For the last 25 years I’ve worked in the construction industry, and since 2009, as a director at the Institution of Civil Engineers. In this role, I’ve applied my background in the arts to reveal the extraordinary creativity of civil engineers and their ability to adapt and make our infrastructure resilient to the affects of climate change. Their work is mostly hidden to the public eye, and so I have captured their achievements and told their stories through film, animation, and exhibitions, in partnership with film director Jevan Chowdhury, as well as through podcasts, award ceremonies and commissioning Ordnance Survey maps.
This film celebrated how civil engineers have helped to shape Plymouth over the last 500 years. The film tells the story of Plymouth through its engineering milestones. From laying the foundations for a new town to the introduction of the Great Western Railway and the impressive Royal Albert Bridge. Through the Blitz bombs and on towards new horizons – robotics, artificial intelligence and the use of drone technology – we see how engineers are tackling problems and safeguarding the future for generations to come. Narrated by Dawn French and featuring music by Seth Lakeman, the film brings to life more than 500 years of engravings and archive photography and features over 25 filming locations in Plymouth and surrounding areas. These images and footage were brought to life by filmmakers Wind & Foster.
Time is Running Out: help us engineer a net zero world, is the Institution of Civil Engineer’s first touring exhibition in its 200 year history, which I curated to encourage young people to consider a career in civil engineering. The exhibition explores the future of infrastructure and the role of civil engineers in helping society respond to the challenges of climate change and meet net zero targets by 2050. Featuring original hand-drawn illustrations by Francesca Bray and animations, six children talk to TV presenter and engineer Rob Bell about a wide range of global problems.
Time is running out | Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
Since its launch in 2022, the exhibition has been on display at key locations the length and breadth of the country, including: Bristol Airport, The Common Room in Newcastle, the Glasgow Science Centre, XPLORE! and the National Botanic Garden in Wales, W5 in Belfast, the Big Bang Fair in Birmingham, the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre in Macclesfield, the Magna Science Centre in Rotherham and in London at ICE’s headquarters, the London Transport Museum and the Museum of Water and Steam.
Over 3 million people had the opportunity to view the exhibition highlighting the vital role civil engineering plays in tackling climate challenges.
In 2017 I co-founded the South West Infrastructure Partnership(SWIP) to provide an independent platform for debate with key stakeholders and decision makers across the South West and nationally, and to break down silos in the infrastructure world to help transition to a net zero carbon footprint by 2050.
Creating infrastructure that is resilient to the effects of climate change is critically important to the South West. The increasing severity of storms, floods, heatwaves, and droughts are already impacting the region’s vital infrastructure such as water, transport, energy, and telecommunications networks. Civil engineers and clients across these sectors are having to innovate, think differently and collaborate to adapt existing infrastructure to provide resilience today while also planning new pathways to a more resilient future.
One of the outputs of this organisation is a series of podcasts Beyond Brunel, hosted by Chris Ackland. With 30,000 +downloads this series helps infrastructure professionals to see the importance of working collaboratively across sectors, and for the public to have a greater understanding of role of civil engineers.
Hosting the ICE South West Civil Engineering Awards 2024
The film Engineering Happiness showcases civil engineers behind some of London’s most iconic infrastructure projects. I commissioned and produced it on behalf of the Institution of Civil Engineers in association with Bechtel. The film records engineers dancing on construction sites to Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ on the Elizabeth Line, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the Thames Barrier, London Underground, Walton Bridge, Kings Cross Station and the Hammersmith Flyover. Director – Jevan Chowdhury, Wind & Foster, Producer – Miranda Housden, Director ICE London, Movement Direction – Jeanefer Jean-Charles and Director of Photography – Michael Osaer.
Review of Engineering Happiness in The Guardian
Review of Engineering Happiness in The Independent
In 2013 I commissioned and produced Engineering the London Underground on behalf of Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) London, to celebrate the illustrious 150 year history of London’s Tube network and the vital role that civil engineers played in delivering one of the world’s first and busiest transport networks.
The film takes viewers on a journey through the Tube’s history including its period of reconstruction following the Second World War, the introduction of the world’s first computer controlled underground railway on the Victoria Line, the construction of the Jubilee line and looks to the Tube’s future. The film, produced in collaboration with the London Transport Museum and Transport for London, was narrated by Eddie Butler and features photographs and footage from the Institution of Civil Engineers, British Film Institute, Crossrail, National Media Museum and TfL collections. These images were brought to life by filmmakers Wind & Foster.