Shape the future of engineering with your vote!
Our trustees play a critical role in ensuring strong governance and providing strategic guidance to our staff team. Beyond the standard responsibilities of a trustee, elected trustees are uniquely positioned to represent the Engineers Without Borders UK community, championing their voices and helping to drive forward our movement.
>> Hear from our current elected trustees about their experience and why this role matters.
Now it’s your turn to make an impact. Cast your vote for the two candidates you believe will best strengthen our organisation and represent our community’s views on the Board of Trustees.
Voting is only open to voting members of Engineers Without Borders UK.
Not a voting member yet? It’s easy to register – sign up here. If you are unsure whether you are registered, please contact us at [email protected].
Luke Smith
I worked with Engineers Without Borders UK from 2019-22 leading the Efficiency for Access, and Engineering for People Design Challenges (of which I participated in during my undergrad!) which granted me an incredible opportunity to meet, and be inspired by, engineering undergraduates and educators across the UK and internationally. Since then I have stayed connected through their regular events and volunteering opportunities, and remained an advocate for their mission.
I want to bring my experience in systems thinking and strategy development to support and advocate for the work that Engineers Without Borders UK are delivering as I know that their movement is an essential part of the systemic change which is urgently required in the sector.
Eleni Stefania Kalapoda
I’ve been an active member of Engineers Without Borders USA for the past three years. Now that I have recently relocated to the UK, I am highly interested and excited about the opportunity to contribute to the UK Chapter.
Driven by a dedication to environmental sustainability and social equity, I aim to connect architecture and engineering through education, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration. My goal is to foster sustainable frameworks that will address the climate change crisis while empowering emerging professionals and underrepresented communities.
Carla-Leanne Washbourne
I first became involved with EWB UK almost 15 years ago as a PhD student, running EWB workshops in local primary schools to promote interest in engineering and encourage diversity within the profession. EWB UK’s mission and my career as an academic in environmental policy have converged over the past year, and I now work with EWB UK and other institutions to promote teaching of ‘regenerative’ approaches in engineering education; which go beyond the approach of ‘minimising harm’ to focus on repair of natural systems, empowering people and planet to thrive.
As a trustee I hope to draw upon my work in higher education and policy to support the reach and impact of EWB UK’s transformative work on engineering education and practice and maximise the positive role of engineering in addressing the multiple global challenges we face.
Ellie Carey
I have been actively involved with Engineers Without Borders UK throughout my University journey, starting as a member of the EWB Bristol student chapter in my first year (2018). I held roles as Secretary and President before becoming a Student Champion for EWB UK in my final two years at University (2022-2024).
Currently, I am Innovation Coordinator at EWB UK (until March 2025) and Project Lead for the Systems Change Lab. The Lab is a radical, collaborative space that drives positive systemic change across engineering education and practice, relaunching in early 2025.
Engineers Without Borders UK has been hugely influential to my personal and professional development to date. As I transition from being a student to a graduate, I am eager to remain deeply involved in EWB UK’s mission. I believe my fresh perspective as a recent graduate, combined with my understanding of EWB UK’s operations through personal experiences and as a member of staff, can bring unique value to the Board of Trustees.
Spencer Huchulak
I have volunteered with Engineers Without Borders UK on several occasions. A few years ago, I supported the Member-Led Partnerships by reviewing applications and was involved with the Brighton University chapter. More recently, I contributed as a reviewer for the ‘Engineering for People’ Design Challenge this year and the ‘Reshaping Engineering’ Design Challenge last year.
I am passionate about empowering engineers to drive sustainable development, and I want to leverage my international experience and expertise to help guide EWB UK in achieving its mission of creating a more sustainable and equitable world through engineering.
Sam Islam
I first became involved with Engineers without Borders UK when I was an undergraduate as a founding committee member and first female president of Engineers without Borders University of Manchester student branch (now chapter.) Subsequently, I completed a summer internship at the national charity office (then based at the University of Cambridge Humanitarian Centre) to organise the 2010 National Conference. This was followed by a spell of working on the National Executive as Communities of Practice Co-ordinator (under EWB-UK’s previous organisational structure) and completing a 3 month overseas placement with SIBAT, a local NGO based in the Philippines focussed on developing and implementing renewable energy schemes.
I am interested in becoming a member elected trustee as based on my experience as both a student and professional member of EWB-UK throughout the years I believe that I am well placed to earn the trust of the membership and to listen, learn from and ensure that their views are appropriately considered and included where possible at strategic level. I also hope to facilitate the long term sustainable growth of the organisation in the coming years through obtaining a greater understanding of our membership and how the capabilities being developed by EWB-UK are achieving wider, systemic impacts within the engineering profession and beyond.
