How an ICE Fellow broke a generational pattern

Growing up in a family of civil engineers, stories and photos of major projects from far-flung places were a key part of Bridget Woods-Ballard’s childhood.

For her, it wasn’t just a career option, it felt like destiny.

Bridget had never really considered doing anything else. Perhaps it was the stories, perhaps it was in her genes!

It runs in the family

Her father

Her father, Tim Woods-Ballards, is also an ICE Fellow and has worked on projects all around the world.

This includes the Littlebrook Power Station near London, dams in Iran and Jordan, the Arab Potash Project in Jordan, and the Jubail Seawater Cooling Project in Saudi Arabia.

He also spent three years supervising construction of the Kariba Hydroelectric scheme on the Zambezi River.

Tim was inspired by his grandfather, Hugh Molesworth.

He was a civil engineer who’d worked in Egypt and was responsible for major irrigation works on the Nile River between Aswan and Cairo.

An ICE president

It’s likely that Hugh had, in turn, been influenced by a cousin - Sir Guilford Lindsay Molesworth KCIE, President of the ICE in 1904.

He was responsible for the publication of the Molesworth Pocket Handbook of Engineering Formulae, which was first published in 1893 and ran to 30 editions.

Hugh’s father-in-law, Sir Robert Hanbury Brown had also been a recognised civil engineer in Egypt.

He built barrages and irrigation systems and was awarded the ICE Telford Medal in 1904 for his paper on The Use of Cement Grout at the Delta Barrage in Egypt. This publication was considered revolutionary at the time.

Fellowship was more than a career milestone

Receiving Fellowship was more than just a professional milestone for Bridget.

She also became the first woman in her family of civil engineers to achieve the accolade.

But even with such a strong foundation, and a successful career in sustainable water management, the decision to apply for Fellowship didn’t come easily to her – or quickly.

It was a gentle push from her father at a Christmas lunch that finally set the wheels in motion.

Overcoming doubts and barriers

With years of experience, Fellowship had been on Bridget’s radar for a while.

A decade back in 2015, she had worked with Professor David Balmforth on the CIRIA Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Manual.

He’d encouraged her to apply for Fellowship. Still, doubts lingered in her mind.

It wasn’t until she saw more and more women - some of them close colleagues - being recognised that she found the confidence to go for it.

And with Professor Jim Hall, a leading voice in flood risk, serving as ICE President, the timing finally felt right.

However, when it came to applying, Bridget was just days away from missing the submission deadline in early January.

She gave herself three intense days to put it all together. That tight timeline helped her focus and get it done!

What lies ahead

As for what’s next, Bridget sees ICE Fellowship as a platform – one that can keep all civil engineers building knowledge, writing guidance, and helping the industry grow.

“It’s a chance to support the next generation – so they can go further, do better, and create solutions that work for both people and the planet,” she says.

Her advice - Don’t wait!

Learning from her Fellowship journey, Bridget has one advice for others Fellowship aspirants: don’t wait!

If people around you think you’re ready, believe them. The process is straightforward, and it doesn’t take as long as you might think.

Talk to Fellows who’ve done it – leaning from their approach to the CV and attribute statement made a big difference for her.

And to the students thinking about pursuing civil engineering, she says: “It’s not just about bridges and dams.

“Civil engineering today is about creating things that leave the world better than we found it. It’s about impact- now and for the future”