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Dame Dervilla Mary Mitchell DBE FREng FIEI (born August 1958) is an Irish engineer and a director and joint deputy chair of Arup Group. She led the management of the design for London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5, and as of 2019 was project director for Arup for a 2-billion dollar airport terminal development in Abu Dhabi. She is a Fellow of two national engineering academies, and the holder of an Honorary CBE.

Early life and education

Mitchell was born in August 1958 and grew up in Dublin, Ireland. Her father Thomas Austin was an architect, and her grandfather Tony Woods and three of her uncles were engineers. She was educated at Pembroke School and St Conleth's College. She gained a degree in Civil Engineering from University College Dublin in 1980, and later a Diploma in Project Management from Trinity College Dublin.

Career

Mitchell joined Arup Group in Dublin after graduating. She moved to Massachusetts in 1984 to work with Weidlinger Associates and then returned to Arup's London office in 1986. She has worked on projects including Portcullis House at Westminster, Action Stations for the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, the London 2012 Olympic Village, and Heathrow Terminal 5 where she was Head of Design Management for the project. Mitchell joined the board of Arup in 2014 and was then described as "the most senior female in the business". In 2017 she became Chair of Arup's UK, India, Middle East and Africa (UKIMEA) Region, and in 2021 joint deputy chair of Arup Group.

Recognition

Mitchell is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland, and a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering. In 2014, she was appointed an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) - honorary because she is not a British or Commonwealth citizen. In 2016, University College Dublin awarded her an honorary Doctorate of Science. In 2020, she was awarded the RAEng President's medal.

Personal life

Mitchell is married and has three children, has been a local school governor, and enjoys cycling. She lives in Fulham.

References

1. ^ "Leading engineer receives honorary CBE". Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
2. ^ "Dervilla Mitchell B.E, FREng, FIEI, FICE". Irish Life and Lore. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
3. ^ "Dervilla Mitchell CBE". Celebrating leading women in engineering. Royal Academy of Engineering. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
4. ^ Adlington, Kate (31 March 2021). "Arup Group board welcomes new members, with Dervilla Mitchell CBE becoming Joint Deputy Chair". Arup. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
5. ^ "Dervilla Mitchell". Women's Engineering Society. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
6. ^ "UCD honours chartered engineer and 'exceptional role model' for women in engineering". Engineers Ireland. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
7. ^ Armitage, Jim (19 August 2023). "Engineering's not all oily rags and factories — it's about helping to save the planet". The Sunday Times. she grew up in a Georgian townhouse in central Dublin ... Born: August 1958 ... School: Pembroke School and St Conleth's College, both in Dublin ... Home: Fulham, London
8. Oliver, Anthony (15 December 2014). "Interview: Dervilla Mitchell, Arup director and the most senior female in its business". Infrastructure Intelligence. Association for Consultancy and Engineering. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
9. "Arup appoints Dervilla Mitchell Chair of UK, Middle East and Africa". Consultancy.uk. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
10. "Dervilla Mitchell". Our firm. Arup. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
11. "Irish Academy of Engineering Full Membership List". Irish Academy of Engineering. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
12. "UCD honours "exceptional role model" for women in engineering". University College Dublin. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
13. "The Royal Academy of Engineering has announced 16 winners of its 2020 medals and awards". Retrieved 14 September 2020.

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