Returning to the UAE for the sixth consecutive year, the prestigious James Dyson Award has announced the lineup of distinguished judges for its highly anticipated 2023 edition. This year’s judging panel comprises renowned engineers and influential individuals from the region, who bring a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to the evaluation process.
The James Dyson Award celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers. The global design competition invites student innovators to present their problem-solving creations to the panel of judges, allowing them to contend for a cash prize of £5,000 and garner recognition during the national selection rounds. Those who emerge victorious in the national heats then advance to the international stage, eagerly awaiting James Dyson’s personal selection of the global winner, who will receive £30,000.
Among this year’s esteemed judges, Dyson warmly welcomes back Dr. Eng. Suaad Al Shamsi, who holds the distinction of being the first Emirati female aircraft engineer. The trailblazer has been a judge since the award was launched in the UAE in 2017, bringing years of expertise and experience to the judging process.
Also returning to the panel is Prof. Tadhg S. O’Donovan, Deputy Vice Principal at Heriot-Watt University. He is an engineer with a diverse background and profound knowledge of energy systems, storage and integration make him an invaluable asset to the panel.
Alongside them, technology and gaming expert Abbas Jaffar Ali joins the judging lineup. Abbas’s knowledge of and passion for technology date back to the era before phones became smart. Having worked with many of the largest tech companies, such as Apple, Amazon, Intel, Microsoft, Samsung, Sony and Huawei, Abbas brings a wealth of insights on the ever-changing technology landscape to the panel.