Dr Jean Venables

Making history. It’s something very few people can claim to have done, but 2018 honorary graduate Dr Jean Venables did exactly that when she became the first woman to be elected president of the Institute of Civil Engineers.

When you look back at her career, it’s pretty clear how she got to that point.

Jean’s a leading consultant in flood risk and water level management programmes, and has worked on numerous key projects.

She’s a member of the RNLI Council and Technical Committee, Vice President of the Association of Drainage Authorities and a member of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Education and Skills and International committees.

Jean was awarded an MBE in 1997, an OBE in 2004 and was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2010 Birthday Honours list.