AI and the civil engineer: reimagining roles in infrastructure delivery

Bill Guo

Bill Guo is a Chartered Civil Engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and founder of AutomateX, a company focused on accelerating AI adoption across the UK rail and infrastructure sectors.

Having worked across client, consultancy and delivery environments, he brings a practical understanding of how AI can be deployed responsibly in complex engineering organisations. Bill has been actively involved in shaping the conversation around the role of AI in civil engineering, recently leading ICE London discussions on how artificial intelligence is changing professional competence, assurance, skills and infrastructure delivery.

His work focuses on helping organisations move beyond experimentation and towards practical, safe and effective implementation. Declared interest: AutomateX provides AI services to the rail sector; the event makes no recommendation on any product or supplier.

Dr Neda Naghshbandi

Dr Neda Naghshbandi is a technical director at AtkinsRéalis, specialising in AI transformation, and systems innovations, and the adoption of emerging technologies across transport and infrastructure.

With a PhD in Complex Adaptive Systems, and Agent-based modelling, from University College London (UCL), she helps organisations move beyond isolated technology initiatives towards system-level strategies that deliver measurable operational, organisational and societal value.

Neda works across industry, academia, and government to accelerate the adoption of AI, robotics and intelligent systems in infrastructure.

Amira Damji

Amira is a chartered structural engineer and founder of Additive Sustainability, a design studio and sustainability educator for the built environment.

She has worked across residential, commercial and industrial sectors, on multiple new build schemes, vertical extensions and façade retentions, as well as structures for the protection of Network Rail and Thames Water assets.

Her focus now is on enabling the widespread reuse of materials at highest value and collecting reliable cost and carbon data over a building's lifetime for use in early-decision making.

She is also part of the ICE AI Working Group in London, focused on how the ICE may support members to maximise the opportunity AI is bringing into the sector whilst protecting and prioritising the individual role of engineering judgement for public safety.

Anthony Dewar

Anthony Dewar EurIng BEng CEng FICE FRSA, head of estate and architectural design and company technical authority for buildings, Network Rail.

A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Royal Society of Arts, he provides technical and safety leadership for one of Britain’s largest and most diverse building portfolios, and is a recognised voice on the future of railway stations, buildings and the built environment.

Lucy Gardner

Lucy is Arup’s global rail skills leader and a Fellow of both the ICE and the Rail Engineering Institution. She has been working in the rail industry for 20 years, leading multidisciplinary design teams delivering complex rail projects in the UK and Australia.

Her Skills Leader role requires her to provide a technical home for the core rail systems disciplines in Arup, support technical development and build future-ready skills. Lucy’s role will influence how AI shapes the tools, methodologies and practices that strengthen Arup’s project quality.