Orla Murphy

Orla Murphy is an award-winning engineer, speaker and STEM advocate, passionate about driving innovation, improving quality, and inspiring greater diversity in engineering.

Orla Murphy is a chartered engineer, public speaker and passionate advocate for diversity in STEM. With a unique background in both engineering and music, Orla brings creativity and technical expertise together in her work – and is on a mission to inspire the next generation of engineers.

Currently Engineering Quality Transformation Manager at Jaguar Land Rover, Orla leads key projects focused on improving how the business manages quality across its operations. Her journey at JLR began in 2012 as a sponsored student, and she’s since held several roles – from fine-tuning in-car sound systems as an Audio Calibration Engineer to solving complex technical challenges as part of the Electrical Quality team.

Her work on the launch of the Range Rover Velar featured in a behind-the-scenes documentary, shining a light on the people behind the technology. Today, she’s helping to shape the future of automotive engineering through strategic, cross-company change.

Orla’s impact reaches well beyond her day job. She was named the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year in 2015, and the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Young Engineer of the Year in 2016. She also featured in The Telegraph and the Women’s Engineering Society’s list of the Top 50 Women in Engineering in 2017.

As a speaker, Orla regularly shares her story at schools, events and conferences – bringing energy, relatability and insight to topics such as careers in engineering, leadership, innovation and inclusion. She’s especially passionate about encouraging more women and underrepresented groups into the sector, breaking down outdated stereotypes and showing just how exciting – and creative – a career in engineering can be.

Outside of work, Orla is also a talented musician, playing viola with the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra – a brilliant reminder that engineering and the arts aren’t worlds apart, but can be powerful together.