The Royal Academy of Engineering has welcomed 74 new Fellows into its ranks, a cohort drawn from across the spectrum of technology and innovation. Among them are two African women whose election underscores both the continent’s growing intellectual influence and the Academy’s push towards greater inclusivity in global engineering leadership.
Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Ghana and Professor Linda Godfrey, Manager of Circular Innovation South Africa at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
“I’m delighted to have been elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. I join 73 other leading figures in the fields of engineering and technology to be elected this year,” said Professor Kaufmann, who is also founder of the Elsie Effah Kaufmann Foundation, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers in Ghana and beyond.
The 2025 intake consists of 60 Fellows, nine International Fellows and five Honorary Fellows, covering fields as wide-ranging as defence, energy, materials science and cutting-edge technological innovation. Fellows are recognized not only for their contributions to academia and industry but also for shaping public policy and broadening the understanding of engineering in society.
This year’s cohort continues the Academy’s “Fellowship Fit for the Future” initiative, first announced in 2020, which aims to diversify nominations and ensure representation of women, minority ethnic groups, those with disabilities and individuals from non-traditional career paths. It also emphasises recognising excellence earlier in careers, a reflection of the evolving nature of global innovation.
Professor Godfrey’s election reflects her leading role in advancing circular economy and innovation ecosystems across Africa. Through her work at South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, she has championed strategies for sustainable resource use and waste management, positioning African science as a driver of both environmental protection and economic opportunity.
The new Fellows will be formally admitted at a ceremony in London on 18 November, where each will sign the Academy’s roll book. In joining, they commit to contributing their expertise towards the Academy’s overarching mission: to engineer better lives.
Sir John Lazar, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said:
“As we approach our 50th anniversary next year it’s a good time to reflect on how much we have achieved. The Academy is built on the foundation of our Fellowship, and that remains as true today as half a century ago. Our story began as a ‘Fellowship of Engineering’ of 130 Fellows including such pioneers as Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, Lord Hinton of Bankside and Sir Ove Arup, driven by the support of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.”
He added:
“Today’s cohort join a community of around 1,700 of some of the most talented engineers and innovators in the UK and around the globe. Their knowledge and experience make them uniquely well placed to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world, and our determination to advance and promote excellence in engineering remains undimmed.”
For Africa’s entrepreneurial community, the election of Professors Kaufmann and Godfrey is a quiet yet powerful reminder: talent from the continent is increasingly being recognised at the highest levels of global science and innovation. Their inclusion does more than celebrate individual achievement, it signals to young African engineers, students and entrepreneurs that their work belongs on the world stage.
