Aisling Hahessy, Senior Structural Engineer at Arup, was named joint winner of the Contribution to Society category in the 2026 EFCA Future Leaders’ Competition. Nominated by the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI), she received the award during the EFCA General Assembly Meeting and Conference in Istanbul, Türkiye on 5 June.

Aisling was recognised for her leadership on the Peru Bicentennial Programme, a major international initiative to deliver 75 climate-resilient educational facilities across nine regions of the country.

The programme formed part of a Government-to-Government initiative between Peru, the UK and Finland, and built on reconstruction efforts following the 2017 El Niño Costero climate event, which affected approximately 1.1 million people. It was delivered by Proyecto Especial de Inversion Publica Escuelas Bicentenario (PEIP-EB) on behalf of the Peruvian Government, in collaboration with project partners including Mace, Gleeds, Arup, 4global, AFRY, Polar Partners, LMA and ISKU.

As Design Manager, Aisling led a multidisciplinary team of engineers, architects and consultants, guiding the design of coordinated, climate-resilient schools capable of withstanding earthquakes, flooding and varied environmental conditions.

Speaking about her award win, Aisling Hahessy, Senior Structural Engineer at Arup, said, “I’m honoured to receive this award, which represents the collaboration and dedication of everyone involved in the programme. Our focus has been on designing safe, resilient schools that can support communities now and into the future. This recognition highlights the role engineering can play in delivering meaningful and lasting societal benefit.”

Commending Aisling’s award win, ACEI’s Director General, Shane Dempsey, said, “Aisling is an exemplar for young engineers globally. She personifies the noble purpose of engineering and the profound positive impacts it has on the everyday lives of people and communities. The impacts of Aisling’s work will echo down generations of Peruvians that will benefit from the schools built in this project.”

Now in its 17th edition, the EFCA Future Leaders’ Competition recognises professionals aged 35 and under who exemplify leadership, innovation and excellence within Europe’s consulting engineering sector. This year’s competition attracted 19 submissions from seven countries.

Aisling’s award follows Cian Long’s Excellence in Engineering win at the 2025 EFCA Future Leaders’ Competition, marking a second consecutive year of success for Arup engineers from Ireland in the competition. It also builds on Aisling’s earlier professional recognition – in 2021, she was named Engineer of the Year by Engineers Ireland.

The seven category winners of the EFCA Future Leaders' competition with their certificates.

Arup’s Aisling Hahessy (pictured fourth from right) was one of seven engineers honoured at the European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations (EFCA) Future Leaders’ competition 2026.