Lynette Willoughby

Helen Lynette Estelle Willoughby (born 1949) is a feminist electronic engineer and champion of teaching women about technology, whose career has spanned 50 years. She was a lecturer on microprocessor engineering at Leeds Polytechnic and Leeds Beckett University for 24 years. In 1979, Lynette wrote to the New Scientist to complain about a sexist cartoon, pointing out how attitudes towards women affected their ability to partake in engineering careers. The project was set up following the closure of Burton's Tailoring Firm in Harehills, Leeds, which left many women unemployed. It aimed to provide free training in areas where women did not traditionally work such as electronics, micro-computing, carpentry and joinery to allow women to gain skills for successful employment.

In 1985-1986, Lynette studied for an MSc in Microprocessor Engineering at University of Bradford. In 2001, she contributed to a research project exploring how to increase access for women to the internet. Lynette retired in 2005.

Career as an artist From 1998 to 2004, Lynette took a Fine Art degree at the Leeds College of Art and Design. She also makes artist's books.