Sarah Buck

Sarah Buck (born January 3, 1953) is an English structural and civil engineer and business woman with a successful career in engineering and construction. In 2007-09 Sarah was the 88th President, and first Lady President, of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the leading professional body for structural engineers worldwide.

A career in engineering

Sarah was the first pupil to study engineering from Stafford Girls High School. She achieved First Class Honours from University of Exeter in 1971 which was followed by a year of post graduate research in medical engineering in 1974. She became a Chartered Civil Engineer (Member) in 1980 and a Chartered Structural Engineer in 1982 (Member, and Fellow in 1997).

She started her own business as a sole trader 1993, and then co-founded BSW Consulting in 1996 based in Exeter, where she is currently a director, expanding the business over the past 11 years. She has been involved in the design and supervision of a wide range of civil and structural projects over her 30 year career, developing an interest in historic structures and sustainable construction. BSW currently has a sustainability initiative to make their office carbon-neutral.

Sarah’s recent projects have included the new Children's Hospice near Bristol, a major study and remedial works at Mullion Harbour in Cornwall, a major refurbishment of a listed building and extensions to many schools. Other projects have included schools, flats, offices, leisure centres, hotels, banks, airports, drainage schemes and land fill sites. Whilst most of her work has been based around the UK’s South West, there have also been several overseas projects including Mmabtho Airport in Southern Africa, a new 15km long sewerage scheme for Negril in Jamaica, and roads in Southern Africa.

Qualifications

• BSc(Hons), Bachelor of Science, First Class Honours, Exeter University

• CEng, Chartered Engineer

Professional affiliations

• Fellow, Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)

• Member, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

Awards

• Lewis Kent Award 2001 – one of IStructE’s major annual awards presented for personal services to the Institution or profession.

• Atkins Inspire Awards 2007 - winner of the Civil Engineer Outstanding Achiever Award

Career Profile

1996 to date – BSW Consulting, Exeter

1993 to 1996 – Bolgar Sykes White (BSW), Torquay

1980 to 1993 – John Burrow and Partners (DHV from 1991), Exeter

1976 to 1980 – Teignbridge District Council, Newton Abbot

1975 to 1976 – Freeman Fox & Partners, Exeter

Working to improve the industry

Sarah has long been an active member of the structural engineering profession. She was elected as the first woman Council member of IStructE in 1983, and is a past chairman of the Devon and Cornwall branch. She was awarded IStructE’s Lewis Kent Award in 2001 which is awarded for personal services by a member to the Institution or the profession. She also played a key role in introducing the new membership grade of Technician (launched in February 2007) and the Institution’s first business plan. She was appointed President of IStructE on Thursday 4 October 2007 and was the first woman to be elected to this position.

Sarah is also involved in the wider construction industry. She is a member of South West Women in Construction, who actively promote construction as a career for girls, and is a past member of the civil engineering advisory board of Exeter College, Exeter.

External links

• Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)
• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
• BSW Consulting, Exeter

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Name	Buck, Sarah
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Date of birth	January 3, 1953
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