I am from Cairo, Egypt and I graduated from Ain Shams University with a bachelor's degree in Building Design and Project Management. Once I completed my degree, my ambition was to travel and expand my education. After moving to the UK, I completed my Masters in Structural Engineering (MSc) from the University of Surrey, with a particular focus on renewable energy structures.
I was introduced to Arup while in University. One of my assignments was on tall buildings, and I presented on the Marina Sands Bay in Singapore. Arup has an impressive and expansive catalogue of projects and landmarks that attracted me. I knew they would challenge me technically while encouraging widespread growth in my career. Arup is known to support and motivate their graduates to grow and maximise their exposure to opportunities, which is ideal for what I had set out for myself as a graduate taking on the start of my career. I joined their Advanced Technology & Research group in Birmingham, hit the ground running on projects that started to carve out and hone my skills as a structural engineer and held my interest in sustainable development.
Based in our London office, I am a structural engineer, working on unique structures not typically covered by design standards. My role is to apply, and develop, digital technology and automation in the analysis and design of different types of projects, from quirky sculptures to massive infrastructure projects. On a typical day, I would build an analysis model, write code, or work with the project team to resolve a challenging engineering problem. Some days, however, you might find me inspecting a nuclear fusion reactor or an offshore construction site.
We recently have been working on new technology to appraise the performance of existing buildings using advanced structural analysis and probability theory. This allows us to extend the lifespan of structures and modify them to fit future use - part of our commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the engineering industry and our contribution to sustainable development.
I get the most satisfaction from taking part in community engagement, giving time to school projects or international disaster response and recovery. The most enjoyable project however was being sent to conduct a site survey in my hometown, Cairo.
The most remarkable projects are often the least expected. I am a specialist in kinematic and renewable energy structures; however last year I worked on a carbon fibre battery case for an electric supercar, a railway track for 400kph trains, a 21-story timber skyscraper, and a floating wave energy generator made from concrete, arguably the least expected place to find and utilise concrete.
I intend to dedicate my career to help solve the most pressing issues of our age - the climate emergency and humanitarian crises due to war and conflict. We have learned over the years that the change we need lies in sustainable solutions that are commercially attractive.
Engineers have an imperative role to play in solving these issues. The future of the engineering industry is becoming increasingly digital and I am proud to see Arup is at the centre of this movement. We are unlocking new unseen opportunities that will lead to a more sustainable, regenerative and resilient future. I am also surrounded by world-class experts and passionate colleagues who find their own way to shape a better world.
