Maria Ruiz Izquierdo

WHO

Hi everyone! I’m María Ruiz Izquierdo, an MSc Biomedical Engineering student from Spain. Before joining Imperial, I studied in Madrid and had international academic experiences at EPFL and MIT, which exposed me to different university cultures and approaches to inclusion. I have also been involved in STEM empowerment initiatives in Spain and internationally.

WHY

Engineering has made important progress towards gender equality, but there is still room for improvement. For me, equality is not only about achieving a better gender balance, but also about ensuring that everyone feels represented, supported and able to access the same opportunities.

Universities have an important role in creating inclusive environments and encouraging gender equality throughout education and future careers.

WHAT

If elected, I would focus on practical and achievable improvements, including:

• Advocating for adequate women’s bathroom provision across teaching spaces.
• Creating an easy and confidential way for students to raise gender-related concerns and suggestions.
• Promoting mentoring, networking and talks with women in academia and industry.
• Supporting outreach initiatives encouraging girls and young women to pursue STEM.
• Improving the visibility of female role models across engineering.
• Sharing regular updates on concerns raised and actions taken.

Most importantly, I want to be an approachable representative who listens to students and turns their feedback into action.

I would really appreciate your support and your vote!

See you around campus!

María