Penny Endersby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Penny Endersby
CBE FREng HonFInstP
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| Chief Executive of the Met Office | |
| Assumed office December 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Rob Varley |
| Personal details | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
Penelope Clare Endersby, often called Penny, is a British scientist. She is a very important leader in the government. She used to work with things like armor and explosives. Since December 2018, she has been the chief executive of the Met Office. Before that, she led teams working on computer security and information systems at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
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Penny Endersby's Early Life and School
Penny Endersby grew up in north London. She went to school at Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls in Elstree. After school, she studied Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge. She was part of Newnham College there. She is still connected to Newnham College today.
Discovering a Love for Materials
While at Cambridge, Penny became very interested in materials science. This is the study of how different materials are made and how they behave. She also studied metallurgy, which is about metals. A company called British Gas helped pay for her studies. She researched fuel cells, which are devices that turn chemical energy into electricity. After finishing her studies, she started working at the Royal Armament and Research Development Establishment in 1993.
Penny Endersby's Science Career
Penny Endersby began her career as a researcher. She focused on armor and explosives. She worked at the Royal Armament and Research Development Establishment. There, she became the UK's top expert on "electric and intelligent armors." These are special types of armor that can react to threats.
Leading in Defence Science
In 2009, she became a department manager at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down. Here, she started to work on C4ISR and cyber security. C4ISR involves systems for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Cyber security is about protecting computer systems from attacks. She also served on the board of Ploughshare Innovations. This group helps to share new technologies from the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) with other companies.
University Roles and Recognition
Penny Endersby is a visiting professor at two universities. She teaches computer science at the University of Southampton. She also teaches physics and environmental studies at Exeter University. In 2015, she became the head of the Cyber and Information Systems Division at the DSTL. She also took part in their International Women's Day events.
She was one of the first engineers to become a chartered member of the Institute of Physics (IoP). In 2017, she joined the council of the IoP.
Leading the Met Office
In December 2018, Penny Endersby was chosen to be the chief executive of the Met Office. This was a big step, as she was the first woman to hold this important role. The Met Office is the UK's national weather service.
In 2021, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. She also received a medal from the British Computer Society. This was for her amazing work in green technology.
In the 2024 New Year Honours, Penny Endersby was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This award was for her great work in meteorology (weather science), defence science, and technology.
Penny Endersby is also the UK's main representative to the World Meteorological Organisation. She is a member of their Executive Council. In 2023, she was elected president of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. She was the first woman to be president of this group.
Penny Endersby's Personal Life
Penny Endersby is a very talented choir singer. She is a member of the St Peter’s Singers. She has also recorded music with The Farrant Singers, Chamber Choir, Salisbury.
She is also the first Canon Scientist at Exeter Cathedral. This is a special role that connects science with the church. Penny has two children. She loves wildlife and keeps records of UK phenology. This is the study of how seasons affect plants and animals. She is a trustee for the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. She also chairs the Dartmoor Steering Group.
