Orla Murphy

Orla Murphy is a chartered engineer, musician and STEM public speaker who combines technical excellence with a passion for inspiring the next generation. As Engineering Quality Transformation Manager at Jaguar Land Rover, she has led transformational projects across the company and earned recognition as IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year and Royal Academy of Engineering Young Engineer of the Year, later named in the Top 50 Women in Engineering. Through her engaging talks at schools, conferences and events, Orla dispels myths about engineering careers and empowers organisations to attract diverse talent into STEM sectors, showing audiences how accessible and exciting these opportunities truly are.

Orla Murphy joined Jaguar Land Rover as a sponsored student in 2012 and has since built a distinguished career that spans audio calibration, Black Belt problem solving, and company-wide quality transformation. With an MEng in Electronics with Music from the University of Glasgow and an MSc in Engineering and Process Excellence from the University of Bradford, she has progressed through roles that blend technical rigour with creative problem solving. Her work on the Range Rover Velar earned her a place in a behind-the-scenes documentary showcasing the engineers behind the vehicle's launch, and she now serves as Engineering Quality Transformation Manager, leading projects that reshape how the company addresses quality challenges across its operations.

Orla's contributions to engineering have earned her significant recognition within the industry. Named IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year in 2015 and Royal Academy of Engineering Young Engineer of the Year in 2016, she was later listed in The Telegraph and The Women's Engineering Society honours list of "Top 50 Women in Engineering" in 2017. As a chartered engineer, she combines her technical expertise with a deep understanding of process excellence, having spent years refining how complex manufacturing challenges are identified, analysed, and resolved. Her dual background in electronics and music reflects a unique ability to see engineering through both analytical and creative lenses, an approach that informs her work in quality management and her broader advocacy for the profession. Beyond her corporate role, Orla plays viola with the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra, demonstrating the breadth of skills that engineering careers can accommodate.

Orla speaks regularly at schools, conferences, and events, where she challenges outdated perceptions of engineering and manufacturing. Her presentations focus on making STEM careers accessible and appealing to diverse audiences, showing young people and organisations alike that engineering offers dynamic, creative, and fulfilling pathways. She addresses the practical steps needed to attract and retain diverse talent, drawing on her own experiences to illustrate how the sector can evolve. Audiences leave her talks with a clearer understanding of what modern engineering looks like, practical strategies for building inclusive teams, and renewed enthusiasm for the opportunities within STEM fields. Whether speaking to students considering their futures or industry leaders shaping workforce strategy, Orla equips her audiences with the insight and motivation to take meaningful action.