Chandan Gowda, Engineer at AtkinsRéalis
Chandan, a bridge engineer at AtkinsRéalis in Epsom, UK, specialises in assessing and strengthening bridges using Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials. Currently, he leads assessments for the M48 Severn Suspension Bridge and the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge. Chandan is actively involved in professional groups including fib Task Group 5.1 and COST Action 1406. He also contributes to AtkinsRéalis' Bridge Engineering Working Group and Digital Image Correlation projects. Chandan's accomplishments include being named the 2023 UK entrant to the fib Achievement Award for Young Engineers and receiving the AtkinsRéalis Presidential Award.
Ana Pavlovic, Senior R&D Engineer at Laing O’Rourke
Ana is a Senior R&D Engineer for Laing O’Rourke, who joined Laing O’Rourke as part of the Structures and Sustainability R&D team; currently leading the concrete decarbonisation workstream. Ana is an active member of the fib Task Group 5.1 for FRP as Internal Reinforcement, fib UK Early Careers Group, as well as a corresponding Editorial Board member for ICE Magazine of Concrete Research. Previously, Ana has led life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) work on a EU-funded research project developing intelligent bulk materials for transport industries. Coming from a Structural Engineering background, Ana holds a PhD on the topic of basalt FRP reinforcement for prestressed concrete application, which has received industry awards and grants.
Rabee Shamass, Senior Lecturer in Structural Engineering at Brunel University London
Dr. Shamass is a Senior Lecturer in Structural Engineering at Brunel University London, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Since 2018, he has focused on the utilisation of fibre reinforced polymers (FRP), particularly Basalt fibre reinforced polymers (BFRP), as substitutes for steel reinforcements in concrete infrastructures. Additionally, he has conducted extensive testing on various BFRP reinforcements, including fibres, macro-bars, stirrups, and dowels. Integrating BFRP reinforcements into low-carbon concrete technologies is a recent attempt aimed at achieving environmentally friendly reinforced concrete (RC) members.