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AECOM structural engineer wins 2023 James Rennie Medal

Date
14 March 2023

Three finalists presented their Chartered Professional Review reports during a ceremony at ICE HQ, One Great George Street.

AECOM structural engineer wins 2023 James Rennie Medal
Klavins-Bridge took home the medal and £1,000 top prize.

A structural engineer at AECOM has won this year's James Rennie Medal.

Melissa Klavins-Bridge took home the prize for her presentation on designing a processing building to transfer hazardous materials from the world’s oldest waste pond for the first time.

The James Rennie Medal recognises the best Chartered Professional Review (CPR) candidate of the year.

Klavins-Bridge, alongside the other two finalists for this year’s award – Cormac Carville and Joe Greene – was shortlisted from all the CPR and CPR (Progressive) that took place last year.

Each of the finalists presented their CPR reports during a ceremony at ICE’s One Great George Street headquarters and defended it in front of a panel of industry experts. This was followed by a lively question and answer session with an audience of ICE members.

For the fourth consecutive year, the event was also streamed online to a global audience.

“The process has pushed me to improve”

Klavins-Bridge was awarded the medal for her presentation, which explained how a mechanically led project enabled hazardous material to be transferred out of the world’s oldest waste pond at a UK Nuclear Licensed Site for the first time.

On being selected by the judges as the winner of this year’s medal and £1,000 top prize, she said: “I feel overwhelmed, it has been a lot of hard work to get here, and the process has pushed me to improve.”

She went on to add: “It is a great testament to the really excellent mentoring I have received through my degree and development through to post chartership.”

james rennie medal final 2023
The finalists presented their CPR report in front of a live and online audience.

“A really diverse audience”

John Laverty, head of the qualifications team at the ICE said: “We’ve seen three great speakers and it is wonderful to see a really diverse audience engaging with and enjoying the evening.”

This year’s final was sponsored by Arup, BAM Nuttall, Charles Brand, Keltbray, Kier, Skanska and Tony Gee.

Aiming for professional qualification?

The James Rennie Medal celebrates the role of newly chartered civil engineers, including CPR and CPR (Progressive) candidates.

The CPR (Progressive) is for candidates who have already passed an Incorporated Professional Review and are aiming to become chartered.

The ICE's professional qualifications – Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer and Chartered Engineer – command respect.

Those aiming to become professionally qualified who need advice on next steps should contact the ICE's membership support team for help.

  • Tom McIntosh, membership marketing executive at ICE