Georgia Thompson, design manager at Costain, has become the first woman to achieve the qualification at the age of 30.

Georgia Thompson, 30, has become the youngest woman to earn the title of ICE Fellow.
A design manager at Costain, she applied after attending an ICE Connects: Women in Fellowship networking event in 2023.
The ICE Connects network encourages women and other underrepresented groups into Fellowship. It provides opportunities for aspiring Fellows to hear inspiring stories and discuss their potential.
ICE Connects: growing the Women in Fellowship network
The ICE Connects network is hosting a hybrid event to allow women and industry allies to explore the importance of diversity across Fellowship.
Delivered by ICE regions, the event is being held in 13 locations across the UK, South Africa, Dubai, the Americas, and India, as well as online.
Thompson is among a few members that have obtained the ICE’s highest grade of membership in their early 30s in recognition of their outstanding contributions to civil engineering and society.
“There isn’t a huge community of us, especially being a Black woman too, I just feel so honoured,” Thompson said. “It has sparked a new energy in me.”
Thompson was also on the Women Engineering Society’s Top 50 Women in Engineering list in 2022.
Advocate for diversity

Thompson co-chairs the Religion Ethnicity and Culture Heritage (REACH) people network at Costain.
She also co-founded a diversity and inclusion organisation called Dversty.
Over the years, Thompson has run book clubs and webinars, and visited schools, universities and conferences to discuss the need for diversity.
She’s covered the importance of employee resource groups, how racism can show up at work and how to improve workplace culture.
‘Civil engineering taught me how to look at things differently’
Before joining Costain, Thompson started as a graduate at Kier, then moved to Bam Nuttall.
She’s worked on complex engineering projects, such as the bridges portfolio at Network Rail and the civils elements of HS2.
“My career has given me a lot of opportunities to look at things differently,” she said.
“The majority of our work serves society, and it has always been important to me that we are doing that with everyone in mind along the way.
“Not just the end-user, but also the people who are actually doing the work, to ensure they are being listened to and heard.”
Lessons in patience and potential
Reflecting on her journey, she highlights two key lessons: patience and the power of potential.
“Experience and development are powerful, but they don’t come overnight,” she said.
“At the same time, there’s power in pushing your own potential. You’re the only person who knows your capacity and capability, so push it as far as it goes and see what you can achieve.”

‘You are better than you think’
Sharing some advice for all aspiring Fellows, Thompson said, “The worst answer you can get is ‘not yet’.
“If you are like me, the work you do will continue anyway, just wait until you have more evidence, you are better than you think.
“Also, if your sponsors think you have achieved the mark, then it is likely you have and just need stronger evidence!”
Find out more about becoming a Fellow
Read more from Georgia Thompson
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