Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide acknowledgement of the challenges, misconceptions and stereotypes around neurological differences.

The aim of this week is to change the perspective of how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by schools, organisations and people all around the world - providing an opportunity to recognise the skills and talents of neurodivergent individuals. In addition to this, Neurodiversity Celebration Week aims to help create an inclusive and equitable culture that celebrates differences and empowers.

As part of the week, we would like to highlight Melissa Riley!

Dr Melissa Riley BMedSci CEng FIMMM FWeldI, holds a degree in B.Med.Sc. (Biomaterials) and Schottlander Prize for Biomaterials from Medicine and Dentistry from the University of Birmingham, as well as a PhD in ‘The Use of Magnets in Medicine and Dentistry’ from the University of Birmingham. Melissa joined The Welding Institute in 2023 and currently works as a Consultant in the Surface Engineering Team, part of the Metallic Materials and Integrity Group at TWI Ltd. Melissa has dyslexia and dyspraxia and challenges stigmas by acknowledging how neurodiversity has supported her career.

Why did you choose a career in engineering?

I didn’t set out to do engineering and have found my way into it! As a child, I was always interested in science, geography, nature, and aeroplanes, and my career aspirations varied somewhat growing up! However, by age 14, I’d set my sights on doing medicine, having been inspired by my local GPs from an early age, but also as a result of the Kegworth Air Disaster, which occurred very close to where I grew up around the time I was choosing my GCSE subjects. I then did three science A-levels, before enrolling on a multidisciplinary B.Med.Sc (Biomaterials) degree, taught between Medicine and Dentistry, and Metallurgy and Materials. This enabled me to work to my dyslexic strengths, and utilise a broad range of science and engineering skills, something that I continue to do in my current role (the bonus is that I now get to work on aerospace technologies too!). After my undergrad degree, I did a PhD in the use of magnetic materials in medicine and dentistry, before working on PVD and CVD coatings for orthopaedics, and then joining TWI Ltd.

Day to day I am involved in the development and characterisation of thermal sprayed materials and other coating technologies for a wide range of industrial applications. I have also been instrumental in the development of TWI Ltd’s surface engineering facilities to enable industry focussed, applied R&D at higher TRL/MRL scales for TWI Ltd Industrial Members, including high profile projects relating to upscaling / manufacturing development of coatings on composites. I am a committee member of the UK Thermal Spraying and Surface Engineering Association and BSI STI/040 Thermal Spraying and Thermally Sprayed Coatings Committee.

Over the past 25 years or so, I’ve been involved in developing coatings for hip and knee replacements, high performance engines, preventing high temperature corrosion in biomass and waste to energy plants, and assessing coatings for protecting composite aircraft from lightning strikes. More recent projects include developing advanced coatings for radar applications. For me, the big motivation comes from solving engineering challenges, making a difference and adding value. I can’t think of any other career that enables people to have such a broad range of pathways and opportunities to follow, and I’m never really sure what’s around the corner!

Why did you initially join The Welding Institute?

Having worked at TWI Ltd for approaching 20 years, I thought it was about time I joined! I also wanted to have greater oversight of technology areas outside surface engineering and expand my network. Membership of The Welding Institute has enabled me to do that, as well as providing recognition of my role at TWI Ltd.

Tell us a bit about the process of becoming a Member of The Welding Institute:

I joined as an Associate initially and then applied for Fellowship. I had two sponsors, both FWeldI, and then had to fill out a CV, check my CPD records were up-to-date, and write a justifying case study related to the Fellow requirements. It was a useful exercise to acknowledge my achievements and ensure my CPD records were up-to-date.

What was the process of Professional Registration like and why did you choose to become professionally registered?

For me this was important as I did a Medical Science degree and I wanted to achieve recognition in the engineering field. I registered through the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining as I was an Associate with them at the time and it was closest to my experience. I was also awarded Professional Membership (MIMMM) at the same time, and I have since been awarded FIMMM. Professional registration is important as it also covers topics outside your core technology area.

How has professional membership/registration helped you throughout your career?

Professional membership/registration has been really important in acknowledging skillsets to our Industrial Members. It also reminds me to keep looking forward, learning and keep up-to-date with my CPD, as well as expanding my network of contacts.

What are your core involvements with The Welding Institute, what do they entail and why do you undertake them?

I am a mentor at TWI Ltd and have also contributed to The Welding and Joining Matters Journal. I have also presented at The Welding Institute’s events and am a committee member of the UK Thermal Spraying and Surface Engineering Association and BSI STI/040 Thermal Spraying and Thermally Sprayed Coatings Committee

What membership benefits do you use the most and find the most helpful and why?

The range of talks available is useful to raise awareness of topics outside my core competencies.

How has The Welding Institute supported you?

The Welding Institute has given me opportunities to present on the topic of neurodiversity. I was really proud to be able to present at the 100 Year Anniversary event back in 2023, having worked at TWI Ltd for over 20 years. I have since attended Branch meetings and also presented to TWI Ltd’s Industrial Members on the same topic.

How has your neurodiversity supported your career?

I was a late diagnosis for dyslexia and dyspraxia: I only had a screening test after my PhD and a full assessment aged 40, despite my challenges at school, university and in the workplace! Looking back, my neurodiversity has given me an advantage when studying for my degree, which was multidisciplinary and taught between Medicine and Dentistry, and Metallurgy and Materials. Being dyslexic I was able to join the dots between the medical and dental side with the metallurgy and materials. I think my dyslexic thinking (an approach to problem solving, assessing information, and learning, often used by people with dyslexia, that involves pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, lateral thinking and interpersonal communication) has been a huge help in my career. I never know what enquiries we may get from our Industrial Members, or where they will lead, and the ability to think laterally is of huge benefit. Being able to say ‘I don’t know’ and go and find someone who does, or be curious to find out the answers, is a huge help in solving engineering challenges. Having a sense of humour and the ability to keep persevering is also key.

What strengths has your neurodiversity provided you?

Being able to see the big picture and think outside the box: I tend to be quite innovative in identifying industrial needs within my technology area, which has opened up new opportunities for our team. I have also led a lot of the development of TWI Ltd’s surface engineering facilities to enable industry focussed, applied R&D at higher TRL/MRL scales for TWI Ltd’s Members. I am constantly thinking about what comes next or what things link up to create new opportunities! It’s also helpful to be able to simplify things when looking at the big picture and I find this is a useful skill when looking at future strategy and systems thinking.

How do you embrace your neurodiversity?

I am quite open about my neurodiversity as I think it helps others to know that they are not alone in thinking differently. It’s important for people to recognise their strengths and be able to work to them as part of a team. I have given a few presentations about the topic of neurodiversity to raise awareness of both the challenges and the strengths that neurodiverse individuals can bring. Embracing neurodiversity creates a culture where individuals can feel comfortable being themselves and provides a unique combination of perspectives, inspiring creativity and innovation towards the collective goal. It also provides increased diversity in skills, ways of thinking and approaches to problem solving for increased competitive advantage and talent retention.

What are some challenges that you have faced because of your neurodiversity?

My short term working memory means that mental arithmetic is challenging: I always need pen and paper! Concentration and focus can also be an issue so a quiet working space is important. Other than that, communication between neurodiverse individuals and neurotypicals can be a challenge as they don’t think and operate in the same way. I have been fortunate to have a great mentor for much of my career who has always encouraged me to work to my strengths and has been a huge help in helping me recognise them instead of comparing myself to others. Managers can also make a big difference. It’s why I think it’s important to raise awareness so that we can tap into an individual’s strengths within teams: the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I think it’s important to also be able to ask for help where you need it too, be that assistive technologies or other reasonable adjustments. For example, I use mind mapping software for project management as it’s more visual than traditional project management tools and it makes life so much easier. It also helps communicate my thinking. The right support is out there if you need it.

What are your engineering aspirations?

Surface Engineering is a key manufacturing technology in the UK with manufacturers with over £11 billion in business playing a key role in producing over £140 billion of products. The impact of surface engineering and the integration between surfaces is huge, and can transform the durability of components in many demanding applications. TWI Ltd has been at the forefront of developing surface engineering technologies in many demanding applications and I see us being able to contribute more in the future with our wide range of technologies, characterisation and testing capability. Key areas are the transition away from restricted materials and enhanced protection coatings, barriers and surface treatments as well as the development of new materials and processes to improve or extend the performance of materials. Personally, I would like to play a key role in expanding our services to industry to support the development of surface engineering technologies in industrial applications, particularly in aerospace and defence where there are new prospects on the horizon relating to NetZero and other demanding applications.

What advice would you give or what would you say to your younger self beginning your career in engineering?

Recognise your strengths and look for opportunities to keep learning and expanding your skillsets to challenge yourself: you never know what the future holds.

We would like to thank Melissa for her kind contribution as part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025, running between 17-23 March 2025.

If you would like to find out more on the week, please find here