ICE Connects: Women in leadership

Anne Kerr

Dr Anne Kerr has held a range of senior roles within Mott MacDonald, including Managing Director for Greater China, Asia Director for Growth, and Global Head of Cities. She has over 35 years of professional experience gained through work in more than 30 countries. Anne is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the ICE. She is a Council Member (General) for 2025–2028 and has been appointed to the Nominations Committee. Anne served as Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong from 2022 to 2024. She also spent eight years on the European Chamber of Commerce Board as an Alternate Director and has been an Ex-officio Member of both the China-British Business Council and the Hong Kong Association, all in connection with her Chamber of Commerce involvement.

Jennifer Stables FICE

Jennifer is an associate director with AECOM in Qatar, having transitioned from the AECOM UK business in 2013. She is a Chartered Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), a Grade A registered Engineer with MME Qatar, a PMP and Prince 2 Qualified Project Manager and holds a Masters in civil, Structural and environmental engineering from the University of Cambridge. Jennifer was recognized in the top 50 women engineers under 35 by WES and the Telegraph newspaper in 2017, was the winner of the Qatar UK Alumni Science and Sustainability Award in 2021 and was shortlisted for the 2022 Middle East Consultant awards Woman in Construction Professional of the Year. She is the current president of the Cambridge Society of Qatar and the country representative and chair of the ICE Qatar Committee. 

Smita Sawdadkar

Smita Sawdadkar is the ICE Representative for the India Bangalore Region.

Smita is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Fellow of the ICE. In her role as delivery head at AtkinsRéalis, she has spearheaded critical projects, demonstrating her ability to drive complex engineering solutions innovatively and inspire her team towards excellence.

Smita serves as the ICE regional representative for Bengaluru region. In this role, she leads initiatives to promote professional development and collaboration amongst engineers, reinforcing her commitment to nurturing talent and fostering community within the engineering profession. Her contributions have garnered accolades including the Amazon International Inspiration Awards and the Atkins Technical Leadership Award, highlighting her influence and impact on the engineering community. She earned the title of one of India’s Top Future 100 Leaders underscoring her passion and ability to shape the future of the industry. 

Melinda Lutton

Melinda is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Fellow of the ICE. In her role as Assistant Operation Manager at Tonkin in Adelaide, South Australia, she provides leadership across project delivery, risk management, and operational performance.

As a Principal Civil Engineer her expertise lies in designing sustainable floodplain infrastructure, optimising flood and stormwater management solutions, and wastewater treatment and collection. She champions diversity and inclusion, fostering a collaborative work environment. Beyond her technical skills, Melinda is a Fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and Engineers Australia and takes every opportunity to mentor and inspire engineers.

Melinda is Chair of the ICE Australasia Committee, which engages our local members, and also plays a role in helping to increase the profile of civil engineering. She is also a Policy Fellow with ICE, where she is engaged in helping to influence industry guidelines and promote sustainable practices. Overall, Melinda is still delighted with her choice of Civil Engineering as a career, spanning 35 years.