June 2026
Engineering intelligence: AI, data and the human skills shaping the profession welcomed hundreds of attendees from across the globe, creating a space to reflect on how engineers can thrive, progress and lead in a world where artificial intelligence now often dominates working practices.
Chaired by IStructE Chief Executive Yasmin Becker, the webinar considered the impact of AI on structural engineering, not only technical knowledge, but judgement, creativity, emotional awareness, collaboration and ethical leadership. The expert panel included founder of International Women in Engineering Day Dawn Bonfield, alongside members Peter Debney, Lina Bazeer, Livia Garcia and Eloise Allsop.
Speakers explored how emerging digital tools are influencing decision making, while emphasising that professional judgement must remain central to safe, inclusive and sustainable engineering practice.
Opening the session, IStructE CEO Yasmin Becker noted this was the Institutions first event marking its long-standing support for International Women in Engineering Day, citing the importance of bringing this more visibly into the IStructE community. Opening remarks outlined how structural engineering is increasingly shaped by how engineers interpret data, apply judgement and work with others, adding that engineering intelligence is “not just technical anymore” but also human.
Panellists shared perspectives from practice, leadership, early-career experience, standards, sustainability and digital transformation. Eloïse Allsop highlighted the importance of long-term thinking and a moral compass, urging engineers to consider the full life of buildings and the communities affected by design decisions. Dawn Bonfield MBE FREng reflected on the value of bringing personal experience, culture and perspective into engineering, arguing that intelligence is most powerful when it is shared.
Lina Bazeer spoke about self-awareness as a strategic skill, particularly for early-career engineers navigating confidence, progression and collaboration. Livia Garcia discussed social awareness and the ability to connect people, disciplines and systems, drawing on her work in rail standards and her work within artistic communities which importantly is shaped by collaboration and creativity. Peter Debney considered the role of judgement, originality and authenticity in an age when AI can produce fast answers, but not necessarily accurate ones.
A recurring theme was the need to challenge bias in data and technology. Speakers warned that AI systems can reinforce existing inequalities if they are trained on incomplete or historic data. The discussion also stressed the importance of sex-disaggregated data, equality impact assessments and asking better questions of digital tools so that engineering solutions work for a wider range of people.
Audience polls showed strong engagement with these issues. When asked who is currently benefiting most from the rise of AI in engineering, the largest group identified early-career engineers and graduates. A second poll found that while many attendees felt fairly confident challenging outputs from AI or digital tools, fewer described themselves as very confident, underlining the need for continued education, mentoring and professional guidance – critical areas that AI cannot provide.
The panel agreed that AI should be treated as a tool, not a substitute for engineering judgement. Mentoring, verification, validation and clear communication were identified as essential safeguards. Speakers also raised questions about privacy, transparency, environmental impact and the need for engineers to be open about when and how AI is used in structural engineering.
Closing the discussion, panellists called for engineering intelligence to recognise the full range of skills that are critical for structural engineers: technical capability, ethical judgement, creativity, constructive challenge, inclusive leadership and the confidence to say no when necessary. The inaugural event reinforced that building a more inclusive profession is not only about supporting women in engineering, but about strengthening engineering itself.