“Yewande Akinola MBE, FIET, HonFREng

Chartered Engineer | Innovation Strategist | Sustainability Advocate

Yewande Akinola is a distinguished Chartered Engineer and global thought leader in sustainable design and innovation within the built environment. Her engineering expertise spans the design, construction, and advanced manufacturing of buildings and systems, with a portfolio of projects delivered across the United Kingdom, Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia.

She has been recognized among the 100 Most Influential Engineers in Europe by the Financial Times and Inclusive Boards, and was named UK Young Woman Engineer of the Year by the Institution of Engineering & Technology. Her accolades also include the Exceptional Achiever Award from both the Association for BAME Engineers and the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), UK.

Yewande holds governance and advisory roles at leading academic institutions, including:

Governing Body Member, University of Warwick

Visiting Professor, University of Westminster

Global Advisory Board Member, Warwick Business School

A passionate advocate for STEM education and public engagement, she has presented engineering-focused television programmes and actively promotes diversity and inclusion in technical fields. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded an MBE in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to engineering innovation and diversity in STEM.

Her leadership extends to national innovation policy, having served as Ambassador for Clean Growth and Infrastructure for the UK’s Innovation Agency (Innovate UK). She was also named one of the Top 50 Workplace Leaders in the UK.

Yewande currently serves as:

Vice President, Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Chair, IET Knowledge Services & Solutions (KS&S) Board

Non-Executive Director, Midlands Mindforge – a patient capital investment firm supporting university spinouts and IP-rich ventures in the Midlands

EMEA Technical Director, CBRE

Non-Executive Director, Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) – Africa’s leading pan-African innovation enabler

Her work continues to shape the future of engineering, innovation, and inclusive growth across sectors and geographies.

Short Bio

Yewande Akinola HonFREng CEng FIET – Chair of Volunteer Engagement Board and Trustee. Yewande is a passionate advocate for STEM education, sustainable design and innovation; whose work continues to shape the future of engineering, innovation, and inclusive growth across sectors and geographies.”