A senior policy and sustainability consultant and associate mechanical engineer from Arup are amongst the 35 high achievers listed in Management Today’s ‘35 women under 35’ awards.
Policy and sustainability consultant Debra Lam, 29, and mechanical engineer Becci Taylor, 31 are listed in the annual ranking now in its 11th year. This year’s finalists are honoured under ‘a vision of enterprise’ theme.
Debra, who is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has recently undertaken a two year assignment for Arup in Hong Kong. She joined Arup in London in 2007 and specialises in climate change, sustainability and low-carbon issues. A Mandarin and Cantonese speaker, she advised the Vietnamese government on water and climate resilience, and has been involved in Arup’s partnership work with the C40, a group of 40 of the world’s largest cities committed to tackling climate change. She also contributed to a report for the World Economic Forum presented at Davos this year.
Becci, who was brought up in Grantham, Lincolnshire, graduated with a first class degree in engineering from Cambridge. She is an expert adviser on low-energy building alternatives. Notable projects include finding low-carbon solutions for the Maltese parliament building, the Kimbell Museum in Texas, and a masterplan in Doha. Becci has also designed a zero-energy kindergarten in Ghana. She joined the organisation in 2003.
Arup has a long established commitment to diversity and plays an important role as an ambassador for women working in the built environment. It hosts a ConnectWomen Network, offering women at Arup support and encouragement as well as personal and professional development by way of a networking platform to connect, network, share ideas and influence the industry.
Alan Belfield, Arup’s UKMEA Diversity Champion, said:
“As an organisation, we are particularly proud of Debra and Becci for making it onto this year’s coveted listing. This is the fifth year in which female professionals working for Arup, aged 35 and younger have been showcased by Management Today for their outstanding academic, professional, personal, and community achievements. This is in line with our commitment and vision around the ConnectWomen network that improves the opportunities for women working at Arup, enabling them to make valued contribution to the firm, their clients and the wider industry.”
To read a profile of the winners visit www.managementtoday.co.uk