Awards

Ferguson Medal

The Ferguson Medal was awarded in 2025 to Richard Nicholl for his paper: Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge – Conservation of an Historic Landmark.

The Ferguson Medal was introduced in 1982 and is named after Robert Ferguson OBE, founder of Ferguson McIlveen. It recognises his contribution to civil engineering and the Institution in Northern Ireland. It is awarded for the best paper, submitted in any year by a regional member.

STEM Ambassador of the Year Award

The ICE NI STEM Ambassador of the Year Award 2025-26 was won by Áine McCaffrey. Áine was chosen because she clearly demonstrated innovative, high-quality, and impactful outreach that promotes diversity and alternative entry routes into civil engineering, particularly the Higher-Level Apprenticeship pathway.

Her nomination demonstrated an exceptional commitment to promoting civil engineering. Excelling across all three judging criteria: innovation, quality, and impact, Áine was selected for her unique and creative methods that successfully reach and inspire young people across various platforms and age ranges.

The quality of engagement, marked by her professionalism, authenticity, and ability to provide appropriate, useful information to key audiences, including students and careers teachers, made her an outstanding winner for this year’s NI STEM Ambassador Award.

The STEM Ambassador of the Year Award honours an individual who has shown outstanding commitment to civil engineering by giving their time to inspire the next generation of civil engineers on behalf of ICE.

The Chair’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession

This prestigious award recognises and honours an individual ICE Member for making an exceptional and demonstrable contribution to the Institution of Civil Engineers in Northern Ireland and to the wider civil engineering profession, delivered over the preceding three years of professional activity.

With over twenty-five years of distinguished service in civil engineering and infrastructure delivery, Mark is a leader whose recent contributions have fundamentally advanced the ICE’s strategic agenda in Northern Ireland.

In a career defined by high-impact water and transport projects, Mark has spent the last three years specifically focused on applying decarbonisation strategies to deliver sustainable, Net Zero transport infrastructure.

Mark has made a sustained and exceptional contribution to promoting the civil engineering profession by placing it at the forefront of the regional sustainability debate. They have significantly enhanced ICE’s profile by forging strong relationships with key industry stakeholders across rail, public realm, water, and the education sector.

His commitment goes significantly beyond his professional role, reflecting unwavering support for ICE NI through a range of dedicated volunteer roles, including secretary, treasurer, and chair of the Commerce and Contracts Group. He currently serves as the regional officer for our Sustainability Group, consistently embodying the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.