Dame Dawn Childs

Dawn Childs is the CEO of Pure Data Centres Group responsible for the global portfolio of hyper scale data centres. Before joining Pure 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 refuelling fleets and the Red Arrows.

In October 2018 she became the President of the Women’s Engineering Society, she is also the Deputy Chair of World Skills UK and the Chair of the iMasons D&I Committee.

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 was appointed a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) for services to engineering in the King’s New Years Honours 2023.