Dr Hayaatun Sillem has worked for the Royal Academy of Engineering (RA Eng) since 2006 and held the post of Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Director of Strategy until her appointment as CEO. She previously served as Committee Specialist and later Specialist Adviser to the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee.

She has extensive leadership experience in UK and international engineering and innovation policy and programmes.

In this inaugural lecture, sponsored by the Lloyd's Register Foundation International Consortium of Nanotechnologies (ICON) and Zepler Institute of Photonics and Nanoelectronics (ZIPN), Hayaatun provides an overview of the work of the RA Eng, which is the UK's national academy for engineering, which aims to bring together the most successful and talented engineers to make the UK the leading nation for engineering innovation. Hayaatun also outlined the RA Eng's work to improve public awareness and understanding of engineering. It is a national academy with a global outlook, very relevant to both ICON and the ZIPN.

Hayaatun also expanded on the RA Eng's commitment to enhancing the diversity of engineers across all disciplines, in this year of engineering, via its successful 'This is Engineering' campaign and other initiatives.