Celebrating International Women’s Day 2025
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re shining a spotlight on some of our extraordinary female graduates who are blazing trails in their fields. These inspiring pioneers are making a powerful impact in their industries and leaving an incredible mark in their areas of contribution.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is 'accelerate action' which emphasises the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.
Andrea Cullen
Andrea Cullen, BSc in Computing with Management (2000) and a PhD in Operations and Supply Chain Management (2004), is the CEO and Co-Founder of CAPSLOCK, which helps people from diverse backgrounds transition into cyber careers. Andrea actively champions Women in STEM. In February, she joined the University of Bradford’s STEMinism Society mentoring event, offering invaluable career advice and support to current students, inspiring the next generation of women in STEM subjects.
We asked Andrea about her career journey. She shared: “I saw a big skills gap in cyber and a lack of diversity. Most people in cyber are still white men. CAPSLOCK was born to provide better pathways. We’re a reskilling organisation that takes anybody from any background. I was the only girl in my Computer Science class, and it’s still a male-dominated area. But with determination, passion, and hard work, women can succeed.”
Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe
Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe, MBA graduate (2021), is Head of Engagement at the Cabinet Office and host of the Meet the Mancunian podcast. Her work spans internal communications for 500,000 civil servants, EDI advocacy, and social impact storytelling.
We asked Deepa about her career journey, she shared: “I lead a team that helps engage civil servants on a modern civil service and reform missions. It’s an exciting role, and I enjoy making a difference. My career highlights include receiving an industry award as Leading Woman in Public Relations, building Mahindra Group’s reputation at the World Economic Forum in India and Davos, and supporting the migration of UK traders’ import declarations to the Customs Declaration Service.”
Stephanie Travers
Stephanie Travers, BEng in Chemical Engineering graduate (2016), made history as the first Black woman on an F1 podium. She has held roles as Deputy Team Principal at TEAM X44 and Senior Development Officer at Mission 44. Stephanie supports Women in STEM, she attended the University of Bradford's student STEMinism Society networking event, where she offered career advice and support at the event, enhancing student experiences.
We asked Stephanie about her career journey, she shared: “After completing my degree, I joined Petronas as trackside fluid engineer, after going up against 7,000 applicants for the position. I was successful and with the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One team for three seasons. A career highlight was standing on the Styrian Grand Prix podium in Austria 2020. to receive the constructor’s trophy for the team when Lewis Hamilton won. It was a big moment for me personally, for Lewis and also for the entire sport as I was the first black female to ever step on the Formula One podium.”
Rukeya Miah BEM
Rukeya Miah, MSc Midwifery graduate (2016), is Director of Midwifery and Deputy Chief Nurse at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Rukeya received an Outstanding Contribution Award from the University of Bradford in December 2023 for her exceptional career as an award-winning midwife and her advocacy to inequality and inclusion within healthcare and leadership.
She has been honoured for her contributions to healthcare, including the British Empire Medal and BAME Midwife of the Year 2022. Rukeya has previously returned to the University as a guest lecturer, helping the next generation of midwives to achieve their qualifications and enhance the student experience.
Reflecting on the University, Rukeya shared: “The University of Bradford has a special place in my heart. My work has focused on addressing inequality and inclusion in healthcare leadership.”
Kate Hall
Kate Hall, BEng Civil Engineering graduate (2015), leads a team of 1,200 engineers on the HS2 London Tunnels project. Kate was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering in July 2022, in recognition of her exceptional contribution to engineering and as a successful female alumna and role model within this field. She is passionate about sustainable infrastructure and diversifying engineering. ate has made a significant difference to the student experience. In February 2024, she organised an exciting site visit for 30 engineering students to the HS2 Area West site in Ruislip, West London, providing them with a valuable hands-on learning opportunity.
Reflecting on the University of Bradford, Kate said: “I am thrilled to support the University of Bradford’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment in engineering. By diversifying the student body, especially for women and ethnic minorities, we can drive innovation and meet sustainable development goals.
Vicky Burns
Vicky Burns, PGC Midwifery graduate (2021), pioneered Northern Ireland’s first nurse-led hysteroscopy service, transforming women’s healthcare. Vicky was awarded an Honorary Degree in Doctor of Health in December 2024 in recognition of her exceptional career in healthcare as the first specialist nurse-led hysteroscopy care service in Northern Ireland.
She was named Royal College of Nursing's Nurse of the Year 2023.
We asked Vicky about her career journey, she said: “It can feel quite lonely to be the only hysteroscopy nurse in your country. There were challenges along the way, juggling not just work and home life as a busy mum, but developing an independent nurse-led service in a country that, at times, can feel like we are playing catch up to the world around us. But it is worth it.”
Saorsa-Amatheia Tweedale
Saorsa-Amatheia Tweedale, Master’s in Politics of Visual Representation graduate (1995), is currently Yorkshire & Humber regional chair for the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and the national chair of PCS Proud the LGBT+ section of the union. She represented PCS for several years on the national TUC LGBT+ committee. Sorsa-Amatheia was awarded an Honorary Degree in July 2024 in recognition of her incredible career and the significant difference she has made to diversity, equality and inclusion.
We asked Saorsa-Amatheia about her career journey and roles. She shared: “My mantra has always been, I hate seeing bad things happen to good people. It’s important people have representation in the workplace, to ensure members’ basic rights are upheld.
“From one perspective, management and unions want the same thing: management wants a productive workforce and unions know that a happy workforce is productive. If we can work together to make staff happy, they will be more productive. I don’t see it as necessarily a confrontational role.”
Ailie MacAdam
Ailie MacAdam, BEng Chemical Engineering graduate (1985), is President of the Mining and Metals Global Business Unit. Ailie has been involved in some of the biggest infrastructure projects of recent years, including Crossrail and High Speed 1. Ailie was awarded an Honorary Degree in Doctor of Engineering in December 2022, for her increidible contributions to the field of Engineering. She was recognised in the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) Top 50 Influential Women in Engineering List in 2016. Ailie is a pioneer whose incredible work continues to inspire and make a difference.
Ailie shared her thoughts: “I am passionate about diversity and inclusion, and a firm believer in using my position to provide women visibility of what a great career engineering can be. You can’t be what you can’t see - and my hope is that receiving this honorary doctorate will help there too."
Different is what we do
The University of Bradford is proud to be different in its approach to improving the life chances of our students. This is, in part, why we have been ranked first on the Higher Education Policy Institute's Social Mobility Index for the last four years (2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024). It is also why we won an Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the Times Higher Education Awards 2024. We were also named University of the Year at last year's Social Mobility Awards.