Jane Rickson, Institution of Agricultural Engineers

As the first female president of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers, Jane Rickson believes it is important to fight sexist prejudices with technical knowledge and professionalism, while mentoring and supporting young and mid-career women to have the opportunity and confidence to continue their careers. “I think it’s all about professionalism,” says the professor of soil erosion and conservation at Cranfield University. “How do we give that to young women so that they have the confidence to walk into a room full of men and stand their ground – because not everyone has that confidence.” Everyone, male or female, has to prove their worth professionally, says Ms Rickson, but there are some people out there with prejudices against women, she says.