Rachel Piper

We asked Rachel…

I would recommend a career in civil engineering because…

Whether you're part of the design, build or maintenance of the world around us, it's incredibly rewarding being able to say "I was part of the team that delivered that".

You feel like you're able to leave a positive legacy behind.

It's also an amazing feeling knowing that you're delivering projects that are making a real difference to people’s lives.

Whether that’s building a hospital to treat thousands of people, a nuclear power station that will provide greener electricity to millions of homes or better transport links that make it quicker and easier for people to travel from A to B.

Complete this phrase: I’m a civil engineer, but I’m also…

A sports woman and musician!

I enjoy playing golf and badminton in my free time as well as singing in a choir.

Actually, if I hadn’t become a civil engineer, I wanted to be an opera singer. Believe it or not, I have performed at the Royal Albert Hall and even recorded at Abbey Road Studios!

Name one civil engineering myth you’d like to bust.

That civil engineering is just for men! There are so many trailblazing female civil engineers in this profession.

I love volunteering as a STEM Ambassador encouraging more girls to enter the industry when they’re older.

How does your role contribute to addressing climate change?

Some of the projects I've been part of delivering will make a really big positive difference to climate change.

For example, the new nuclear power station, Hinkley Point C, once live will provide zero-carbon electricity to approximately six million homes.

I have also conducted inspections and assessments on existing bridges, some of which have been hundreds of years old.

By providing recommendations to increase their longevity, this enables us to save a lot more carbon than knocking down these crossings and building new ones.

How does your role contribute to making the industry more diverse and inclusive?

I've taken an active role in encouraging more young people, especially girls, into the industry through my work as an ICE STEM Ambassador.

I've volunteered approximately 750 hours introducing more than 40,000 young people to the world of civil engineering.

I'm also trying to make the industry more inclusive, through my role on the ICE Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Committee. Also within WSP, where I've particularly focused on ways that we can improve retention to ensure we have the people we need to deliver the projects of tomorrow.

Which civil engineering project (past or present) do you wish you’d worked on?

I would’ve loved to have been part of the construction team for the Bazalgette sewer system in London.

The sewer system helped to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in London by eliminating cholera and reducing the number of typhus and typhoid epidemics in the city. It would’ve made it extremely rewarding to have been part of the construction team.

Has civil engineering helped you overcome any personal hurdles/difficulties?

Yes, definitely! I think due to solving problems and overcoming problems on a daily basis as a civil engineer, it makes you more resilient to overcome any challenges in your personal life too!  

What motivated you, or is motivating you, to become professionally qualified? 

I found the chartership process a great way to become a well-rounded civil engineer.

The different attributes are like a toolbox, and it's a great guide to help you get the experience you need, putting your learning from university into practice to become a really great civil engineer.

What does being professionally qualified with the ICE mean for your career?  

Becoming professionally qualified has given me more confidence as a civil engineer and has enabled my career to accelerate.

I've gained promotions and taken on roles with more responsibility, which has allowed me to develop further in the industry.

How has being a member helped your career? 

My ICE membership has helped me in so many ways and enabled me to become the civil engineer I am today.

My ICE QUEST scholarship as a student member allowed me to gain invaluable experience and really understand how projects are built and delivered.

My year as an ICE President’s Future Leader in 2022-2023, as a graduate member, enabled me to get a greater insight into the running of the institution and make a wider impact to the industry.

For example, by becoming part of the Fairness Inclusion and Respect Committee and launching the institution’s first ever sexual harassment survey and use the findings to drive real change across the profession. 

As a chartered member, I have continued to volunteer across various ICE committees, including in my own region in south-west England.

I've since become a delegated and supervising civil engineer, helping seven mentees to progress through their own membership journey with the institution which is incredibly rewarding.

Becoming a Fellow was a real honour and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the institution and being able to drive positive change across the industry.

How has achieving Fellowship changed your career?

Becoming at Fellow of the ICE is one of my proudest achievements to date, and it has been incredible to have so many other members of the institution reach out to find out more about the Fellowship process and consider becoming ICE Fellows themselves.

Gaining Fellowship, not only for my volunteering work, but also for my role in delivering major projects, has given me further confidence in my own ability as a civil engineer.

What’s the biggest/most complex thing you’ve made out of Lego? How long did it take you?

I think the most complex thing I’ve made out of Lego was a castle, when I was growing up. I think I spent numerous rainy weekends in the winter building it!  

Any personal causes or hobbies?

I enjoy volunteering as a STEM Ambassador and encouraging young people into our amazing industry.

I also enjoy travelling and seeing different parts of the world as well as spending time with my husband, family and friends.