Ms Jayne Brady:

Regarding females in STEM, it starts very early. No female unconsciously decides to go into a career in engineering; it is a conscious decision. Creating the link between females and role models at an early stage and the options that are open to them is key in that. At present, 25% are coming out of schools with backgrounds in science and technology but it is important to give options to children at an early stage to open up those opportunities to them.

Another key aspect for me, as a female engineer and a mother of three young children, is having family friendly policies for all of the family, both husbands and wives. This is not just a female debate but about allowing it to be normal for husbands to participate equally in the child care arrangements.