Andrea Charlson

We asked Andrea…

I would recommend a career in civil or infrastructure engineering because…

I would recommend a career in civil or infrastructure engineering because it gives you the chance to make a real difference in the world around you.

Every day you’re solving practical problems that shape the places we live, work and travel through.

For me, that’s designing with low carbon materials and finding ways to make projects more sustainable and resilient.

You can specialise deeply in a technical area, or work across many different aspects of engineering.

Along the way, you develop skills in project management, communication and understanding how complex projects come together.

What I love most is seeing ideas turned into real places that people use and rely on.

The impact of your work is tangible, and you never quite know where your career might take you.

It’s challenging, varied, and endlessly rewarding.

What is the driving force behind your advocacy for the environment?

What drives my advocacy for the environment is a deep-rooted belief that we all have a responsibility to protect the world – and the communities who live in it – and a desire to leave the planet in a better state than how I inherited it.

As a young child, I chose to join the environmental club at school, but my interest in the topic developed further at university, due to inspiring lecturers.

I then chose to focus my career on how we use resources responsibly.

From early experiences like exploring how buildings can be deconstructed and reused, to shaping environmental strategies on major projects, I’ve been motivated by the impact we can have when we challenge the status quo and improve the way things are done.

Making better, more sustainable choices in engineering isn’t just about ticking a box, it’s about continually evolving the way we design.

What’s one great thing that you love about working with sustainable infrastructure that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?

One great thing I love is how much there is to learn, and how much you learn from the people around you.

I discover something new almost every week, whether it’s a technical innovation, a creative approach to a project, or a fresh way of thinking about a situation.

I also find myself constantly drawing on lessons from mentors I met years ago, quoting their advice and applying it in new situations.

The industry is full of brilliant, generous people, and part of what makes this work so exciting is that you’re never done learning.

Name one sustainable design myth you’d like to bust.

One sustainable design myth I’d like to bust is the idea that some materials are simply ‘sustainable’ and others ‘unsustainable’.

In reality, it’s not about labelling materials, but about understanding the solutions we are building and the positive and negative impacts of how we achieve them.

For example, a material that has a higher carbon footprint in production might be the best choice for a long-lasting, low-maintenance structure, whereas a lower-carbon alternative might perform poorly in that application.

The key is using the right materials for the right applications and making decisions based on evidence and whole-life impacts, not assumptions.

Sustainability is about thoughtful choices, balancing performance, longevity and environmental effects.

That mindset is far more powerful than simply chasing ‘green’ materials.

What does being professionally qualified with the ICE mean for your career?  

Being professionally qualified with the ICE is as much about the process as it is the end result.

For both my chartership qualifications, the process of reflecting on and documenting my experiences against the required attributes gave me a broad understanding of what it truly means to be a professional engineer and environmentalist.

Preparing for the qualification also helped me develop focus, time management and presentation skills – all essential in real-world projects.

Now, having the qualification means I can speak with confidence across engineering and environmental spheres, understanding the technical, ethical and professional considerations involved, reinforcing my credibility.

How did the ICE and your employer support you to become professionally qualified? 

This was a long time ago, but Arup had a formal training programme, and I had the support of a delegated engineer for my engineering chartership.

What do you value most about being an ICE member? 

What I value most about being an ICE member is the recognition it gives within the industry and the professional credibility it conveys.

Being part of the ICE signals that you meet rigorous standards and are committed to upholding the ethics, competence and professionalism expected of engineers.

I also value the network it connects you to: colleagues, mentors and peers across civil and infrastructure engineering.

Even if you don’t use it every day, knowing there’s a professional community to turn to, share ideas with, or learn from is reassuring and inspiring.