Celebrating the women who use their engineering skills to improve lives
The Women’s Engineering Society Top 50 Women in Engineering Awards 2024 theme this year is ‘Enhanced by Engineering’ which chimes with Binnies’ purpose: enhancing lives, communities and the environment.
We are very proud that two Binnies engineers are part of the Top 50 this year
Both are experienced civil engineers whose careers have allowed them to deliver projects that have provided environmental benefits and sustainable solutions. They have also both contributed to the development of others, providing mentoring and career development guidance. We also congratulate Vasantha Samaranayake who is a highly commended finalist this year, a great achievement.
Claire Watson, Water Utilities Delivery Director, said: “Delivering the Urban Pollution Management programme, part of a Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) programme for Thames Water, brought together my passions for hydraulic modelling and design and programme management for successful delivery. The WINEP programme encompasses protection and enhancement projects to address some of the biggest challenges facing the natural environment.
“I believe in the importance of investing in the future generation and encouraging it to stay in engineering. I have supported the MSc hydrology and water resources management course at Imperial College for 15 years, providing a five-week project annually to teach the students about hydraulic modelling and design to solve the problem posed. For the students, I am a much-needed female role model and have even recruited some to my team!”
Helen Davis, Lead Supervising Civil Engineer, said: “My desire to ensure people’s basic needs are met and to enhance the environment drew me to engineering. Flood risk management became my specialism not only because of how it enhances lives, communities and the environment but also because of how it addresses the challenges of climate change. Currently, I am one of the engineering leads on the River Thames Scheme, a nationally significant flood and climate mitigation project.
“I am a mentor for Women in Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management, a networking group of professionals set up to support and connect women working in this sector. I have really enjoyed being part of this initiative, encouraging women in a small group setting to gain confidence and fulfil their potential, sharing my successes and struggles and reflecting together on challenges such as time management, imposter syndrome and personal presence.”
They both attended the celebratory afternoon tea at the British Medical Association in London, taking two female early career professionals as their guests. It was a great opportunity to meet other female engineers.