Speaking
Emily thinks broadly, perseveres, and uses her persistence and her ambition to succeed against the odds. She makes her thoughts into deeds and her deeds into life-saving products.
Maureen Lipman
She's got the rare ability to make it sound as though she's chatting to you over a cup of coffee when she's speaking to hundreds.
Ian Capewell, Practical Action
I just wanted to let you know how truly inspirational your talk was. Your passion and commitment was catchy and had me questioning why I wasn't trying to follow in your footsteps.
Year 13 pupil
Your speech was brilliant today. I had never thought about engineering as a career but now I am seriously considering it.
Year 10 pupil
I'm told that my story inspires a diverse range of audiences, from school pupils to senior business executives. If you’d like me to speak at your event, please take a moment to tell me more about your plans.
Biography
Please view my biography (140 words):
Emily Cummins, is an award-winning inventor whose interest in sustainable design began at the age of four, when her grandfather gave her a hammer and began to teach her how to make toys from scraps of materials found in his garden shed.
Teenage concern about our reliance on fossil fuel energy provoked Emily to design a sustainable fridge which is ‘powered’ by dirty water but keeps the contents dry, hygienic and cool. During her gap year, Emily went to live in an African township where she refined her fridge before giving away the plans to help improve the quality of life for people living in poverty across southern Africa.
As a result of her work, Emily was named as One of the Top Ten Outstanding Young People in the World and the Barclays Woman of the Year.