Lydia left Loughborough University with a first class degree in Industrial Design and Technology before working as a merchandising manager for Proctor and Gamble. She now leads the international James Dyson Foundation team to deliver charitable projects tackling the global shortage of engineers and the promotion of design engineering education.

Programmes include Dyson engineering boxes for schools, major university gifts, student bursaries and the international James Dyson Award, a design competition running in 22 countries. Lydia is accountable to the Foundation trustees to steer the direction and international expansion of the charity. Her career highlight to date is establishing the Dyson Institute, an alternative university education for school leavers to obtain an engineering degree whilst working at Dyson.