The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) is delighted to announce that the 2026 Gold Medal will be awarded to Dr Tina Vejrum in recognition of her outstanding contributions to complex infrastructure projects worldwide.
Tina’s distinguished career has been marked by her exceptional expertise in bridge aerodynamics, wind engineering, and structural behaviour, holding pivotal roles on some of the world’s most ambitious and successful international bridge projects in recent years.
Tina’s award-winning global projects include the Great Belt Fixed Link in Denmark, the Stonecutters Bridge in Hong Kong and the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey – all delivered during her long-standing career with international engineering consultancy COWI. These bridges span some of the most logistically crowded, economically vital, and meteorologically volatile waterways on the planet, driving engineers to pioneer new construction methods to withstand extreme winds, powerful currents and heavy maritime traffic.
In addition to these flagship global projects, Tina has contributed to the development of innovative bridge concepts, notably in the field of floating cable-supported bridges, expanding the possibilities for crossing some of the world’s most challenging waterways.
IStructE Chief Executive Yasmin Becker said: “It is an honour for me to announce Tina Vejrum as IStructE’s 2026 Gold Medalist. Tina’s career exemplifies the very best of global structural engineering, combining deep technical expertise with visionary thinking, collaborative leadership and a commitment to advancing the profession globally. Tina’s contributions to some of the world’s most ambitious structural engineering projects have pushed the boundaries of what is possible, setting new standards for excellence. We are delighted to welcome Tina to the impressive roster of IStructE Gold Medalists, recognising her remarkable achievements and significant contributions to structural engineering.”
Throughout her career, Tina has demonstrated exceptional leadership, guiding multidisciplinary international teams to deliver complex infrastructure safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards, significantly advanced global practice within bridge engineering.
Tina Vejrum said: “This recognition by the Institution of Structural Engineers is truly an honour, the achievements of previous award winners are remarkable and make me feel very humble. Engineering is founded on collaboration, and I am delighted to accept this award from such an esteemed institution on behalf of structural engineers across the globe.”
Beyond project achievements, Tina has made a substantial contribution to structural engineering through her dedication and commitment to international committees and professional bodies, where she has shaped standards, advanced knowledge and influenced technical design and delivery on a global scale.
Established in 1922, IStructE’s Gold Medal is the Institution’s highest accolade for individuals who have made unique and outstanding contributions to the advancement of structural engineering. First awarded in 1922 to Professor Henry Adams, past recipients include Felix Candela (1960), Ove Arup (1973), Oleg Kerensky (1977), Anthony Ray Flint (1988), Sir Edmund Happold (1991), Naeemullah Hussain (2022), Albert Taylor Williamson (2023) and Werner Sobek (2024).
Today Tina is responsible for technical development in COWI's international team of structural engineers working on some of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects in the world. Tina is Affiliated Professor at the Technical University of Denmark, on the Board of Directors of the COWI Foundation and active in a number of professional associations, notably the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), where she served as the President from 2022 to 2025.
In selecting the 2026 Medalist, the Institution highlighted Tina’s combination of technical excellence, innovation and leadership, noting that her work has had a lasting and global impact on the profession and the built environment.
Dr Tina Vejrum will receive the Gold Medal at a dedicated ceremony on 12 November at IStructE HQ in London. Book here for in person or online tickets to Tina Verjum’s 2026 Gold Medal address.