Working with nature to find engineering solutions to benefit communities

Prof. Anusha Shah

Anusha Shah is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and its president for the 2023-24 session. She’s the third woman and first person of colour to be elected as president in over 200 years of ICE history.

She’s a senior director for resilient cities and UK climate change adaptation lead at Arcadis, a global sustainability, design, engineering and management consulting firm.

She’s also a non-executive director at the Met Office, a trustee at the Green Alliance and a visiting professor at Edinburgh University. She was awarded honorary professorship by the University of Wolverhampton for knowledge transfer and an honorary doctorate of engineering by the University of East London for her services to address climate change.

Anusha specialises in water and environmental engineering and has over 22 years of experience in designing, managing and leading projects and programmes in the UK and internationally.

Anusha sits on various industry climate change groups. She represents Arcadis at the London Climate Change Partnership and the 50L Home Initiative of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. She’s a past chair of the Thames Estuary Partnership Board.

Anusha is the recipient of several awards, including the 2020 Top 50 UK Women Engineers Sustainability Award and the CECA Inspiring Change Award. She was recognised by Climate Reframe as one of the UK’s leading Black, Asian and minority ethnic voices on climate change.

Hudson Taivo

Hudson Taivo is Chartered Civil Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He was the ICE West Midlands Regional Chair from 2023-24. He is a committee member of the Birmingham Solihull and Black Country (BSBC) ICE branch.

Hudson has worked on the HS2 project for nearly ten years, starting on the client-side with responsibilities for developing the technical standards and construction specifications used on the new high speed rail project.

For the past two years Hudson has been working as an engineering manager for the Mott MacDonald/SYSTRA Design Joint Venture. He is responsible for leading a global team of engineers, scientists, technologists and environmental specialists in developing designs for several assets, including the A452 Kenilworth Road Overbridge, for client Balfour Beatty VINCI. 

Vicky Iggo

Vicky is a senior ecologist and associate member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, she leads ecology projects, specialising in survey design, UKHab surveys, protected species assessments, and biodiversity solutions. With five years of consultancy experience, she excels in planning, coordination, and technical assurance for ecology.

Jennifer Aston

Jennifer is a Chartered Landscape Architect with 20 years of experience, currently discipline lead for landscape at SYSTRA leading the nature positive team. She is a capable and experienced environmental professional working within major infrastructure projects in both the highways and rail sectors. 

Dr Delia Garratt

Dr Delia Garratt is the CEO of Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust.  

William Shaw

William has over 20 years’ experience in the flood risk and water sectors, developing design solutions and facing the challenges of the day.  As a Chartered Civil Engineer William is passionate about our natural environment and the place that our communities have within it. As such, he seeks solutions that work within and to enhance that environment and deliver sustainable living.

Mike Adams

Mike has 15 years’ experience of working in flood risk management, focussing on partnership approaches to complex water and environment challenges. Currently, Mike is working on behalf of the Environment Agency as the strategic lead for the Severn Valley Water Management Strategy; developing an integrated and nature led approach to water management as well as the structural frameworks required to enable future implementation.

Anna Bright

Anna has been working with organisations to improve their sustainability for over 20 years and has a private sector background in water, waste and wastewater management.

As chief executive at Sustainability West Midlands she has worked with businesses, universities, colleges, local authorities, the health sector and the West Midlands Combined Authority to help shape the way that they mitigate and adapt for climate change. Anna is on the board of the Midlands Net Zero Hub, the Midlands Engine Green Growth Board and she is a trustee for the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust.

Phoebe Collier

Phoebe is a consultant ecologist at SYSTRA with four years of experience. She works within infrastructure projects as part of multi-disciplinary teams, and specialises in habitat design, implementing mitigation measures for protected species and high value habitats, focussing on innovative biodiversity solutions.