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Plenary: Four (16:10-17:15)
Date: Tuesday 14 March
Format: Keynote speech, followed by Q&A. Ayo will share her insights from the world of sustainability, STEM and Neurodiversity
Role | Chartered Civil Engineer, BBC Presenter, Neurodiversity Advocate and Author
Ayo Sokale is a Chartered Civil Engineer, BBC Presenter, Project Manager and Building Information lead for the Environment Agency in Eastern England who stands at the cutting edge of the evolving scientific, media and environmental landscape.
Graduating as a Chartered Civil Engineer on the Environment Agency’s training scheme, Ayo undertook internal and external placements to support her development. This enabled her to sign off her ICE training agreement in 2.5 years and achieve CEng in 3 years. She has excellent communication, interpersonal skills, well-developed problem-solving, site supervision and project management skills. She is an engineer and Project Team Manager for the Environment Agency, and is more than capable as a keynote speaker on the environment and sustainability.
Ayo was also selected as one of Professor Lord Robert Mair’s Future Leaders for his year as President of the ICE. She is one of the ICE’s Water Superheroes aptly named Eco Warrior and is an excellent Motivational Speaker and Inspirational Speaker, particularly when it comes to inspiring young people to pursue STEM subjects. A former Deputy Mayor of Reading, she campaigned tirelessly on sustainability issues in the area.
As a STEM ambassador and mentor, Ayo encourages others to take up careers in Civil Engineering. She was also nominated for the Top 50 Women in Engineering under 35 by The Telegraph and incorporates topics of Diversity and Inclusion when she speaks on the topic.
In recent years, Ayo has felt more able to talk about being on the autism spectrum. She has a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome and is an empathetic and inspirational keynote speaker on neurodiversity, mental health challenges and how to overcome them. Her first book is about self development and is a way to support the fields above.
Ayo loves the performing arts, and fitness, is a presenter for BBC Reel and also has a passion for supporting great causes. She’s raised funds for a number of charities, using her platform as a beauty queen and finalist for Miss Galaxy England, Miss Earth and Miss Great Britain. She is also a Labour Councillor for Caversham on Reading Borough Council.
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