ICE Londond STEM Ambassador of the Year 2026
Afua Essel
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ICE London works to promote and celebrate the outstanding work of members. It organises awards to recognise exceptional projects, teamwork and individual excellence.
ICE London STEM Ambassador of the Year 2026
ICE London STEM Ambassador of the Year 2026
As an ICE Ambassador, Afua Essel stands at the forefront of inspiring the next generation of engineers.
The judges praised her enthusiasm, her commitment to outreach, and the genuine impact she’s had on young people across the region.
“Afua Essel is a truly deserving winner of the ICE London STEM Ambassador of the Year 2026.
What sets Afua apart is not just the breadth of what she does, but the depth of thought behind how she does it.
She has independently designed and delivered a remarkable range of programmes spanning primary schools, secondary schools, public libraries, and her local community, demonstrating a sustained and genuine commitment to making engineering accessible to everyone, not just those who already feel it is for them.”
This recognition highlights not only her dedication, but her commitment to shape the future engineering.
Afua will now represent the London region in the UK competition final.
Our 2026 awards
Our 2026 ICE London Awards are now open for entries.
You can complete your entry in these easy steps:
- Select your category – You can enter more than one category but will need to submit each entry on a separate entry form and tailor the entry to the criteria:
Project categories
- Best Project – Small (under £5m) celebrate projects that have impactful features and benefit the community, while addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- Best Project – Large (over £5m) celebrate projects that have impactful features and benefit the community, while addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- Best Project – Innovation reward ground-breaking developments in products, materials and ways of working which changes future practices.
- Best Project – Sustainability highlights initiatives by teams to integrate sustainable practices at any stage of the project lifecycle (strategy, planning, design, construction and handover), including its environmental, social, and economic aspects.
- Best Project - Asset Resilience highlights a project's effectiveness in preserving infrastructure against climate challenges, ensuring safety, optimising efficiency, and its contribution to the long-term sustainability of the asset portfolio.
- Team of the Year recognise teams that have collaborated and showcased excellence in project management.
People categories
- Rising star of the year will honour individuals who have demonstrated integrity and professionalism in their employment and voluntary activities.
- Mentor of the year will appreciate a mentor who has guided and supported their mentees, along with their impact on professional growth and contributions to the wider community.
- Gather your information
Please refer to the nominations criteria and brochure for more information on submitting an entry to ensure you share all relevant information. Please submit all required documents and information as incomplete entries may be null and void.- Best Project – Small (under £5m) entry form
- Best Project – Large (over £5m) entry form
- Best Project – Innovation entry form
- Best Project – Sustainability entry form
- Best Project - Asset Resilience entry form
- Team of the Year entry form
- Rising Star of the Year entry form
- Mentor of the Year entry form
- Pay for your entry by the closing date of midday on Friday 22 May 2026.
All project entries cost £250 excl. VAT to enter – pay now.
Please note there is no fee for entering the People Awards or for academic institutions that wish to submit entries. - Submit your entry via WeTransfer and email link to [email protected] by midday on Friday 22 May 2026.
2026 awards sponsors
Headline sponsor
VEDA
Bringing together engineering excellence, technical expertise, diverse perspectives and innovative solutions across broad range of disciplines.
Category sponsors
MHB Consultants
We are an engineering design consultancy specialising bridges, geotechnical, temporary works, land surveying and land quality services.
Tony Gee
Design engineering that anticipates challenges and reveals possibilities; balancing the needs of industry, society and environment equally.
Cordek
Specialists in providing technical solutions for a range of construction requirements.
Kilnbridge
Kilnbridge is the UK's leading structure specialist.
TYPSA
TYPSA is an independent consulting and engineering services group, and a leader in infrastructure, energy, environmental and city solutions.
Could you be our next awards sponsor?
With local representation and multiple options from single award through to headline sponsor for all 12 regions, we have a sponsorship package tailored to you. Get in touch with the team today.
Our 2025 awards winners
Our awards are split into two main categories, projects and people. See all our winners below.
Project awards
Best Infrastructure Project – Small (under £5m)
Cox’s Walk Footbridge Refurbishment
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Cox’s Walk Footbridge Refurbishment
Cox’s Walk Footbridge is located in a densely wooded area in Sydenham Hill Wood, in the London Borough of Southwark.
The footbridge was originally constructed in 1865 to allow users to cross over the now disused Crystal Palace High Level Railway to Nunhead.
The superstructure consists of precast concrete slab panels supported by 3 longitudinal steel beams braced by transverse steel beams.
The deck is approximately 26.8m long and 3.0m wide. Prior to the refurbishment works, the footbridge was a 3- span structure supported by 2 masonry abutments and 2 masonry piers.
Best Infrastructure Project – Large (over £5m)
Silvertown Tunnel - Riverlinx
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Silvertown tunnel – Linx
The Silvertown Tunnel project in London, managed by TfL, Riverlinx CJV & SPV, involves constructing a twin-bore road tunnel connecting the Greenwich Peninsula and Silvertown.
It aims to address the need for an east-west connection across the River Thames, thereby improving traffic flow and reducing congestion.
This vital infrastructure project is designed to alleviate pressure on the existing Blackwall Tunnel and provide a more sustainable transport solution for the area.
Best Project – Sustainability
The Thames Tideway Tunnel
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The Thames Tideway Tunnel
The Tideway project is the UK’s single greatest intervention to tackle sewage pollution.
The Thames Tideway Tunnel, London’s ‘super sewer’, will dramatically improve water quality in the tidal Thames and provide critical infrastructure for the capital’s future resilience.
The infrastructure has now been constructed and is being commissioned.
By June 2025 it had intercepted more than 7.1m tonnes of sewage.
Construction of the 25km-long, 7.2m diameter tunnel, with worksites in 14 London boroughs, started in 2016. More than 25,000 people have worked on the project since construction began in 2016.
Best Project – Asset Resilience
The Sutton Estate regeneration
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The Sutton Estate regeneration
The refurbishment of four historic residential blocks within Chelsea’s Sutton Estate is an outstanding example of retrofit, urban regeneration and estate renewal at one of the country’s oldest purpose-built social housing developments, delivered by a collaboration of Civic Engineers, HTA and Durkan for Clarion Housing Group.
The project has delivered modern, sustainable social housing while respecting conservation area context and improving estate-wide drainage, green space and accessibility.
Best Infrastructure Project – Large (over £5m)
Silvertown Tunnel - Riverlinx
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Silvertown tunnel – Linx
The Silvertown Tunnel project in London, managed by TfL, Riverlinx CJV & SPV, involves constructing a twin-bore road tunnel connecting the Greenwich Peninsula and Silvertown.
It aims to address the need for an east-west connection across the River Thames, thereby improving traffic flow and reducing congestion.
This vital infrastructure project is designed to alleviate pressure on the existing Blackwall Tunnel and provide a more sustainable transport solution for the area.
People awards
Rising Star of the Year Award
Joshua Mason
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Rising Star of the Year Award
As a passionate civil engineer and STEM Ambassador, Joshua has demonstrated integrity, professionalism, and commitment to inspiring the next generation of engineers.
His work spans professional achievements, voluntary activities, and initiatives that create inclusive and innovative environments.
He actively promotes civil engineering through outreach events such as the Engineering Your Future conference, where he spoke on behalf of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) to inspire 100 Year 12/13 students.
As the STEM Lead for ICE Early Careers Network London in 2024, he collaborated with institutions such as the IMechE and IET to deliver STEM activities across the region and encouraged students and graduates to join as STEM Ambassadors.
His contributions were recognised in 2024 when he was nominated for the Morgan Sindall Group Rising Star Award within BakerHicks.
Mentor of the Year Award
John Ubaldo
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Mentor of the Year Award
John Ubaldo is an exceptional mentor whose tireless commitment to developing the next generation of civil engineers has had a profound and lasting impact on the industry.
Over the past 8 years, John has been instrumental in shaping the professional development of hundreds of aspiring engineers through his work with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and Transport for London (TfL).
Particularly in the formation and delivery of the TfL Level 3 Civil Engineering Apprenticeship scheme from 2018 - 2020 and the TfL Level 6 Civil Engineering Apprenticeship Scheme from 2018 – present, with the later scheme currently supporting 20 apprentices to become Incorporated Engineers with the ICE.
London STEM Ambassador of the Year 2025
Our winner
This award celebrates exceptional volunteers for their commitment to inspiring the next generation of civil engineers.
Meet our London Ambassador of the Year 2025: Eleni Price!
It all started with a simple activity at her kids' nursery.
Now? She's reached over 1,250 students with her brilliant hands-on approach to engineering.
From nursery visits to secondary school placements, Eleni is breaking down barriers and showing students from all backgrounds that engineering is within their reach. Congratulations, Eleni!
Eleni Price, London STEM Ambassador of the Year 2025