Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering academic selected for 2025 Foundation Future Leaders programme
Congratulations to Dr Neale Watson, who has been selected for the Foundation Future Leaders programme for 2025.
Launched in 2019, the Foundation Future Leaders programme seeks to support the leaders of tomorrow in building links and knowledge across sectors and industries. It brings together a cohort of around 35 mid-career professionals, with approximately one third of representatives drawn from each of the research community, industry, and the civil service and wider public sector.
Over the course of a year, the group meet with senior figures from government, parliament, universities, large industry, SMEs and research charities. The Future Leaders also present their own expertise, develop skills and make connections. The programme includes external visits and an annual conference for a wider group of mid-career future leaders in science, technology, research, and innovation.
Dr Watson commented: “I’m honoured to have been selected to join the 2025 Foundation Future Leaders programme. This is a unique opportunity for me to widen my understanding of current research and innovation in the UK and to engage with senior figures from the science and technology community. I look forward to participating with this year’s cohort and the opportunity to identify avenues to further the impact of my research.”
After obtaining his PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University in 2021, Dr Watson became a lecturer in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His research investigates the operation of aircraft in challenging environments using modelling and simulation tools, including his recent work measuring wind flow from air ambulance helicopters. We look forward to seeing where this new endeavour will take him.