ICE Connects International: Women in Fellowship

Melinda Lutton

Melinda is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Fellow of the ICE. In her role as Assistant Operation Manager at Tonkin in Adelaide, South Australia, she provides leadership across project delivery, risk management, and operational performance.

As a Principal Civil Engineer her expertise lies in designing sustainable floodplain infrastructure, optimising flood and stormwater management solutions, and wastewater treatment and collection. She champions diversity and inclusion, fostering a collaborative work environment. Beyond her technical skills, Melinda is a Fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and Engineers Australia and takes every opportunity to mentor and inspire engineers.

Melinda is Chair of the ICE Australasia Committee, which engages our local members, and also plays a role in helping to increase the profile of civil engineering. She is also a Policy Fellow with ICE, where she is engaged in helping to influence industry guidelines and promote sustainable practices. Overall, Melinda is still delighted with her choice of Civil Engineering as a career, spanning 35 years.

Jing Jin

Jing Jin is an accomplished civil engineering professional with a wealth of experience in programme management and business transformation. As a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, she is passionate about driving innovation and enhancing diversity within the field.

Jing's career expertise includes collaborating with leading stakeholders in the engineering and construction sectors to design and implement strategic initiatives that drive positive change in people, processes, and digital advancements. Currently an Associate Director at Mace Consult in Hong Kong, Jing works with both public and private clients to shape their strategies, support transformation efforts, and optimise their programmes and operations.

Jing has championed inclusion and diversity and made meaningful impact in her community through her co-chair role in a network promoting racial and ethnic inclusion. Additionally, as a Royal Academy of Engineering visiting professor at University of East London in 2022/23, she continues to inspire and empower the next generation of engineers.

Rachel Fowler

Rachel Fower is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and the Institution of Civil Engineers, with a 32-year career in civil infrastructure.

Rachel graduated from Imperial College, London, with a Bachelor of Engineering and followed this with a Master’s in Coastal Engineering from the University of Delaware, USA. Her early career was spent in the UK working for Halcrow Group Ltd where she became well-known and widely respected for the development of innovative, environmentally sensitive coastal erosion and flood risk management strategies and schemes.  From 2003 she also led Halcrow’s Chichester office, delivering transport and infrastructure services along the south coast of England. 

In 2011 Rachel moved to Australia to lead major and multi-disciplinary transport infrastructure and natural resources projects for Aurecon. Most notably, she led Aurecon’s project team designing the highly innovative, award-winning, flood resilient passenger ferry terminals in Brisbane, for which she was awarded the Institution of Civil Engineers’ International Medal. 

In November 2017 Rachel joined Beca to lead their Transport & Infrastructure business in Australia. Under her leadership the company has grown its market share across the eastern Australian states and has become known for its full life-cycle services across all modes of transport: active, road, rail, air and maritime. 

Rachel combines approachable leadership with a passion for developing people’s careers. In delivering professional services in the transport and infrastructure market, she promotes collaborative behaviours, client service excellence and pride in the ability to make everyday better for clients and their customers.

Elise Chalouhi

Elise Chalouhi is a Chartered Civil and Structural Engineer with over 14 years of international experience across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. Her career spans design consultancy, construction, client leadership, and manufacturing, where she has consistently driven efficiency, sustainability, and innovation across the built environment.

Currently leading infrastructure development at NEOM, she plays a pivotal role in shaping one of the world’s most ambitious industrial mega-projects, contributing to the transformation of future cities through strategic engineering leadership.