Nadiah is a seasoned nuclear civil and structural engineer whose career began in waste infrastructure before she discovered her passion for nuclear projects. With 16 years of experience, she has led award‑winning, safety‑critical work at Sellafield, the U.K.’s largest nuclear site. She champions diversity in STEM and helps others grow their skills and capabilities while improving nuclear safety across the industry. She is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Nuclear Institute, the professional membership body dedicated to the sector.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

I began my career as a graduate structural engineer in the waste infrastructure team. After 12 months, the team was unfortunately dissolved. At that pivotal moment, my line manager at that time transitioned to the nuclear team and invited me to join him.

Nuclear work was a completely new and somewhat daunting field for me, but I was immediately drawn to the intricacy, precision and depth of detail involved in the projects. What started as an unexpected opportunity quickly became a genuine passion.

Sixteen years later, I am proud to still be part of the industry, continually motivated by the complexity, responsibility and impact of the work we do.

What is your favorite 91Ӱ�� project that you’ve worked on and why?

Two projects stand out to me as particularly rewarding, both for the technical challenges involved and the collaborative spirit that underpinned their success.

The first was the major decommissioning of the diffuser section atop a 120-metre concrete chimney at the Sellafield site. The diffuser formed part of the filtration system that played a critical role in limiting the release of radiation during the 1957 Windscale fire, preventing a disaster from escalating into a catastrophe. I joined the project during preliminary design and remained through to implementation, culminating in the successful dismantling of the diffuser in November 2021.

Due to radioactive contamination, the structure had to be cut in place using specialised diamond wire saws and removed in blocks up to nine tonnes in weight using a tower crane that had seismically qualified supports and base. The complexity of the engineering solution, combined with the need to coordinate multiple stakeholders across the supply chain, made it an incredibly collaborative effort, one that was recognised with several awards. I began the project as a graduate structural engineer and progressed to lead engineer and project manager, making it especially meaningful from both a professional and personal perspective.

My other favourite was the Harwell Flask Project, which also happened to be at Sellafield, where I was embedded in the client’s team as lead civil and structural engineer. We managed the structural risks while removing a 60-year-old, five-tonne flask from a degraded six-metre-high platform. Given initial uncertainties around the liquor inventory, the flask was assigned the highest safety classification, with worst case assumptions driving a high consequence categorisation.

We designed and implemented a contingency scaffold solution to mitigate the risk of a dropped-load fault while further characterisation work was undertaken. Subsequent historical research and detailed activity calculations enabled a revised consequence assessment, significantly reducing the predicted risk and allowing the operation to proceed using a telehandler to safely lower the flask. Like the first project, this work was recognised with health and safety, and collaboration awards.

Both projects stand out because they required innovative, “out-of-the-box” thinking, something that is essential within the nuclear industry. They combined technical complexity, rigorous safety standards and true teamwork, which for me are what make this field so rewarding.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

In my role, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to something that profoundly affects the wider community: protecting nuclear safety while enabling reliable, high‑quality project delivery. By providing clear technical authority and strong governance, I helped elevate design standards, reduce risks and rework, and strengthen confidence among regulators and stakeholders in the overall safety case.

Beyond the technical impact, my work supported the growth of a resilient civil and structural engineering capability — developing people, setting consistent standards, and ensuring high‑quality delivery across the entire nuclear portfolio. This investment in people and processes helps build a safer, more sustainable future for the communities these facilities serve.

As a millennial, I especially valued collaborating with both Generation X and Generation Z teams. Each group brings unique perspectives and strengths, and I found myself learning from both — enhancing not only our collective work but also my own professional growth.

I contribute to closing the gender gap in STEM by being visible as a woman engineer in a leadership role and showing that these careers are achievable. I mentor and support women and underrepresented groups, helping them build confidence and progress in their careers. I also champion inclusive practices in my teams making sure diverse voices are heard and opportunities are equitable while supporting initiatives that encourage girls and young women to explore STEM. It’s both about representation and creating an environment where everyone can succeed. I was honored to be a shortlisted finalist for Civil Engineer of the Year at the 2025 for my work.

Share a piece of career advice.

One piece of advice I always share is to say “yes” to new tasks and new responsibilities — within reason, of course. Growth rarely comes from staying within the comfort of what we already know. By putting yourself forward for unfamiliar challenges, you accelerate your learning, broaden your technical capability and build confidence in your own judgment.

Saying yes doesn’t mean overcommitting or stepping beyond your competence without support, it means being open to opportunities that stretch you. Some of the most defining moments in a career come from unexpected responsibilities, leading a meeting for the first time, managing stakeholder relationships or taking ownership of a complex technical issue. These experiences not only develop technical expertise but also strengthen leadership, communication and decision-making skills.

In my experience, progression often comes from those moments where you choose to step up rather than step back. Each new responsibility becomes a stepping stone, building credibility and trust with colleagues and clients. Over time, those small “yes” decisions compound into significant professional growth.

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One of his notable achievements includes the drafting of a new NEC clause on the application of ECC Secondary Option X20. This clause emphasizes key performance indicators, focusing on timely clearance of site portions and early completion of tree survey reports for a site formation contract with Hong Kong’s Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD).

Francis has also led several award-winning projects recognized for their sustainable, innovative and collaborative practices under NEC frameworks.

How did you come about integrating NEC practices into your professional work and projects?

NEC contracts are renowned for fostering collaborative relationships and effective communication between all parties involved, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget. My journey as an Approved NEC Expert by the CEDD of the HKSAR Government began on June 9, 2015. After that, I have been actively involved in advocating for NEC adoption in 91Ӱ�� projects, as well as training resident site staff and head office staff on the practice. In July 2021, we published 91Ӱ��’s NEC Administration Handbook — a key milestone on best practice and internal knowledge sharing. This was followed by a series of training sessions over the subsequent years to ensure that our practitioners are well-versed in NEC practices.

What has been the most rewarding experience in your career?

There’re plenty that I could cite, but a more recent one is our work on the Kwu Tung North and Fanling North New Development Area (NDA) Phase 1 project. We delivered two innovative solutions for this project — Hong Kong’s , which set a new benchmark for efficiency and safety by saving three months of construction time; and the world’s first use of ultra-high strength S960 steel in footbridge construction that not only achieved a remarkable reduction in the superstructure’s weight but also enhanced safety for the community.

This project also received the Grand Award in the ‘Demonstrating carbon dioxide reduction initiatives towards net-zero category’ at NEC Martin Barnes Awards 2024, and we’re honored to have been part of this achievement.

You continuously engage with the community to promote NEC. How has this shaped your experience in incorporating NEC principles into your work?

Engaging with the NEC community has profoundly shaped my understanding of NEC and how I applied its principles. Through participation in conferences, webinars and workshops, I have exchanged ideas with industry thought leaders and stay at the forefront of NEC’s evolving best practices and innovations within its framework.

Some highlights from my earliest involvements:

• April 2019:  Panelist at Hong Kong Construction Industry Council in April 2019
• August 2021: Shared insights on the evolution of NEC in Hong Kong for Project Management Institute Singapore’s international webinar
• November 2024: Spoke on fostering collaboration (NEC’s core principle of NEC) at the NEC Asia Pacific Conference, where the focus was.

These experiences have broadened my perspective, and I translated my newly gained knowledge into my projects. For example, the Tung Chung New Town Extension – Reclamation and Advance Works project which won NEC Contract Innovation Award in 2020; the Fanling Bypass Eastern Section and the Kwu Tung North & Fanling North NDA projects which received commendations for their excellence in NEC implementation for transportation and sustainability.

These have been great achievements not only for 91Ӱ�� but also for Hong Kong’s engineering community. As NEC is an evolving practice, constant engagement and collaboration are crucial in advancing its application to enhance innovative and sustainable solutions in the construction industry.

Francis was named Runner-up for the Individual Excellence Award at the NEC Martin Barnes Awards 2025 among strong competition, in recognition of his continued leadership and innovation in NEC applications across Hong Kong.

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The driving rain of the hurricane and the falling ash and flames of the wildfire are putting our critical infrastructure to the test as the frequency and intensity of natural disasters increases around the world. When showtime arrives, nobody wants it to fail.

People want to be confident in the resiliency of their critical infrastructure – utilities, transport, emergency services – particularly during extreme weather events. To deliver this, we must spend the seemingly boring sunny days in between reimagining our critical infrastructure so that when extreme weather does arrive, we’re prepared.

At the , a virtual COP26 climate tech event, I was asked to reflect on this in a panel focused on . All three panelists agreed on the new modeling tools available; the seemingly sudden motivation to make our electricity grids more climate resilient following the onslaught of extreme weather disasters; the nearly overwhelming amount of work and collaboration required to get our critical infrastructure where we need to be; and the fact that we’re already late in doing so. One attendee commented on sea level rise, saying they hadn’t considered the slower, more insidious climate disasters and instead have been focusing on hurricanes, storms and wildfires.

I spoke on the Dumbarton Bridge West Approach + Adjacent Communities Resilience Case Study, a sea level rise vulnerability assessment we recently conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area. While the initial aim of the project was to understand the potential for flooding across a critical transportation corridor, the purpose quickly shifted from protecting the bridge, to reimagining a holistically climate resilient Silicon Valley landscape, including electrical utilities, transportation (roadways, bridges), technology and the neighboring environmental justice community, East Palo Alto.

Our involvement in this project resulted in six key takeaways for resilient infrastructure implementation, which could be employed anywhere in the world, including in your community:

1: Critical infrastructure cannot be protected in silos. Looking to protect one component may weaken or strengthen neighboring infrastructure. Integrated and collaborative planning is key to climate resilience success.

2: Consider your neighbors – and collaborate. Critical infrastructure often sits adjacent to disadvantaged communities. What’s generally thought of as good from a planning-level exercise, may not work on the ground. Public outreach to neighboring and potentially impacted communities provides educational opportunities on both sides, resulting in more robust alternatives.

3: Employ Nature-based Solutions. Drawing on Nature-based Solutions for landscape-level climate resilience is a win-win for the landscape and the assets they are protecting. In East Palo Alto, the development of horizontal or living levees, which are gently sloping vegetated berms rather than traditional levees, would increase flood protection and allow the marshes do their job – accrete sediment and grow over time to absorb sea waters and dampen winter storm wave impacts, while providing wildlife and plants upslope runways to move as water levels rise.

4: Include redundancy for resiliency. Things break down, particularly during extreme weather. We cannot count on 100 percent resilience because so many factors are at play. Systems and people fail. It is imperative to incorporate redundancy and multiple layers of protection.

5: Acknowledge the huge efforts involved. The Dumbarton Bridge planning-level project took two years. It was a complicated puzzle to develop feasible alternatives solutions. Implementation will require massive capital investment, long lead times, and collaboration.

6: Climate change planning may not be flashy, but it’s essential. Advance planning for long-term impacts is not reactionary. Sunny day planning is critical for showtime success.

As the world looks to COP26, let’s take action now. Several new funding options are available, and the opportunities are endless.

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As part of our continued focus on safety, we’re demonstrating our commitment to road safety by supporting the . Simply put, low speed streets save lives. This year’s U.N. program focuses on keeping the streets and roadways safe where we live, work and play. There is considerable focus and urgency on this issue because everyone deserves the safety of low-speed, livable streets, which can have an effect on public health through the reduction of injury causing vehicle accidents and impact climate change by reducing vehicle emissions. This focus can also promote social and racial equality as a large portion of speed-related incidents occur in underserved communities.

Speeding is one of the top causes of roadway incidents around the globe, and as a globally focused organization, 91Ӱ�� has signed the “Streets for Life: For People and Planet” open letter that calls on policymakers to act for low speed streets worldwide, limiting speeds to 20 mph (30 km/h) where people walk, live and play.

As the world’s premier infrastructure consulting firm, 91Ӱ�� has helped conceptualize, develop, construct and operate transportation and roadway infrastructure projects around the world — from Honolulu to Hong Kong, and from Mumbai to Memphis to Melbourne. We have always placed a strong focus on roadway safety both in design and execution.

To achieve this, we have developed procedures and systems that include driver safety training for our more frequent business drivers, journey management planning, and design and quality checks. We’ve brought in foremost industry experts — the best and brightest from around the world to ensure that we continue to provide the high-quality expertise and delivery our clients expect from us, with an unwavering focus on safety. Road and driving safety is of particular importance to our company due to our exposure to the risk associated with it. Specifically, despite our project and geographical diversity, driving is one of the few risks that everyone is exposed to regardless of business.

You can learn more about the U.N.’s Global Road Safety Week by visiting the and you can view the .

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Vehicle crashes consistently rank as one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, exacting heavy emotional and financial tolls on individuals, communities and society. Preventing these accidents is a top priority for decision makers around the country. We must recognize that our roadways, as they are, reinforce dangerous tendencies for drivers and pedestrians and that our fatal and severe crashes are a critical and preventable public health issue.

This is where future-looking initiatives like Vision Zero come in and change the way the transportation industry, communities and elected officials handle their roadways.

Vision Zero, already adopted by several major U.S. cities including Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Washington DC and throughout Europe, is based on a set of principles which declares that all actions should adhere to the following:

• Traffic deaths and serious injuries are preventable
• No loss of life is acceptable
• Human life and health are prioritized
• Human error is inevitable and transportation systems should be forgiving
• People are vulnerable and speed is a fundamental predictor of crash survival
• Focus on systems-level changes above influencing individual behavior

The Citizens of Philadelphia were introduced to the initiative in December 2015 with the first Vision Zero conference and began to consider how it would be applied to their city. Mayor Jim Kenny hired the first Director of Complete Streets in 2016 and Philadelphia’s Vision Zero Action Plan released an overall goal of zero traffic deaths by 2030. The action plan laid out the following priorities, equitable to all citizens:

• Save lives by reducing the number of traffic-related deaths and severe injuries
• Improve overall performance of streets system and prioritize the safety of those using our streets who are most vulnerable
• Reduce Philadelphians’ risk for developing chronic diseases by promoting active transportation
• Shift trips from motorized to active modes of transportation to reduce congestion, improve air quality and improve health safety

This plan kicked off the current movement to make Philadelphia a safe and truly accessible city. In an effort to build for tomorrow, the data-driven approach has allowed the city to focus on its high injury network of roads. The corridors with the highest rates of fatalities and severe injuries cover 50 percent of all major incidents in just 12 percent of Philadelphia streets.1 Paired with focusing on the most dangerous roadways, instituting protected bike lanes, newly designed curbless intersections and aesthetically-pleasing designs have only increased the ability of Philadelphians to get around in a safe, sustainable manner.

In parallel with the City’s initiative, organized by the Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition, 91Ӱ�� has been an avid supporter and partner in the Vision Zero conference each year since its inception. In 2018, we were challenged to develop a way to help the different road users to be empathetic to each other’s experiences. We developed a 3D virtual reality experience that invoked emotional reactions from those who tried it. The VR allowed the viewer to experience a busy road as a pedestrian, bicyclist or driver with varying levels of sidewalk and bicycle lanes (protected and unprotected). The immersive experience gave attendees a glimpse into the perspective of other roadway users.

The project’s collaborative nature has allowed all stakeholders to have a say enforcing the notion that we’re all working together for safer streets. Community members from all walks of life are working together and empathizing with one another to better understand how we can transform our current environment and build safer ones in the future – together.

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