Profiles

IStructE Gold Medallist Werner Sobek discusses his career, iconic projects and his long-established mantra of building for everyone with the minimum of waste.

The main barriers to delivering low-carbon design on residential projects are not the ones you might expect, according to Scott Boote. He talks to Helena Russell about what needs to change – both in engineers' perceptions about materials and process, and in the wider sector.

As head of sustainability across Ramboll's building structures division, Brogan MacDonald has made impressive progress in her short career so far. A year into the role, she talks to Helena Russell about how she got here, where she's going, and the importance of positive role models.

David Knight has made his mark in the bridges sector through his involvement in some of the industry's smallest, yet most inspired, footbridge projects. He talks to Helena Russell about the power of collaboration, and what designers can learn from fabricators.

If your dream job involves castles and stately homes, it's unlikely you would turn your attention to structural engineering. But as Kim Rochard explains, it’s possible to combine the two in the specialised field of conservation engineering. Helena Russell finds out more.

This year's Gold Medallist, Albert Williamson-Taylor, talks to Helena Russell about his passion for the fundamentals of engineering and why he's not afraid to be controversial.

Helena Russell finds out how Cameron Archer-Jones' fascination for structural engineering and a commitment to spreading the net-zero message across the bridges sector are key drivers for him. 

IStructE President-elect Tanya de Hoog tells Helena Russell about her plans to change the face of structural engineering. 

Helena Russell talks to Jamaica-based structural engineer Shalini Jagnarine-Azan about assessing disaster-hit healthcare facilities and improving their resilience against future events.

IStructE Gold Medallist Naeem Hussain has worked on some of the world's most high-profile structures. He reflects on his career in conversation with Helena Russell.

Developing new tools to help structural engineers make more efficient use of materials – and persuading them why they must do so – are key themes for Cambridge academic Dr John Orr. He talks to Helena Russell about his research and plans for the future.

What sort of person would put a significant amount of time into developing an indispensable structural carbon calculation tool, then give it away for free? Helena Russell spoke to Penny Gowler to find out.

MIT professor Caitlin Mueller gave the keynote presentation at the IStructE Digital Design and Computation conference in May 2021. Here, she tells Jackie Whitelaw how computer tools she's developing will help structural engineers design for zero carbon.

Arup global sustainable development leader, Jo da Silva, was made a Dame in the recent New Year Honours. She talks to Jackie Whitelaw about social responsibility in business, the engineering response to COP26 and the impact of the pandemic on future planning of cities.

Four thirty-somethings are just over one year into life as the Simple Works structural practice. Jackie Whitelaw talked to two of the founders, Sinéad Conneely and Laura Hannigan, about branching out on their own, and shaping the future.

Engineers must resist pressure to build environmentally unsustainable schemes if we want to be judged well by future generations, says 2020 Gold Medal winner and former Institution Vice-President, Mike Cook.

Kate Simonen has been promoting the cause of embodied carbon reduction in structures for the past decade through the Carbon Leadership Forum.

Richard Nicholl has exchanged his company saloon and brogues for a 4x4 and walking boots as the National Trust’s first full-time structural engineer. 

Robert Benaim is recognised as one of Britain’s greatest modern bridge builders, an achievement that was underlined when he collected the Sir Frank Whittle Medal last year from the Royal Academy of Engineering, awarded to someone who has had a profound impact on their discipline.

Fiona Cobb has surprised herself throughout her career, from going to university to be an engineer, to working for a top London consultant, to writing a book that’s in the Science Museum. Her latest adventure is to start her own practice.

From an airport roof, to tidal stream power, to residential towers, Laura Legnani has never been afraid of having to learn something new.

£180 spent on a promotional postcard helped Steve Webb and Andy Yates create a business with a £5M turnover and offices in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Dubai.

One of Will Arnold’s highlights after being named Young Structural Engineering Professional of the Year was judging the Structural Awards. But he had to do that from Rwanda, as he explained to Jackie Whitelaw.

Sarah Williamson speaks to Jackie Whitelaw about how she has forged her way to being one of the key minds responsible for delivery of the multibillion-pound main civils work contract at Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant.

Hanif Kara is a world-class structural engineer who is more appreciated by those outside his profession than those within it; or that, at least, is how he feels. Jackie Whitelaw talks to a man who wonders if he is too different to be embraced by the establishment.

Marelize Visser is managing to combine running her own successful South African consultancy with a growing role in the Institution. Doing one without the other would not have been an option. Interview by Jackie Whitelaw.

Jackie Whitelaw interviews Russian engineer Gennady Vasilchenko-Malishev who grew up surrounded by scientists looking to break boundaries. What he learned from that experience has informed his career as one of the world's leading experts in structural glass design.

Jackie Whitelaw talked to Dr John Roberts, a man who intends to be the oldest engineer at his employer, Jacobs, and is still turning out ground-breaking designs.

Young structural engineers want variety, flexibility, recognition and challenge in their early careers. But above all they are eager to become chartered, as Jackie Whitelaw found out when she spoke to three members of the Institution's Young Members' Panel.

Francis Archer has designed extraordinary structures, not all of them built. The engineer for London's Garden Bridge talks to Jackie Whitelaw about how creativity is never wasted.

Ingrid Chauvet is crackling with energy and has ambitions for her eight-strong practice, RISE Structural Engineers, to grow to be as large as Arup. Jackie Whitelaw wouldn't bet against her.

Technology will free up structural engineers to be more creative and challenge standardisation as the route to efficiency, says AECOM Director for Buildings and Places, Jon Leach.

Paul Fast and his 2016 Institution Supreme Award-winning firm, Fast + Epp, are blazing a trail when it comes to using timber in building design. He talks to Jackie Whitelaw about the risks and rewards of forging new paths.

Irish engineer Victoria Janssens has recently applied her talents in Hong Kong on the Zaha Hadid-designed hotel tower at the City of Dreams, Macau, and on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta – all thanks to a decision to risk working overseas. She talks to Jackie Whitelaw.

From earth bags to tensegrity pavilions, in his practice – StructureMode – engineer Geoff Morrow has created a place where creativity and innovation are paramount.

Award-winning structural engineer Chris Wise has always challenged convention and has no plans to stop. In his sights currently are multiple targets, including the whole structural engineering profession, its businesses and his own future.

Anne Fuller has been an Institution chief examiner, has designed challenging buildings all over the UK, and is now director of Capita's civil and structural engineering division in the North. She discusses her career with Jackie Whitelaw and wonders whether talking to girls at school is really all we have in our armoury in the battle to increase diversity in the profession.

Martin Knight is one of the UK's leading bridge architects and has spent 20 years working with engineers on what are the most expressive of structures. What has he learned? He tells Jackie Whitelaw.

After years designing for cold climates, first with the multiple award-winning Halley VI ice station and then Spartak Moscow's Otkritie Arena football stadium, AECOM's head of sports engineering, Peter Ayres, is now bringing some of his cool to the extreme heat of Qatar to create a chilled stadium for the 2022 World Cup. He talks to Jackie Whitelaw.

After 16 years in the Army, Major Nick Francis is making the move into civilian engineering. What have been the highlights of his career so far and what has he learned in the military that will help his new employer? Jackie Whitelaw reports.

At just 27, Claire Gott has set up a charity, is on the ICE Council and a Green Construction Board working group, and is a design manager for one of the great challenges of the age in the UK – the redevelopment of London Bridge Station. Oh, and she has an MBE. Jackie Whitelaw went to meet WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff's engineering dynamo.

Craig Beresford has had a very successful career in the high-pressure world of property and he's done it by recognising the value of getting on with people and enjoying their company. Jackie Whitelaw went to meet the friendly man who is managing director of structures for Waterman and chief operating officer of its property business.

From Pink Floyd to the London 2012 Olympic ceremonies, design studio Atelier One has carved a niche providing engineering for events, alongside experimental buildings and modern art. Jackie Whitelaw talks to the structural engineers who head the team – Neil Thomas and Aran Chadwick.

Kamran Moazami is the designer of the 'greatest building in the world' – The Shard – but he also runs WSP's UK structures division. He talks to Jackie Whitelaw about the power of a global community and how great buildings are good business.

Commended in the 2014 Young Structural Engineering Professional Award was 27-year-old Ed Hollis of StructureMode, who entered his work on an acrylic pyramid art installation called Lûz.

Atelier One's Christopher Matthews, 26, was runner up in the 2014 Young Structural Engineering Professional Award with a fascinating presentation on the analysis for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. His work allowed stagers to use the existing stadium roof for spectacular flying scenic displays. He tells Jackie Whitelaw about his career so far.

Last year's winner of the Institution's Young Structural Engineering Professional Award, Kayin Dawoodi, has been promoted to senior engineer by his employer Arup and is a founding trustee of the UK branch of charity Bridges to Prosperity.

BIM is presenting daily opportunities and challenges to structural engineers, rather like the architects they work with. So it should be no surprise to find that one of the key people behind the BIM revolution is, himself, an architect. Jackie Whitelaw talks to Autodesk Vice President, Phil Bernstein, who helped introduce BIM to the world.

"My career has been all about good fortune" says Arup Deputy Chairman Tristram Carfrae. From early years assisting mercurial genius Peter Rice to acting as engineer for man-of-the-moment Thomas Heatherwick’s Garden Bridge in London, he has worked with the greats of engineering and architecture. Now Carfrae, the designer of the stunning Beijing Olympic Aquatic Centre, is confirmed as one too, as the 2014 recipient of the Institution's Gold Medal.

Student Sally Jones put in the effort to organise to undertake a year of her study in the United States. She tells Jackie Whitelaw it was one of the best decisions she’s made so far.

Roma Agrawal is using her rarity as a young, female engineer to front campaigns on television, in the papers and on billboards that raise the profile of an engineering career. More professionals should do the same, she tells Jackie Whitelaw.

Skyscraper expert John Viise can trace his structural engineering ancestry back to pioneers in the field. But the American counsels modern engineers to 'work the problem' for themselves rather than rely too much on computers. During a recent trip to the UK, he spoke to Jackie Whitelaw.

Expedition Engineering director Julia Ratcliffe has travelled the globe creating elegant and practical structures in places and situations as diverse as New York and post tsunami Thailand. Her latest challenge is leading the team designing the Institution’s new headquarters building. Jackie Whitelaw went to meet her in the first of a new series of profiles.