Jessica Leigh Jones

Jessica Leigh Jones (born 1994) for her work designing a portable uterine contraction monitor which cut manufacturing costs by 99%. She was later rewarded for her efforts to commercialise the technology, receiving the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Intel Inspiration Award for Entrepreneurship in the same year.

Early life and education Jones was born in Cardiff in 1994. Jones attended Willows High School in Tremorfa, Cardiff until age 15, where she was taught electronics at GCSE level by Keith Allen, whom she described as one of her role models. She studied Astrophysics at Cardiff University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2015. She also holds positions as Director, Engineering Education Scheme Wales and Patron, Alton Convent School, Hampshire, England. a technology startup company aiming to help people affected by COVID-19 to upskill, retrain and secure re-employment. In 2020 she was appointed as a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. In February, 2021 she was awarded a place on the Royal Society's Entrepreneur in Residence Scheme. She serves on the board of directors of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

In May 2021, Jones was appointed Global Focal Point for Upskilling Migrants for Employment at the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth. She is the youngest Welsh citizen under the age of 30 to receive this diplomatic honour.

Awards and honours Jones was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to women in engineering in Wales. Other awards and honours include: 2011 – Wales Young Engineer of the Year 2012 – Research Councils UK Experience Prize 2012 – UK Young Engineer of the Year 2012 – Duke of York's Award for Creative Use of Technology 2012 – Wales Young Achiever Award 2012 – Leonard Landon Goodman Award for Excellence in Engineering 2012 – The Institution of Engineering and Technology Intel Inspiration Award for Entrepreneurship 2016 – Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers 2016 – Top 35 Under 35 Professional Business Women in Wales 2016 – youngest on the list 2017 – St David Awards Finalist in Science, Technology & Innovation Category 2017 2017 – Freedom of the City of London (2017) 2017 – The Daily Telegraph Top 50 Women in Engineering under 35 2017 2017 – Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers 2017 – Top 35 Under 35 Professional Business Women in Wales 2017 2017 – The Manufacturer Top 100 EXEMPLAR Figure (top 20) 2017 – Aviva Woman of the Future for Technology & Digital 2018 – Forbes 30 under 30 Europe Youngest List 2018 – Management Today 35 under 35 One to Watch 2020 – Listed in Who's Who 2020 – ChwaraeTeg Womenspire Board Member of the Year 2020 – WeAreTheCity TechWomen100 Award