Helen Atkinson

Professor Dame Helen Atkinson DBE is Deputy-Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Cranfield University, serving on the University Executive. Previously, she led the Department of Engineering at the University of Leicester (2012–2016) and managed a £17m student union rebuild. She chairs major national initiatives like the £200m Sir Henry Royce Institute and UK Advanced Materials Leadership Council. A Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, she champions engineering diversity through campaigns like #ThisIsEngineering, aiming to reshape public perception of the field.

Her research interests span metallurgy, materials science, and transport systems innovation. Notable projects include digital aviation, autonomous driving, and sustainable technologies like the Nanomembrane Toilet. She advocates for inclusive career pathways and has been honored with prestigious awards for leadership in engineering and education.

Award-winning leadership includes roles as first female President of the Engineering Professors’ Council and Trustee of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Grants and collaborations focus on infrastructure, safety, and national materials research priorities. She oversees Cranfield’s transport systems research, emphasizing safety, innovation, and interdisciplinary solutions.