Rising Star

Marzia Bolpagni
Mace Group

Her vision is to pursue a sustainable world and diverse society empowered by ethical use of technologies.Marzia does not just deliver excellence in her company: her work has an impact at international level. In 2024 the standard ISO 7817-1 was published under her leadership. She has been the youngest person to lead an ISO standard in this field. The standard has been already included in the UK BIM Framework and implemented in global projects. She volunteered her time to help several communities and mentor students to inspire the next generation.

Alex Boote
ARC Building Solutions

Dr. Alex Boote’s pioneering mindset has already led to three patents and a PhD. He leads ARC Building Solutions' products and innovation, committed to making buildings safer and more sustainable. His recent innovation, the Retrofit Eaves Insulator, addresses a serious problem, drastically reducing damp and mould in homes, improving overall health and ventilation. Alex was intrinsic in earning the CCPI assessment for the Cavity Stop Sock range, further underpinning his positive impact. His passion and leadership make Alex not just an invaluable asset to ARC, but a hero in the construction industry, enhancing the comfort and health of UK residents.

Hannah Hart
AtkinsRéalis

Hannah has significantly impacted the industry by driving innovation, improving efficiency, and creating sustainable designs. Her work on Wessex Low Risk Debris Screens has led to environmentally responsible and cost-effective solutions, such as implementing design improvements that reduce concrete usage and enhance public safety. She developed a structured site visit checklist, streamlining data collection and reducing rework, which improved project efficiency and client satisfaction. As the engineer responsible for Public Safety Risk Assessments, Hannah ensures designs are safe and compliant. Additionally, she actively promotes civil engineering through STEM outreach and mentoring, demonstrating her commitment to the future of Engineering.

Edward Hixson
Skanska UK

Ed Hixson exemplifies an award-winning candidate through his exceptional contributions and passion for Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Noteworthy achievements include publishing an article in the Civil Engineering Surveyors Magazine and Royal Geography Society, being selected for Skanska’s Mirror Leadership Programme, and being shortlisted for the ESRI Customer Success Awards. Ed's innovative initiatives like GAIL and his work on environmental risk processes demonstrate his forward-thinking approach. He actively mentors junior team members and promotes wellbeing through leading the Alliance Volleyball team. Ed’s dedication to excellence, leadership, and innovation makes him a standout nominee for the Rising Star Award.

Priya Jadav
Balfour Beatty Vinci Joint Venture

Stepping up to be a critical part of the Executive team responsible for the largest NEC contract in Europe, Priya has proven that age and experience are not barriers to succeeding in a high performing senior team. Priya rapidly adapted from her previous role as Assistant Materials Engineer into a new role: she challenged the modus operandi of the Executive team which has led to significant operational enhancements, delivered, and led on several business-critical projects, all while performing to the highest levels and undertaking professional qualifications. Priya is a highly valued member of the BBV HS2 Area North Executive Team.

Matt Jones
Jones Weatherproofing

Matt Jones’ roll call of achievements is something many construction business leaders would be delighted to look back on with pride at the end of their careers – Matt has achieved this list of accolades in just seven years. A love of strategic thinking saw him move from a CAPGemini business apprenticeship to focus on the strategic direction of the family business, specialist weatherproofing contractor, Jones Weatherproofing. Here he’s used his business acumen to take an innovative, forward-thinking approach, digitalising the business, undertaking a restructure, a rebrand and launching a leadership programme to support its next phase of growth.

Shanice Katana
Mace Group

Shanice has exceeded expectations as a Year 1 Graduate at Mace, making significant contributions across multiple areas. Shanice champions diversity through EDaM and Black History Month initiatives. Her commitment extends beyond Mace, demonstrated through her involvement with the Social Mobility Foundation and co-founding Build Her Future (North) to empower women and girls in construction. These achievements reflect her proactive approach and leadership potential.

Rebecca Paramor
Morgan Sindall Infrastructure

Rebecca is an outstanding member of the Morgan Sindall family. She is motivated, innovative and always willing to go above and beyond expectations. Some of her key achievements to date include:• Promoting Women in the sector and challenging industry norms.• Supporting colleagues and subcontractors.• Mentoring placement and apprentice engineers.• Unifying scheme best practice and sharing this across sites.• Solving problems with her creative outlook.Despite only being a few years into what will undoubtedly be a rewarding career, Rebecca strives for the highest standards, challenging how things are done and asking questions which drive

Amy Pymont
AECOM

Amy discovered her enthusiasm for engineering through the AECOM’s work experience program, leading her to join as an apprentice in 2019. Her exceptional leadership, technical expertise, and dedication have profoundly impacted AECOM and the community. She has driven innovative ESG initiatives and carbon accounting processes, enhancing sustainability. Amy champions inclusive street design and has significantly impacted key projects. Reflecting on her own start understanding the importance of guidance, she passionately mentors students, supports apprentices and inspires peers. Graduating with a first-class degree in Civil Engineering, Amy combines academic excellence with real-world impact, driving her ambition to empower the next generation.

Gemma Rutter
AtkinsRéalis

Gemma is a multifaceted chartered member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, with recent experience as a surface water specialist and site-based senior design manager on Sizewell C. She has led several complex ‘For Construction’ surface water packages with autonomy, managed a thriving international team and implemented solutions to enable safe and effective construction site operations. Gemma continuously seeks to prioritise safety, improve quality and drive collaboration in her work. She is a role model for women and underrepresented groups in STEM, actively involved in volunteering initiatives to inspire the next generation of diverse engineers.

Dawood Shoaib
AtkinsRéalis

Dawood, a civil engineering apprentice at AtkinsRéalis, drove innovation on the Strategic Pipeline Alliance through the implementation of Low Water Commissioning, reducing carbon emissions by 99% and earning industry accolades. He resolved high-risk ground challenges through collaboration with global experts, optimising material reuse to enhance sustainability. Dawood developed digital tools integrating carbon tracking into design decisions, advancing net-zero goals. His technical expertise and stakeholder negotiation prevented project delays, ensuring client satisfaction. Beyond projects, he mentors colleagues, leads knowledge-sharing initiatives, and promotes STEM education. His practical contributions to sustainability, technical problem-solving, and industry mentorship underscore his impact as a rising star.

Lavinia Toma
Keltbray

Lavinia Toma is a pioneering Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Project Manager who is transforming the construction industry. Through initiatives like the ‘InSITE’ behavioural safety program and ‘Big Six’ risk mitigation, she has dramatically improved safety and reduced risks on-site. Her groundbreaking ‘Visual Standards’ make safety information accessible and engaging for all. Lavinia’s multilingual abilities and inclusive leadership ensure that her impact reaches diverse teams. Driven by a deep passion for change, she has risen from site administrator to industry leader, continuously shaping the future of construction safety with her innovation, dedication, and unwavering commitment to others