Visiting Professor for inclusive engineering wins national Empowerment Award
University of Huddersfield Visiting Professor Katy Deacon has taken home a national prize at the Empowerment Awards 2025.
Katy, who specialises in inclusive engineering design within the University’s School of Computing and Engineering, received the Disability Personality of the Year award.
They are run by disability charity Talks with MS to celebrate individuals, groups, and organisations making extraordinary contributions to the disability community.
She commented: “I was utterly thrilled to receive this recognition at such a high level! I work incredibly hard to bridge the gap between the disabled community and the engineering industry. Having my work recognised in this way is amazing!”
Katy began her visiting professorship at the University of Huddersfield in September 2024, funded by a Royal Academy of Engineering industry-into-academia initiative.
She works with staff and students to embed inclusivity into the Engineering curriculum and help ensure that engineers of the future develop solutions which are inclusive, making the world a more accessible place for everyone.
Katy is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, and has 25 years of engineering experience, working in aircraft maintenance, electrical building services, renewable energy, information governance and cyber security. She now runs her own business, helping engineers understand the importance of inclusive engineering design.
Katy was diagnosed with MS in 2012 and has been a wheelchair user since 2013. She brings this lived experience to her role as a Vice President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the chair of the IET’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion board.
Dr Leigh Fleming, Acting Dean of the University’s School of Computing and Engineering, commented: “Katy is such an inspirational engineer, to have her contributing to shaping the education for future engineers as a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor is a real privilege for us here at The University of Huddersfield. I am delighted that she has been recognised with such a prestigious award.”
The visiting professorship is funded for a period of three years and is split between the University of Huddersfield and Aston University.