SONEUK Celebrates International Women in Engineering Day 2026 at the Embassy of Nepal

The Society of Nepalese Engineers UK (SONEUK), in proud collaboration with the Embassy of Nepal, hosted a special event on 23rd June 2026 to celebrate International Women in Engineering Day. The gathering served as a platform to recognize and honor the outstanding contributions of Nepali female engineers across both industry and academia.

Opening Highlights & Dignitary Remarks

The event kicked off with Er. Manoj Pun outlining the day's agenda, followed by Er. Srijana Khadka, who gracefully hosted the proceedings as the Master of Ceremonies.

• Mr. Bipin Duwadi (Charge d’affaires, Acting Ambassador) commended SONEUK for organizing this flagship event. He praised the society's ongoing dedication to education and awareness, spotlighting initiatives like their youth research competitions.

• Er. Subodh Timilsina (SONEUK Chairperson) reflected on the historic milestones of women in the field, paying tribute to Er. Shanti Malla, Nepal’s pioneer female engineer, as a lasting inspiration. He praised the brilliant contributions of the female engineering diaspora and shared the vision that brought this celebration to life.

Keynote Presentation: Navigating the Aerospace Sector

The technical segment commenced with an inspiring keynote by Smriti Hamal, a female aircraft engineer working in the UK defense sector. Smriti shared her firsthand experiences managing diverse projects across various sites. She candidly discussed the realities of navigating a male-dominated industry, shedding light on the unique challenges faced when representing both a gender and cultural minority in the workplace.

Panel Discussions: Insights, Innovations, and Inclusion

Moderated expertly by Ajeena Timilsina, the event featured two dynamic panel discussions spanning different career stages.

Panel A: Senior Perspectives & Global Transitions

Featuring Dr. Jaya Acharya (Senior Lecturer, Civil & Structural Engineering), Er. Bandana Shrestha (Associate Director, Jacobs), and Er. Poonam Pathak (Assistant Director, London Borough of Harrow).

• Key Themes: The panelists detailed their career journeys, the transition into the UK job market, and navigating cultural differences between international workplaces and the UK.

• Strategic Outlook: The conversation delved into engineering solutions adaptable for Nepal, the rise of AI in data modeling, and an honest look at whether gender-related obstacles still persist in modern STEM workplaces and academic spaces.

Panel B: Next-Gen Innovation & Brain Circulation

Featuring early- and mid-career professionals: Ar. Nibedita Gautam, Er. Aagya Sharma, Er. Priyanka Regmi, Er. Sadikshya Paudel, and Er. Sony Adhikari.

• Key Themes: This session focused on "brain circulation" the vital exchange of knowledge and skills between Nepal and the global community.

• The Leadership Gap: While celebrating industry progress, the panel noted that women remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles. They discussed what draws women to this traditionally male-dominated field, the differing career barriers faced by genders, and how organizations can actively build inclusive environments that foster career advancement.The Role of AI in Engineering

Both panels converged on the topic of Artificial Intelligence. While acknowledging AI’s immense potential in modern engineering, speakers collectively emphasized that AI is a tool designed to enhance not replace human expertise, critical judgment, and creative innovation.

Looking Ahead

In his closing remarks, SONEUK Chairperson Er. Subodh Timilsina expressed his deep gratitude to the speakers, panelists, organizers, and attendees who made the event a resounding success.

He challenged current and future SONEUK Executive Committees to maintain this momentum, emphasizing that this event is not a one-off celebration, but the catalyst for an ongoing dialogue. Closing the day, he reminded everyone that true progress and sustainable growth in engineering can only be achieved when diversity and equal opportunity are given to all.