Aaron Yonas: An EQ+ Celebration Series Winner Story

Posted on: 13 July 2026 in Student experiences

Aaron’s route into Mechanical Engineering has included education, inclusion and public engagement work. Before joining Liverpool, he helped create a handbook for degree apprentices, contributed to a project spotlighting overlooked figures in STEM, and worked with Open City and Open House Festival on conversations about architecture and community voice. Across it all, he is interested in making complex spaces feel more open and possible for others.

There is a clear thread through your work: making opportunities feel more open. Where does that come from?

A lot of my own opportunities came from having access to the right information, encouragement and people who pointed me in the right direction. I know that design, engineering, architecture and the built environment can feel complicated or closed off when you do not know how to get in. Through my work with LJMU, Open City and community projects, I have wanted to make information, opportunities and public conversations easier for people to access.

What are you most proud of from the projects you have worked on so far?

Helping to create the Youth Worker Compass handbook was really important to me. It was designed for degree apprentices balancing study, professional placements, employment, personal responsibilities and wellbeing, so we worked to make guidance and support easier to find and use. I am also proud of my work with Open City, especially co-hosting a public debate on inclusive design and community consultation. It was about asking who gets to shape the places we live in, and how local people can have a stronger voice.

What would you like to build next?

I would like to start small with a pilot for Year 10 to Year 13 students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in design, engineering, architecture, cities or social change. I would love to combine careers insight with practical guidance on pathways, applications, CVs, LinkedIn and work experience. Longer term, I want a career in engineering and the built environment where technical design, sustainability and community impact genuinely sit together.