What does it really take to build an inclusive culture in engineering? What’s getting in the way?
Join us for a live webinar as we reveal the most compelling insights from the latest Culture+ data report and speak with the people who are leading successful companies that are making the world better.
Drawing on findings from over 50 engineering startups and scaleups, we’ll explore the hidden dynamics shaping workplace inclusion — and the surprising gaps between how leaders and teams experience culture.
We'll speak with the leaders at two exciting, growing startups about what is working for them and what mistakes to avoid:
We’ll cover:
- Why women are facing unique barriers to feedback and recognition
- How managerial blind spots can quietly undermine collaboration
- How to keep what's great about your culture while you scale
- Why focusing on feedback might be the most important thing you could do
This isn’t just about identifying problems – it’s about unlocking solutions. We’ll share practical, data-driven recommendations and re-introduce Culture + , our flagship programme designed to help engineering organisations embed inclusive practices as they grow.
Who is this for? Whether you're a founder, team lead, or culture champion, this session will equip you with fresh insights and actionable strategies to build a workplace where everyone can thrive.
Your speakers
Emma Priestley is Head of Product at ACT Medical, a MedTech startup developing innovative solutions for treating penetrative trauma. With a background in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bath, Emma leads the full product lifecycle - from design to launch - ensuring clinical and commercial impact. Her experience spans CAD, bioengineering, and manufacturing, and she has held roles at TTP plc, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, and 180 Degrees Consulting. Emma is passionate about creating medical technologies that deliver real-world value.
Henrik Hagemann is the co-founder of Puraffinity, a cleantech company tackling water pollution through advanced material engineering. His team has developed a selective adsorbent media that removes hazardous contaminants like PFAS from water, offering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional treatments. Puraffinity’s technology has been piloted at major European airports and supported by over £4 million in funding. Henrik’s work is helping industries meet regulatory demands while protecting public health and the environment.
Jess Middlemiss is CTO of Puraffinity, a UK-based engineering company that designs and develops adsorbent media to remove PFAS from water at multiple scales across several market sectors.
Jess studied Materials Science and Engineering at Imperial College London and has spent the majority of her career in Engineering focussed roles with Rolls-Royce, Dyson and Sartorius before shifting her career to work with environmentally focussed start-ups; developing micro-scale filtration at Matter. and now tackling PFAS with Puraffinity. She has a breadth of experience across technology and product lifecycles, and has led large teams of Engineers in multiple organisations, sometimes globally.
Jess is also passionate about developing young Engineers and was Head of Operations at The Dyson Institute, Dyson’s in-house Undergraduate degree programme. She also volunteers for her professional engineering institute (IOM3) and has been involved in various initiatives related to supporting Women in Engineering.
Outside of work Jess enjoys spending time outside in nature with her husband, 2 children and their various animals. The family is passionate about improving biodiversity on their 6 acre smallholding and Jess enjoys gardening, foraging and preserving her own food. She also keeps bees.
