Helen Lynette Estelle Willoughby (born 1950) is a feminist electronic engineer and champion of teaching women about technology, whose career has spanned 50 years. [1] She was a lecturer on microprocessor engineering at Leeds Polytechnic and Leeds Beckett University for 24 years. [2] [3] She was the president of the Women's Engineering Society from 1993 to 1995. [4]
Lynette's family comes from Sheffield but she was born near Hull, and she had three older brothers. [1] She grew up in London and went to a girls' grammar school where her talents for science were encouraged, and special arrangements were made to allow her to study physics at A-level. [1] In 1968, she started her BSc degree at the University of Surrey in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, being the only woman on the course. [1] At Surrey, in response to how many lecturers inadequately conveyed information, she developed her interest in teaching. [1] She also became aware of how sexism could affect her aspirations as she was discouraged from applying for a job on the British Antarctic Survey because there were no toilet facilities for women. [1] She had two technician jobs while studying. [5] Following her degree, she researched the teaching of engineering for 2 years. [1]
Following her studies, Lynette became a science teacher at Foxwood School, Leeds. [1] From 1977 to 1981, she worked as a medical physics technician at Leeds General Infirmary. [1] [5] In 1979, Lynette wrote to the New Scientist to complain about a sexist cartoon, pointing out how attitudes towards women affected their ability to partake in engineering careers. [6] [1]
In 1981, Lynette played a key role in setting up one of the first centers for training women in technology and other skills, the East Leeds Women's Workshop. [7] The project was set up following the closure of Burton's Tailoring Firm in Harehills, Leeds, which left many women unemployed. [8] It aimed to provide free training in areas where women did not traditionally work such as electronics, micro-computing, carpentry and joinery to allow women to gain skills for successful employment. [8] Minority women, including disabilities and BAME, were given priority and childcare was provided. [8] Lynette taught electronics and computing. [1]
In 1984, Lynette contributed to a study on training for women in technology for the Manpower Services Commission. [9]
In 1985-1986, Lynette studied for an MSc in Microprocessor Engineering at University of Bradford. [1] She began her involvement with the Women's Engineering Society. [1] After unsuccessfully applying for jobs in industry, Lynette became a lecturer at Leeds Polytechnic, later called Leeds Beckett University after a friend encouraged her to apply. [1] She taught a range of subjects including computer hardware, professional skills for computing, and the political and social implications of technology. [1] She also taught for the Open University between 1972 and 1993. [5] From 1993 to 1995, she was president of the Women's Engineering Society. [1] In 2000, Lynette was chosen to research and write a short paper on the global state of technology education for women. [10] In 2001, she contributed to a research project exploring how to increase access for women to the internet. [11] Lynette retired in 2005. [1] She kept her links with Leeds Beckett University until 2012. [5] In 2019, Lynette contributed to a project celebrating 100 years of the Women's Engineering Society at the University of Leeds. [1] [12]
From 1998 to 2004, Lynette took a Fine Art degree at the Leeds College of Art and Design. [1] In 2006, she finally got to Antarctica where she took photographs of the wildlife. [1] [13] From 2009, Lynette has worked on many site-responsive projects in Leeds and Bradford including the Ghosts Group at the Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills and ghost installations at Saltaire. [3] [14] [13] She also makes artist's books. [13] She is an active member of Leeds Creative Time Bank overseeing operations and responsible for treasurer, administrator and timebroker activities. [15] [16]
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