In this episode of the Engineering Talent Podcast, host Fayon Dixon is joined by David Stevens, NHS Estates Director and award-winning engineering leader at our Engineering Talent Awards 2026, to explore his journey from apprentice electrician to senior leadership. David shares what it takes to manage the buildings and infrastructure that underpin patient care, the challenges of balancing limited resources with critical healthcare needs, and why effective leadership requires more than technical expertise. As the first openly gay Vice President of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), he also reflects on the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility, authentic leadership and creating opportunities for the next generation of engineers.

Engineering is all around us, often in ways we don't even recognise. In this episode of the Engineering Talent Podcast, host Fayon Dixon is joined by Charlotte Wessels, a chemical engineer whose career has taken her from industrial plant operations and wastewater research to engineering policy and disability advocacy. Drawing on her experiences as a neurodivergent and disabled professional, Charlotte explores the value of different perspectives, the importance of creating workplaces where people can thrive, and why adaptability and problem-solving are at the heart of engineering. She also reflects on finding purpose beyond job titles, connecting people across disciplines, and making engineering more accessible to the next generation.

This October, the Engineering Talent Podcast, powered by EqualEngineers, marks Black History Month by bringing together nine Black engineers we've had the privilege of interviewing. Host Fayon Dixon revisits moments from guests across motorsport, nuclear, aerospace, medical technology, civil engineering, AI and tech: Stephanie Alexander, Melissa-Sue Anderson, Nyasha Mutembwa, Nadia Kanyike, Blossom Olisemeke, Shohail Ismail, Ash Kala, Yanmi Orebowale and Ranita Ariyibi. They talk about walking into rooms where they're the only one, the weight of having to work twice as hard, finding their voice, and what it means to become the role model they never had. Packed with real experience, hard-won lessons and plenty of hope, this episode is for anyone who has ever wondered whether there's a place for them in engineering.