Helen Lynette Estelle Willoughby (born 1950) is a feminist electronic engineer and champion of teaching women about technology, whose career has spanned 50 years.[1] She was a lecturer on microprocessor engineering at Leeds Polytechnic and Leeds Beckett University for 24 years.[2][3] She was the president of the Women's Engineering Society from 1993 to 1995.[4]
Lynette's family comes from Sheffield but she was born near Hull, and she had three older brothers.[1] She grew up in London and went to a girls' grammar school where her talents for science were encouraged, and special arrangements were made to allow her to study physics at A-level.[1] In 1968, she started her BSc degree at the University of Surrey in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, being the only woman on the course.[1] At Surrey, in response to how many lecturers inadequately conveyed information, she developed her interest in teaching.[1] She also became aware of how sexism could affect her aspirations as she was discouraged from applying for a job on the British Antarctic Survey because there were no toilet facilities for women.[1] She had two technician jobs while studying.[5] Following her degree, she researched the teaching of engineering for 2 years.[1]
Following her studies, Lynette became a science teacher at Foxwood School, Leeds.[1] From 1977 to 1981, she worked as a medical physics technician at Leeds General Infirmary.[1][5] 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.[6][1]
In 1981, Lynette played a key role in setting up one of the first centers for training women in technology and other skills, the East Leeds Women's Workshop.[7] The project was set up following the closure of Burton's Tailoring Firm in Harehills, Leeds, which left many women unemployed.[8] 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.[8] Minority women, including disabilities and BAME, were given priority and childcare was provided.[8] Lynette taught electronics and computing.[1]
In 1984, Lynette contributed to a study on training for women in technology for the Manpower Services Commission.[9]
In 1985-1986, Lynette studied for an MSc in Microprocessor Engineering at University of Bradford.[1] She began her involvement with the Women's Engineering Society.[1] After unsuccessfully applying for jobs in industry, Lynette became a lecturer at Leeds Polytechnic, later called Leeds Beckett University after a friend encouraged her to apply.[1] She taught a range of subjects including computer hardware, professional skills for computing, and the political and social implications of technology.[1] She also taught for the Open University between 1972 and 1993.[5] From 1993 to 1995, she was president of the Women's Engineering Society.[1] In 2000, Lynette was chosen to research and write a short paper on the global state of technology education for women.[10] In 2001, she contributed to a research project exploring how to increase access for women to the internet.[11] Lynette retired in 2005.[1] She kept her links with Leeds Beckett University until 2012.[5] In 2019, Lynette contributed to a project celebrating 100 years of the Women's Engineering Society at the University of Leeds.[1][12]
From 1998 to 2004, Lynette took a Fine Art degree at the Leeds College of Art and Design.[1] In 2006, she finally got to Antarctica where she took photographs of the wildlife.[1][13] From 2009, Lynette has worked on many site-responsive projects in Leeds and Bradford including the Ghosts Group at the Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills and ghost installations at Saltaire.[3][14][13] She also makes artist's books.[13] She is an active member of Leeds Creative Time Bank overseeing operations and responsible for treasurer, administrator and timebroker activities.[15][16]