Azhar Al-Qaissi explains how being an ICE Fellow helps her keep up with new technology and tools, like artificial intelligence.
I started my career as a site engineer in Iraq.
Over the course of a decade, I gained a great deal of experience.
Eventually, I became the general director of the project company within the Transportation and Communication Ministry.
There, I managed and supervised the feasibility studies and design of several mega-projects.
These included the Baghdad Ring Railway and Metro – in total, 800km of rail network and the associated multi-storey, steel-structured buildings.
For another 10 years, I worked as a transportation and railway expert for the Gulf Railway.
This is a 2,177km-long project to connect the six Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
I continued my career onsite, even as I reached the most senior positions.
Why I became an ICE Fellow
I decided to become an ICE Fellow when I was working in the Transportation Ministry in Oman.
I wanted to be able to communicate with the community of civil engineers all over the world and to learn about new technological developments.
Belonging to the ICE represents a valuable gateway through which you can increase your knowledge and scientific capabilities.
The institution’s events and workshops, in person and online, shed light on modern projects, and the types of challenges that can come up.
They also look at how digitisation and artificial intelligence are integrating with civil engineering to enable new ways to solve problems.
Being a Fellow is good for my development
Becoming an ICE Fellow has enabled me to focus on the right areas of my development.
Through lectures and training courses, I could follow technological developments, such as the use of 2D and 3D tools at different project stages.
ICE Fellowship also provides recognition for the sizeable contributions I’ve made to engineering projects of great importance.
It shines a light on my achievements as a leader in the profession, wherever I am in the world.
A global career
I’m now a lecturer on transportation and railways.
Around the world, I present research papers about the application of quality management systems throughout major projects’ lifecycles.
I also talk about risk management strategies to protect assets during the operations and maintenance stages.
I’ve achieved civil engineering and business management qualifications in countries around the world, including Belgium, France, India, and Switzerland, among others.
Nevertheless, I continue to regard the ICE as a key organisation for skills and personal development. I’ve submitted lectures under the umbrella of the Oman ICE Committee.
Encouraging others to apply for Fellowship
Also in Oman, on International Women’s Day, I helped manage the celebrations for female civil engineers.
We urged women to apply for ICE membership to develop their experiences and enhance their skills.
I would encourage any civil engineer to register with the ICE and, in time, progress to becoming a Fellow.
The institution is a great way to keep pace with the rapid development of AI and other technologies that will bring real value and change to how we work.
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