Speaker Profile

Dawn is the Chief Executive of Pure.  She’s an accomplished engineer and operator who was honoured with a Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2020 and appointed DBE in the 2023 New Year honours list for her services to engineering.

After leading the operational arm of Pure for two years, ensuring the delivery of resilient 24/7 operations globally, Dawn moved into the role of CEO. Prior to joining Pure, her career spanned several engineering sectors and industries including UK Change Director for National Grid across both the gas and electricity transmission businesses; Group Engineering Director for Merlin Entertainments with responsibility for engineering delivery, standards, practices and processes across the worldwide portfolio of more than 130 theme parks, resorts and attractions; Head of Engineering at Gatwick Airport covering the infrastructure and technical services at the airport; and over 20 years as an Engineering Officer in the Royal Air Force where she held various positions including Head of Engineering at RAF Waddington looking after the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance aircraft fleets and Deputy Chief Engineer for the Air Transport and Air to Air Refuelling aircraft fleets.

She has a track record of developing women in her organisation as well as working to bring more women and girls into engineering.  She is a Trustee and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Deputy Chair of Worldskills UK,  chair of the iMasons Diversity and Inclusion Committee and was the longest serving President of the Women’s Engineering Society from 2018 to 2023.