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Karen Ann Hilsum Burt (née Hilsum) CPhys MInstP (26 Nov 1954 - 20 June 1997) was a British engineer and campaigner for the recruitment and retention of women in engineering.

Karen Burt
Born	Karen Ann Hilsum (1954-11-26)26 November 1954
Died	20 June 1997(1997-06-20) (aged 42) Islington, London, England
Alma mater	University of Cambridge University of Reading
Organization	Women's Engineering Society
Known for	Advocacy Engineering

Early life and education

Burt attended Hillside School, Malvern and Worcester Girl's Grammar School.[1] She studied at Newnham College, Cambridge[2] and completed a PhD in electron microscopy at the University of Reading.[2]

Career

Burt joined British Aerospace as a project engineer for scientific satellites,[3] and was eventually promoted to senior systems engineer.[2] Subsequently, she developed an interest in management, becoming a Business Acquisition Manager.[3]

Burt left British Aerospace and established her own consultancy.[3] In addition, she helped University College London establish the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation Systems.[2][4] She contributed to the Women's Engineering Society, Institute of Physics and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.[5] In 1983 and 1984 Burt presented a Faraday Lecture, Let's Build A Satellite, on behalf of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and British Aerospace.[6]

She was appointed to the London Branch Committee of the Women's Engineering Society in 1987.[7] She was a campaigner for career breaks and gave advice to members of the Women's Engineering Society in how to manage returning to work.[8] Burt was appointed to the Women's Engineering Society Council in 1991.[8] She presented at the 1991 International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists.[6] Having just accepted a faculty position at University College London, Burt suffered a fatal stroke in June 1997.[2][9] aged only 42.[10]

Legacy

Since 1999, the Women's Engineering Society have celebrated Karen Burt with a memorial award for newly chartered women in engineering, applied science or information technology.[2][11] Each year the Women's Engineering Society requests one nomination from each participating Professional Engineering Institution, and from these a winner is chosen. The award recognises significant potential in engineering [2][12] and it was originally set up to encourage a greater number of women to aim for, and to celebrate, the achievement of Chartered Engineer status.[3] Winners receive £1,000, at the bequest of her father, Cyril Hilsum.[5]

Karen Burt Award Winners[13]

• 2021: Eleanor Earl, Institution of Civil Engineers
• 2020: Tina Gunnarrsson, Institution of Civil Engineers
• 2019: Mandy Lester, Institution of Chemical Engineers
• 2018: Dr Susan Deeny, Institution of Fire Engineers
• 2017: Madeleine Jones, Institution of Chemical Engineers
• 2016: Clare Lavelle, Energy Institute
• 2015: Helen Randell, Institution of Civil Engineers
• 2014: Elaine Greaney, Institute of Engineering and Technology
• 2013: Professor Molly Stevens, Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
• 2012: Kate Cooksey, Institution of Civil Engineers
• 2011: Dr Gemma Whatling, Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• 2010: Julie Templeton, Institution of Civil Engineers
• 2009: Katy Deacon, Institution of Engineering & Technology
• 2008: Emily Spearman, Energy Institute
• 2007: Jane Hunter, Institute of Highway Engineers
• 2006: Louise Dougan (née McDevitt), Institute of Highway Engineers
• 2005: Katy Roelich, Institution of Water and Environmental Management
• 2004: Suzanne Bland, Institution of Civil Engineers
• 2003: Jane Wild, Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• 2002: Helen Marson, Institution of Chemical Engineers
• 2001: Beth Hutchison, British Computer Society
• 2000: Una McQuaid, Institution of Civil Engineers
• 1999: Rebecca Dowsett, Institution of Electrical Engineers

References

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