Many congratulations to Professor Yewande Akinola on behalf of us all at Westminster. We are really pleased about your new role and we are so proud to have you with us. We look forward to continuing to get the inspiration and all the connections you bring us.”
Watch Dr Peter Bonfield in conversation with Professor Akinola about her new role.
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