Showcasing the talent and innovation of members under 35
On 17th November 2025, the British Dam Society (BDS) hosted its prestigious annual evening meeting for the BDS Prize, a competition designed to showcase the talent and innovation of members under 35. Participants were challenged to submit a 2,500-word paper and deliver a presentation on a topic related to dam engineering, drawing from their experience in reservoir research, design, construction, operation, maintenance or supervision.
The five presenters included two from Binnies:
- Anida Zeqirllari presented on ‘Retrofitting overflow weirs to safely pass extreme floods at UK reservoirs’;
- Devon Bullock presented on ‘Developing a workbook to apply Tier 2 RARS to EA flood detention reservoirs’.
The judging panel, comprising leading experts in the field, evaluated submissions based on technical quality, innovation, and clarity of presentation. After careful deliberation, the judges awarded Devon third place, a testament to her expertise and commitment to advancing dam safety practices.
Her work focused on creating practical tools to implement Tier 2 Reservoir Risk Assessment (RARS) methodologies for Environment Agency flood detention reservoirs – an area critical for improving safety and resilience in flood management.
If you missed the event but would like to hear all the finalists then the link to the recorded event is here.
Congratulations to Devon for this well-deserved recognition! It is fantastic to see the Binnies reservoir team supporting you and Anida at this event!
Listen to the event