Rachel Skinner

Rachel Skinner
Born December 1976 (age 41)
Nationality British
Education
Occupation Engineer
Engineering career
Discipline Civil
Institutions Institution of Civil Engineers
Awards Most distinguished winner of 2017 at the European Women in Construction and Engineering Awards.

Rachel Susan Skinner FICE (born December 1976) is a British civil engineer with Canadian-based consultant WSP Global. Named as one of the Daily Telegraph Top 50 Influential Women in Engineering in 2016 and as the most distinguished winner of 2017 at the European Women in Construction and Engineering Awards, she is set to become the youngest ever president of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 2020.

Early life and education

Skinner was born in December 1976 and has a bachelor's degree with first-class honours in geography from Durham University.[1] She states that she "fell into engineering completely by chance" and became an engineer "by accident" when she took a job as a transport planner in 1998.[2][3] She had only intended the job to be a stop-gap for a few months before going travelling for a period.[3] Skinner is a Transport planning professional (TPP) and a member of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (MCIHT).[4] In 2001 she was awarded a master of science degree in transportation planning and engineering with a distinction by the University of Leeds.[1]

Career

Skinner has been involved with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) since 2002 when she became a chartered engineer (CEng), and is now a fellow of the institution (FICE) and sits on its council.[2][5] She chaired the ICE's London region for 2010–11 and is currently chair of its London Transport Expert Network.[5] She was confirmed by the ICE council as succeeding vice president in April 2017 and, "subject to interim annual election by Council," is set to become president in November 2020.[6] She will be the second female president and the youngest ever to hold the post.[1] Skinner is also chair of the advisory board of the New Civil Engineer magazine.[7]

Skinner has held several senior positions at WSP Global, the consultancy and design firm, including as UK director of transportation planning and European director of marketing and communications.[5] She is currently an executive director and head of development at WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff (WSP's UK subsidiary) where she leads around 800 staff in redevelopment and infrastructure projects for the public and private sectors.[2][5]

Skinner helped to set up the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) network in London in June 2005, was a founding member of its board and president from 2009 to 2013.[2][5] Skinner also works to encourage schoolgirls into taking up STEM subjects.[2] She has written papers on the implementation of driverless vehicles and the application of digital technology to the construction industry and has acted as an expert witness at public inquiries.[2][5]

Skinner was one of the Daily Telegraph Top 50 Influential Women in Engineering in 2016 and was named as the most distinguished winner of 2017 at the European Women in Construction and Engineering Awards.[1][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "WICE Awards". European Women in Construction and Engineering Awards. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "New opportunities that add up for women in engineering – Rachel Skinner, Executive Director & Head of Development at WSP / Parsons Brinckerhoff". Womanthology. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "Congratulations Rachel Skinner". WTS International.
  4. ↑ "Top 50 Influential Women in Engineering List 2016 | Women's Engineering Society". Women's Engineering Society.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Rachel Skinner". Institution of Civil Engineers.
  6. ↑ "Two new Vice Presidents chosen for 2017/18". Institution of Civil Engineers. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  7. ↑ "New Civil Engineer April 2017" (PDF). New Civil Engineer: 67. April 2017.
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