Culture Ambassador network 'will play pivotal role shaping IMechE's inclusive culture'

Holley Reece-Barkell speaks about her role as IMechE’s new Diversity and Inclusion Committee chair.

What motivated you to apply to be D&I chair?

As a chartered mechanical engineer and fellow of IMechE, I’ve always felt a sense of responsibility to give back to the engineering community that has shaped my career. I previously volunteered as a professional review interviewer and, when I saw the D&I chair role advertised, I thought it was a great match for my skillset. I chair the Frazer-Nash D&I committee and also lead a number of D&I initiatives within Frazer-Nash and with our clients. I was particularly attracted by the idea of bringing an industry-focused perspective to IMechE’s D&I efforts. Equally, there is best practice from IMechE, such as the Inclusion Moments, which I have used in other settings to initiate D&I discussions.

What are your priorities as chair?

I would like employees and members to feel a positive shift in the representation and behaviours towards minority groups, and I want IMechE to be recognised as leading the way in D&I across the engineering community.

To achieve this, my goals include improving the data that informs our D&I decisions and launching the Culture Ambassador network to support our work. We will build on the results of these activities to refresh our D&I strategy for the next five years (2026-31).

Most of our diversity data relates to gender and so this is where many of our actions have focused to date. To drive the organisation towards a more inclusive culture, we first need a clear understanding of our current baseline. This requires the collection and assessment of data so we can identify priority areas from a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) perspective which will influence our next D&I strategy.

I would encourage members to complete the diversity monitoring form under the ‘My Profile’ section of their IMechE account profile if they feel comfortable to do so.  We take security of this data very seriously and we would never share data that could be attributed to an individual. Sharing this data can truly make a difference to the future of the Institution.

Tell us more about the new Culture Ambassador network

The Culture Ambassador network will play a pivotal role in shaping the inclusive culture across our professional institution and engineering community. We have appointed Emma Bould as Culture Ambassador Lead for members and global relationship manager Farah Baksh to represent employees. They will guide our efforts to build a network that reflects the diversity of our community.

We are inviting members and staff to apply to be Cultural Ambassadors. This is a volunteer role designed to attract individuals who are passionate about working together to foster an environment where everyone feels welcomed, valued and empowered to contribute, especially if you haven’t previously found the right opportunity to do so. 

This is an excellent way to engage in the Institution’s D&I work and an opportunity to make a real difference. If you are interested in taking part in the network, I encourage you to apply.

Would you recommend volunteering to others?

Absolutely. Volunteering has helped me to raise my professional profile, expand my professional network and have a positive impact. The members and employees I met have been incredibly welcoming, supportive and curious to learn more.  

I would like to encourage members from all backgrounds to get involved, whether by taking part in IMechE committees and events, through attendance and also participation as a speaker, organiser or chair. These opportunities are invaluable for professional development and for becoming visible role models within the engineering community.

More details can be found on IMechE's D&I page.