COWI appoints new Regional Director for Scotland

Eva MacInnes appointed as Regional Director for Scotland.    

Following her promotion, Eva joins the UK Tunnels Leadership Team with responsibility for the performance of the Scottish business.

COWI UK Tunnels Executive Director Andy Sloan commented: "Eva was the stand-out candidate so I'm delighted that she has agreed to step into the role. She has displayed first-class technical and project management skills since joining us in 2013, receiving consistently great feedback from clients and contractors. I am therefore confident Eva will excel in this important role."

Eva commented: "I am delighted to be given the role of Regional Director for Scotland and feel fortunate to have the support of experienced colleagues across the UK while taking on this new challenge.  

"I'm looking forward to further developing my engineering experience, based in the Glasgow office, while continuing to work with a great team of people.  This opportunity has come at an exciting time as we continue to progress COWI UK's ambitious 2020 growth strategy and I'm eager to get started."

Eva succeeds Martyn Smith who has decided to step-down as Regional Director and remain with COWI as a Technical Director.

Andy Sloan commented: "I would like to thank Martyn for his work in growing our business in Scotland. He has vast hard rock tunnelling experience and I am pleased that he is staying on in a technical leadership and mentoring role."

Outstanding technical skills

Since joining COWI, Eva has demonstrated outstanding technical and leadership skills on a variety of engineering challenges.

She has coordinated the design of a 40m-deep vertical shaft for the Thames Tideway Tunnel, London's new super sewer, and led the remediation of a 40m-high slope that was threatening the safe operation of the West Coast Mainline.

For the past four years, Eva has managed COWI's partnership with railway contractor QTS and Network Rail, overseeing the development of geotechnical solutions for 60 sites across the Scottish rail network including those at risk of adverse weather, coastal protection, soil and rock remediation works.

Valuing diversity

COWI actively encourages diversity within its workforce.

Head of HR in the UK Michelle Bridgwood commented: "Currently only 9% of engineers in the UK are female which means there is a huge pool of talent our industry is missing out on. If we are going to encourage more women into engineering, it's important for them to see role models they can relate to in leadership positions, so I am delighted that Eva's exceptional performance and potential has been recognised and she has joined the management team."

Engineer of choice

COWI is the engineer of choice for the UK's major infrastructure projects including the Lower Thames Crossing, Crossrail, High Speed 2 (phase 1 packages C2 and C3) and the Mersey Gateway Bridge.

In the UK, COWI provides civil, structural and geotechnical engineering advice, specialising in the design and maintenance of bridges, tunnels and marine structures.

COWI's Glasgow office – its largest UK office outside London - specialises in geotechnical engineering and provides expert advice to the railway, highway, utilities and energy sectors.