About Katy Deacon
BEng (Hons) MSc CEng FIET
The Foundation: Engineering Excellence
Katy Deacon is a multi-award-winning Chartered Electrical Engineer whose career is defined by technical rigour and a relentless drive for positive change. Her journey began with a prestigious avionics graduate apprenticeship at British Airways, where she earned a first-class honours degree in Air Transport Engineering from City University, London.
Following the global shifts in the aviation industry in 2001, Katy successfully pivoted her expertise into building services and renewable energy. During her twenty-year tenure at Kirklees Council, she became a pioneering force in energy conservation. Her work included designing wind turbine and solar panel systems for schools and developing the award-winning Renewable Energy Toolkit, which empowered architects and developers to integrate low-carbon technologies into the built environment.
The Turning Point: Lived Experience
In 2012, Katy’s life and career took a significant turn following a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Now a wheelchair user, Katy began to experience firsthand the physical and systemic barriers that exist when environments are designed without a diverse range of users in mind.
Rather than stepping away from the industry, Katy chose to lead from the front. She adapted her technical focus toward Inclusive Engineering Design, leveraging her 25 years of experience to advocate for a world where accessibility is a foundational requirement, not an afterthought.
Leadership & Advocacy
Katy is a prominent voice within the global engineering community. Her leadership roles include:
- Vice President & Fellow of the IET: Serving as a Trustee and Chair of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Board, where she has been instrumental in establishing the IET’s disabled members network.
- Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor: Splitting her time between the University of Huddersfield and Aston University, Katy works to embed inclusive design principles directly into the Higher Education curriculum for the next generation of engineers.
- Founder of Towards Belonging & BelongifAI: Through her consultancy and her latest AI-driven tech venture, she bridges the gap between the disabled community and technical sectors.
Recognition & Impact
Katy’s contributions have been recognised with the industry’s highest honours, including:
- Disability Personality of the Year (2025) – Empowerment Awards
- Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 (2024) – Recognised as one of the top 10 UK’s most influential disabled people in engineering, science and technology.
- WES Karen Burt Award (2009) – For the most outstanding newly Chartered Woman Engineer.
- NICEIC Energy Efficiency Product of the Year (2008)
- IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year (2006)
- IIE Mary George Memorial Prize – for the best female Apprentice of the Year (2004)
Beyond her professional accolades, Katy is a devoted wife and mother of two. She remains a passionate advocate for the idea that “Designing for inclusion is designing for dignity,” and she continues to speak globally, inspiring organisations to move beyond compliance toward a genuine culture of belonging.
Profiles & Recognition
Explore Katy’s professional presence, industry recognition, and public profile across leading platforms.
Wikipedia
Read Katy’s public profile and recognised contributions to engineering and inclusion.
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Disability Power 100
Recognised as one of the UK’s most influential disabled leaders in engineering and technology.