From oil samples to industry stages: How Steven Lumley is redefining transport tech

In an industry long dominated by men, women in transport are steadily claiming their space – not as tokens, but as leaders, innovators, and experts. One such individual is Steven Lara-Lee Lumley, a powerhouse in technical excellence and a driving force behind WearCheck’s research, development, and training in fluid analysis and condition monitoring.

Lumley’s career is proof that expertise, resilience, and adaptability can propel women from the sidelines to the centre of influence in the transport sector. She leads WearCheck’s oil analysis research and development strategy, as well as its training initiatives.

With over 30 years of experience in the oil analysis industry, Lumley is a recognised subject-matter expert in tribology and oil analysis. Armed with a National Technical Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, she is also a Honeywell Aerospace Certified Tribologist and Certified Level II Machinery Lubricant Analyst.

After joining WearCheck in 2008 as a diagnostician, she was soon promoted to senior diagnostician. During this time, she diagnosed her millionth used oil sample in addition to running oil analysis training courses for customers in several countries. In 2015, she was promoted to technical manager – a role she continues to hold today.

Earlier this year, Lumley was honoured to present at the Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS) conference in London. As a panellist in a discussion on industrial lubricants in wind turbine technology, she also delivered her paper, It’s more than just oil – bridging market perceptions and lubricant reality, first presented at the ICIS African base oil conference in Cape Town last year. The organisers were so impressed that they invited her to share it with an international audience in the UK.

Her expertise is in demand globally. She presented Keeping the blades turning: gearbox reliability with oil analysis at a Mobius Institute Week of Webinars (WOW) event and recently participated in a webinar on condition monitoring hosted by Kenyan industry publication Lubezine. She has also authored numerous published papers and articles on scientific condition monitoring techniques and has earned multiple industry accolades, including the South African Institute of Tribology (SAIT) Best Technical Presentation Award in 2023.

To young women considering careers in science or engineering, Lumley offers this advice:
“In this field, the challenges aren’t always technical. Often, it’s the people side – corporate decisions, politics, communication – that takes the most effort. You can master every technical concept, but if you can’t communicate it clearly or understand the bigger context, your knowledge won’t go far. People skills matter just as much as problem-solving.”

When it comes to the qualities behind her success, adaptability tops the list. “Change really is the only constant – especially in our field, where technology never stands still. Success often depends on how well you can adapt and spot opportunities, even in the face of adversity,” she elaborates. “That mindset doesn’t just shape your own growth; it defines the value you bring to your organisation.”