Following this year's International Women's Day in Engineering, CIBSE is delighted to congratulate three members who have been recognised as winners of the Women's Engineering Society (WES) Top 50 Women in Engineering (WE50) Awards 2026.
The WE50 Awards celebrate women engineers who solve complex challenges and drive inclusive progress through engineering. This year's theme, Engineering Intelligence, highlights how human creativity and technological innovation come together to address some of society's most pressing challenges.
The judges noted that the standard of nominations was exceptionally high, reflecting the significant contribution women engineers continue to make across the profession.
Natalie Collcutt
Natalie Collcutt, Associate Director at Watkins Payne, has been recognised for her professional achievements and commitment to supporting the next generation of engineers through volunteering and mentoring initiatives.
Commenting on her award, Natalie said:
"I am honoured to be selected as a winner of the WES Top 50 Women in Engineering (WE50) 2026: Engineering Intelligence. This recognition celebrates not only my professional achievements through work but also my commitment to giving back through volunteering with CIBSE and SheCanEngineer. I am grateful to the mentors, colleagues and communities who have supported my journey, and I look forward to continuing to use my skills and experiences to make a meaningful difference for the future of engineering."
Martina Antalova BSc, MSc, CEng
Martina Antalova, Associate Principal SME (Mechanical) at AstraZeneca, has been recognised for her leadership in developing intelligent, data-driven approaches to cleanroom engineering.
Martina said:
"I am honoured to be recognised by WES Top 50 in this year's theme of Engineering Intelligence. This recognises my work in leading a more intelligent, data-driven approach to cleanroom engineering that balances safety, regulatory compliance and sustainability. Through this work, I hope to help shape high-performing facilities and influence wider industry practice."
Dr Leonora Lang
Dr Leonora Lang, Associate Director and Vertical Transportation Lead for UKIMEA at Arup, has also been recognised among this year's winners.
Reflecting on the award, Leonora said:
"I am humbled that the nomination submitted on my behalf has earned me a place on this list. I hope to continue making a difference in the industry and, next year, to have the opportunity to nominate someone else." *Leonora’s photo credit: Paul Carstairs.
Highly commended recognition
CIBSE is also pleased to recognise three members who were named among the WES Top 100 and received Highly Commended recognition:
- Tania Guerra, ChapmanBDSP
- Gita Maruthayanar, Ramboll
- Hua Zhang, London South Bank University (LSBU)
Their inclusion among the Top 100 reflects the outstanding contribution they are making to the engineering profession and their role in advancing innovation, leadership and excellence across the industry.
Congratulations to all six members on this well-deserved recognition. Their achievements highlight the breadth of talent within the profession and the vital contribution women engineers continue to make in shaping a more innovative, sustainable and inclusive future.