Dawn Childs

Dawn Childs is the CEO of Pure Data Centres (Operations), responsible for the construction and operation of a global portfolio of hyperscale data centres. Before stepping into her current role, she led a multi-billion transformation programme for National Grid as their UK Change Director across both the gas and electricity transmission businesses. This followed several senior engineering appointments as: the Group Engineering Director for Merlin Entertainments with responsibility for engineering delivery, standards, practices, and processes across the worldwide portfolio of theme parks and attractions; and the Head of Engineering at Gatwick Airport, responsible for all of the infrastructure and technical services at the airport. She joined Gatwick after 23 years as an Engineering Officer in the Royal Air Force, during which time she held posts as the lead engineer on various aircraft platforms, including intelligence and surveillance fleets, air transport and air-to-air refueling fleets and the Red Arrows.

In 1997, she was awarded the RAF Barrie Smart Memorial Award and consequently gained her pilots licence and in 2013, she won a CBI and RealBusiness First Women Award in the Tourism and Leisure Category for being the first female Head of Engineering at a major International Airport. In 2014 she was made an Honorary Doctor of Science by Staffordshire University and then by Kingston University in 2022 for her services to engineering. She was also recognised as one of the Barclays Women of Achievement for 2014. In 2015 she was awarded the Alistair Graham-Bryce Award by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers for her significant contribution to the encouragement of young people towards a career in engineering and received the WeAretheCity Diversity Champion Award in 2021. She was recognised on the inaugural list of the top 50 most influential women engineers in the UK in 2016 and is a fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Royal Aeronautical Society, Institution of Civil Engineers, and the Women’s Engineering Society. She was honoured with a Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering in October 2020 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the engineering profession and received an iMasons 100 award in 2021.

In October 2018, she became the President of the Women’s Engineering Society and is also the Deputy Chair and a Trustee for World Skills UK. A keen equestrienne, she was the Chairman of RAF Equitation for many years and competed Inter-Services in Show Jumping and Eventing.