ICE STEM ambassadors make WES Top 50 Women in Engineering list

ICE members that have worked hard to inspire the next generation of engineers have been recognised in this year’s WES Top 50 Women in Engineering (WE50) list.

Dr Rebecca Wade, the 2022 ICE STEM Ambassador of the Year, and Ada Nwadigo, who helped out at the ICE’s Time Is Running Out exhibition’s recent visit to London, were honoured alongside nine other ICE members.

Ciara Doherty, Alexandra Koutsouki and Emma Hellawell also take part in STEM outreach.

The annual list was published today as part of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED).

ICE members in WES Top 50 Women in Engineering 2024

• Ada Nwadigo – managing director at Jona Infrastructure. (London)
• Alexandra Koutsouki – senior engineer working on bridges and civil structures at Arup. (Wales)
• Ciara Doherty – project manager at Babcock International Group. (Northern Ireland)
• Claire Watson – delivery director working on water utilities at Binnies. (South East)
• Emma Hellawell – research fellow at the University of Surrey and principal geoenvironmental engineer at LEAP Environmental. (South East)
• Helen Davis – engineering manager at Binnies. (South East)
• Helen Rowe – structures and tunnels asset manager at Kent County Council. (South East)
• Hiba Khan – civil engineer and sustainability and social outcomes lead at Mott MacDonald. (London)
• Luiza Campos – professor of environmental engineering at University College London. (London)
• Dr Rebecca Wade – senior lecturer in environmental science at the University of Abertay Dundee. (Scotland)
• Tina Glover – technical director at Project Centre Ltd. (North West)

Enhanced by engineering

This year’s theme is ‘Enhanced by engineering’.

Dr Wade highlighted how infrastructure improves the lives of people, by “enhancing their local environments, and reducing their climate vulnerability by creatively making space for people, water and nature.”

“Improving the quality and safety of local environments can be particularly important in enhancing the lives of women and girls,” she said.

Nwadigo has noted the importance of having diverse leadership in the industry to “[drive] positive change in our communities and industries”.

“I’ve had students tell me they thought civil engineering was only for extremely smart people or just for men,” Nwadigo said in a recent piece on STEM ambassadors.

“Seeing a real-life engineer they can relate to changes their perspective. I was very privileged to see a lot of women that were engineers and it made me believe that if they can do it, I can do it too,” she said.

How the members contribute to the ICE

Dr Wade was also named an ICE Invisible Superhero back in 2019, with the alias Eco-Crusader.

She’s joined by the People Protector, aka Hiba Khan, who’s helped to boost food security and flood resilience all around the world.

Helen Davis really values supporting others’ professional development.

She is Binnies’ lead supervising civil engineer and heads up the company’s ICE training scheme.

She’s also a professional reviewer, helping to ensure that engineers have the skills they need to address the challenges the industry faces.

As an ICE mentor, Emma Hellawell is also committed to helping others along their career.

WE50 finalists

This year, the Women’s Engineering Society has also shared the finalists for the award.

ICE members on this list were:

• Carol Andrews – associate director at Arup. (Northern Ireland)
• Fiona Paine – structures development team leader at Kent County Council. (South East)
• Iona Davis – principal engineer at Port of Dover. (South East)
• Mhairi Porteous – senior civil engineer at Fairhurst. (Scotland)
• Monica Corso Griffiths – programme leader/A66 head of design and DCO at National Highways. (North West)
• Rossella Nicolin – head of sustainability (Europe) at Laing O’Rourke. (London)
• Vasantha Samaranayake – delivery director working on water utilities at Binnies. (South East)