The Industry Wave

In Episode 12 of The Industry Wave, we celebrate a major milestone—one year of the podcast—by sitting down with rising engineering talent Zak Thomson, Scottish Engineering’s Young Engineer of the Year 2025 and design engineer at Emtelle.  Recorded in the Scottish Borders, Zak shares his journey from a hands-on, uncertain school leaver to an award-winning innovator shaping global telecom solutions. Through the apprenticeship route, he built practical skills and a problem-solving mindset that led him to tackle a real-world customer challenge—developing a groundbreaking, low-cost method for installing fibre optic cable without the need for bulky ancillary equipment.  This episode dives into the story behind that innovation: from relentless testing and unexpected breakthroughs to the creation of a simple yet powerful device now driving global impact. Zak also reflects on the importance of curiosity, resilience, and stepping outside your comfort zone—along with the value of trust, teamwork, and leadership early in a career.  Whether you're an aspiring engineer, industry professional, or simply curious about how ideas turn into real-world solutions, this episode offers an inspiring look at modern engineering in action. 

In this episode of The Industry Wave, we’re delighted to welcome Nairn Moffat, Design & Manufacturing Engineer at Toshima and Scottish Engineering’s Graduate Apprentice of the Year 2025.   From discovering a passion for hands-on problem solving to forging his path through a Foundation and Graduate Apprenticeship with Glasgow Caledonian University, Nairn shares how work-based learning shaped his confidence and career.   We dive into the award-winning subsea desalination project that captured our judges’ attention (a complex 16-tonne pump module designed to operate 600 metres below sea level for eight years without maintenance.) Nairn speaks candidly about imposter syndrome, learning through feedback, technical challenges, and the responsibility that comes with seeing your name on the drawing — alongside the project’s potential to reduce energy use in offshore operations.   Join us as we explore the power of apprenticeships, supportive workplace cultures, and learning by doing — and why asking questions, choosing the right environment, and taking ownership remain key lessons for the next stage of Nairn’s engineering career.

In episode 10 of The Industry Wave, we sit down with Scottish Engineering’s newest colleague, Jennifer MacDonald, as she reflects on a career that began with a simple question asked at age 15 and evolved into a global engineering and inclusion journey. From growing up on the west coast of Scotland to studying chemical engineering at Heriot-Watt University, Jennifer shares how early curiosity, real-world exposure, and supportive mentors shaped her path into engineering. From offshore platforms in Newfoundland and the North Sea to national roles with NMIS, the Royal Society, and the Royal Academy of Engineering, Jennifer reflects on the realities of working in highly technical, male-dominated environments and how those experiences sparked her passion for diversity, inclusion, and visibility across the sector. Join us as we explore the power of asking the question, building connection, and creating welcoming engineering cultures — and hear why Jennifer believes Scotland’s engineering and manufacturing community is uniquely placed to support the next generation of talent.

In episode 9 of The Industry Wave, we were delighted to sit down with our new President, Kerrie Murray the first from the North East of Scotland. Kerrie takes her place in Scottish Engineering’s rich 160-year history as the 90th President and the third consecutive woman to hold the role. From her early days in the small town of Turriff, inspired by a passionate maths teacher, to studying accountancy at the University of Aberdeen and building a career across energy and engineering, Kerrie reflects on the experiences, mentors, and pivotal moments that have shaped her path into leadership. Join us as we explore the realities facing Scotland’s engineering sector today, from navigating the energy transition to bridging skills gaps and fostering the next generation of talent. Kerrie shares her guiding principles of networking, mentoring, and teamwork, as well as the insights that have carried her from Deloitte to THREE60 Energy, offering an honest look at resilience, growth, and the responsibilities of modern engineering leadership. This conversation marks the beginning of her legacy as Scottish Engineering’s 90th President, and we are looking forward to seeing what the next two years of her tenure has in store.

In episode 8 of The Industry Wave, we sit down with our first ever female President, Aine Finlayson, as she reflects on her six-year journey as part of the Scottish Engineering Presidential Committee as it comes to an end. From her early days as a science‑driven student in County Down to a career that has taken her across Europe and ultimately to her role as Chief Operating Officer at Peak Scientific, Aine reflects on the experiences, mentors, and moments of curiosity that shaped her path into engineering and leadership. Join us as we explore the realities facing Scotland's engineering and manufacturing sector today, from the persistent skills challenge to the rapidly changing blend of talent now required across engineering, software, automation, and supply chain. Aine shares how confidence, collaboration, and the willingness to say “yes” at pivotal moments have influenced her career — including reconnecting with the teacher who first recognised her potential. This conversation offers an honest look at resilience, growth, and the responsibilities of modern engineering leadership, marking the legacy of Scottish Engineering’s 88th President.

In episode 7 of The Industry Wave, we sit down with a second-generation leader of Whittaker Engineering Murray Whittaker to explore the intersection of family legacy, innovation, and the future of Scottish engineering. Growing up around the family business didn’t mean an easy path—instead, real-world experience and an apprenticeship shaped both perspective and work ethic. We discuss the unique advantages and challenges of working closely with family in a sector rooted in tradition, while also examining how rapid changes in the energy transition are influencing precision engineering. From emerging technologies with the potential to transform the industry to strategies for inspiring the next generation of engineers in Scotland, this conversation sheds light on both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with leading a family business in a time of change.

In this episode 6 of The Industry Wave, My guest today is Dr. Ollie Folayan, MBE, Head of Process Engineering at Costain Group and co-founder of AFBE-UK. With a long and distinguished academic journey—beginning with his Bachelor of Engineering in 1999, a PhD in 2002, and culminating in his role as a Fellow and Vice Chair of the Institution of Chemical Engineers—Dr. Ali brings a wealth of expertise and insight to the conversation. In this episode, we dive into his inspiring journey as a chemical process engineer whose early passion for fuels and combustion sparked a remarkable career in energy and innovation. We explore the role of mentors and family influences, including the shared impact of his sister, Dr. Nike Folayan, in championing diversity within engineering. From founding AFBE-UK—an organisation built from the ground up to support ethnic minority engineers—to launching outreach programmes like Making Engineering Hot and NextGen (Scotland), Dr. Ali shares both the challenges and triumphs of building initiatives that open doors for the next generation.

In this episode of The Industry Wave, our guest today is John Campbell, whose career in industry has been significantly influenced by his  connection with the UK’s Armed Forces and Scottish Engineering. We talk about his first experience as a 17-year-old reservist in Devonport and how it sparked a long term relationship with the armed forces. John shares highlights of how his experience of the reserve forces has helped shape his approach to leadership, and the value he’s seen in supporting reservists within business. We also look at the opportunities for Scottish and UK SMEs in light of the UK’s evolving defence strategy, and John offers practical advice for companies considering how to begin engaging with the Armed Forces today.

In episode 4 of The Industry Wave, we’re joined by the dynamic Mamta Singhal MBE — a Chartered Design Engineer whose career spans senior roles with globally recognised brands including Hasbro, Dyson, Coca-Cola, and Mars. With a background that seamlessly blends art, engineering, and business, Mamta is a passionate advocate for innovation, diversity, and sustainability in the engineering sector. Awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to engineering, Mamta holds fellowships with both the IET and the Women's Engineering Society, and sits on multiple national and international boards. She brings a truly global perspective — born in the U.S., of Indian heritage, and educated in Scotland — which has shaped her inclusive approach to leadership and problem-solving. In this conversation, Mamta shares her journey into engineering, her experiences working with iconic global brands, and the values that continue to guide her career. We explore the power of creativity in engineering, the importance of mentorship, and how to create meaningful impact through sustainable innovation. Mamta's insight, warmth, and authenticity make this an inspiring listen for anyone passionate about the future of engineering.

In episode 3 of The Industry Wave, we sit down with Oliver King-Smith, Founder of smartR AI and a pioneering voice in applied artificial intelligence, to hear about his journey through technology and entrepreneurship. During our conversation, Oliver reflects on how his passion for solving real-world problems through innovation has guided his work — from developing award-winning software and semiconductor technologies to founding successful startups. With a career spanning over 25 years, four patents, and leadership roles across sectors like machine vision, robotics, and AI, Oliver shares what drives his mission to use AI for good. Our chat also gave him a chance to reflect on the growth of smartR AI and his hopes for the responsible future of AI in industry.

In episode 2 of The Industry Wave, we catch up with Scottish Engineering's 89th President, and Thales Operations Director, Bernie O'Neil, to hear about her journey into Engineering.  During our chat, Bernie underlines how strongly she feels that quality education opportunities should be open to all, and how she sees that shaped the career she continues to enjoy.  2025 is the second and final year of her presidency, and so the discussion was also a chance for her to reflect on that experience and where her hopes for Scottish Engineering's future lies.  

In episode 1 of The Industry Wave, we sit down with Ross McPhillie, our 2024 Scottish Engineering Young Engineer of the Year winner. Ross is a key innovator at RUA Medical, where he has played a pivotal role in developing a prosthetic heart valve prototype that has successfully endured 200 million durability cycles and is now transitioning to commercialisation. Join us as Ross shares his journey into biomedical engineering, the challenges and triumphs of bringing cutting-edge medical technology to life, and his vision for the future of healthcare innovation.

Welcome to The Industry Wave Brought to you by Scottish Engineering, The Industry Wave is your gateway to Scotland's vibrant engineering sector.  For 160 years, we have championed innovation and growth for our sector, and with this podcast we aim to use our voice to share the uplifting examples that we hear and see every day. We aim to create a platform for a wide range of engineering people with something interesting to say can share their reflections and insights and discuss challenges and solutions that will shape the future of Scotland's engineering landscape.