Ward & Burke Construction engineer wins 30th anniversary James Rennie Medal

Liam Eagle, engineer at Ward & Burke Construction, has won the 30th James Rennie Medal.

The award recognises the best Chartered Professional Review (CPR) candidate of the year.

Eagle presented on his role as the engineering design lead on a £13m United Utilities scheme to connect two sewer overflows and reduce spills into Bradshaw Brook in Bolton.

It won him the medal and the £1,000 prize.

A ‘phenomenal’ standard

Eagle was shortlisted for the prize alongside two other candidates deemed to have shown exceptional qualities in their CPR last year:

• James Wright, senior structural engineer at AECOM, who presented on his role delivering the 2023 Serpentine Pavilion, a communal and events space in London's Kensington Gardens; and
• Jack Roberts, senior geotechnical engineer at Mott MacDonald Spain, who talked about his experience working around the world and his voluntary role as project manager for the Kisaro Suspension Bridge development in Rwanda.

At a competitive final at the ICE’s One Great George Street headquarters hosted by ICE President David Porter, the three engineers presented their CPR reports.

This was followed by an engaging question-and-answer session with the audience and panel of industry experts.

Olivia Perkins, chair of the 2026 James Rennie judging panel reflected on the evening: “The standard of the presentations this year was phenomenal. The variety of topics we covered was fabulous.

“Liam was chosen as this year’s winner due to the breadth and depth of knowledge he showed in terms of delivering an engineering project,” she said.

“He really showed from cradle to grave the thought of design, through to construction, and through to that long term purpose of the product.”

Celebrating 30 years of the James Rennie Medal

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the James Rennie Medal, making the final a significant milestone for the award.

First held in 1996, the medal aims to promote awareness of the role of newly professionally qualified Chartered Engineers involved in the civil engineering world.

James Rennie was a well-known civil engineer. He passionately believed that to work in civil engineering you need in-depth and thorough training.

The award celebrates Rennie's commitment to training young engineers and encouraging them to become ICE members.

Perkins, winner of the 2016 James Rennie Medal, said of the award: “It’s so special because it really does celebrate that enthusiasm that individuals have at the early stages of their career…that thirst for knowledge, that desire to learn, but also to share that knowledge.

“Something that was really expressed this year, was how individuals shared and passed on that knowledge, from not only between their peer group, but to future generations, and it really represents the values of James Rennie himself.”

This year’s final was sponsored by Arup, Aureos, BAM Nuttall, Kier, Skanska and Tony Gee.

Looking to become professionally qualified?

The James Rennie Medal celebrates the role of newly chartered engineers, including CPR and CPR (Progressive) candidates.

The CPR (Progressive) route is for candidates who have already passed an Incorporated Professional Review and are aiming to become chartered.

The ICE's professional qualifications for civil engineers, infrastructure engineers and technicians command respect.

Those aiming to become professionally qualified who need advice on next steps should contact the ICE's membership support team for help.

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