< Previous10 MEP Middle East | March 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com WOMEN IN MEP The MEP sector within the broader Middle East construction industry is taking small, but notable steps in the right direction. While the sector has made tangible strides in its gradual adoption of technology and its focus on energy effi ciency, the fact remains that it still has a long road ahead in terms of inclusion, diversity, and creating a conducive environment for women to prove their mettle. It’s true that the industry has seen women being hired in senior positions, has witnessed better job opportunities for young female talent, and has opened its mind to deploying women engineers on-site, but it’s also true that pervasive gender stereotypes, stigmas, and systemic biases remain. This not only restricts meritorious individuals from reaching their true potential, but also stems the growth of the industry. Speaking exclusively to MEP Middle East, a number of women in leadership positions shared their insights on representation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, gender inclusion, diversity, female enrolment, opportunities in the workplace, and avenues for growth. Rabia Danyal, an electrical engineer at Arcadis Middle East, says: “Today, there are more women interested in pursuing STEM education than ever before. However, there is still a prevailing gendered assumption that technical roles such as engineering are better suited for men because they are more equipped to handle the physical and mental demands of such roles.” Research shared by Heriot-Watt University Dubai shows that 46% of engineering students in the UAE are female, and yet female participation specifi cally in manufacturing- and construction-related courses have been historically low. “My observation has been that these female students are hardworking, and in many cases, they actually outperform male students. Unfortunately, they don’t always join the workforce,” says Dr Evangelia Topriska, assistant professor of Building Services Engineering at Heriott-Watt University Dubai. Devi Grishma Narayan, a PMP certifi ed electrical engineer and a University of Manchester alumna, agrees: “A large percentage of female engineering graduates do not enter the workforce or they drop out of their engineering roles “We have seen progress … we still have some way to go” Leading voices within the MEP sector talk about female representation in STEM education, gender inclusion, diversity, female enrolment, opportunities in the workplace, avenues for growth, and more by MEP Middle East editor, Anup OommenMarch 2021 | MEP Middle East 11 www.mepmiddleeast.com WOMEN IN MEP after a few years. As a result, the numbers of women in ‘lead engineer’ or ‘discipline specialist’ positions are considerably lower than they could be.” At Heriot-Watt University Dubai, female representation in building services courses has climbed to between 80% and 90%. Although male participation in traditional engineering streams is much higher, in other streams such as architectural engineering, sustainability, and the built environment, more women have begun to show interest. Yet, in a recent podcast with MEP Middle East’s sister-title Construction Week, the senior structural engineer at multi-disciplinary consultancy WME, Vanja Dimitrijevic, advised caution while transitioning the conversation from STEM representation to female enrolment. Dimitrijevic says: “Some companies are incorporating gender diversity at the workplace as a result of a certain pressure to reach numbers. If we don’t change this perspective, I’m afraid we will be hiring women and giving them opportunities within the industry only for the sake of doing so.” The industry is now demanding a more nuanced discussion on re-inventing gender diversity, adopting inclusive policies, and implementing best practices to empower women in the workplace. Omnia Halawani, the director and co-founder of GRFN, says: “I have never been a believer in quotas alone to enhance gender diversity. It must be coupled with minimum competencies and fair competition. “I honestly do not see, at today’s age of awareness, that women face signifi cant challenges to enter the construction market. The challenges arise more at mid-career with returns after career breaks.” Sharing her personal experience of often being the only woman within the room, Ghida Kaddah, the mechanical design manager at Khatib & Alami, says: “Clearly, this is a very male-oriented industry, and even today, people are often surprised when I tell them I’m a mechanical engineer. It’s not seen as a feminine job, but in my experience it can be helpful being the only woman in the room. “In the construction industry, women bring diverse ideas and attitudes which allow for an improvement in the dynamic of an all-male environment.” Moving from the boardroom to the construction site, disparities remain palpable. Women engineers continue to face obstacles and constraints even in terms of expectations and equipment. Ehsan Otaibah, the commercial manager at James L Williams Middle East, explains: “While working on-site, women struggle to get PPE which fi t them – even things as basic as safety shoes, helmets, and vests – an issue which I have personally struggled with. PPE should be designed to fi t both genders. “In addition, some employers tend to expect less from women than men on- site, due to the incorrect perception that women lack the capability and strength to cope with the pressure of construction work.” Clearly, the challenge facing the MEP sector – and the construction industry as a whole – is not limited to attracting more women into the engineering fi eld, but rather to sustain an encouraging and healthy environment for all competent employees to thrive, irrespective of gender. Commenting on how this can be achieved, Shaheen Shaikh, a fi nancial and commercial executive who has worked at Voltas for more than 12 years, says: “While living in a so-called “man’s world” and working in “a profession dominated by men”, where lighter value jobs usually fall in the kitty of women, it’s been a challenge to break such stereotypes. “What we need today is encouragement from our families to take up such challenging career options; exposure at the high school-level about such career options available to women; mentors coming forward to infl uence and support young women to choose such fi elds; a secure and safe environment for women to contribute and explore their potential. Shaikh adds: “We need gender neutral opportunities and recognition to scale these dizzying heights.” Hope is not lost. While the industry might yet have miles to go before it can claim progress, every step forward is a step in the right direction. The MEP sector is beginning to recognise the need for equity in the workforce – the importance for opportunities to be based on skills and experience rather than gender. Community awareness initiatives are taking shape, along with apprenticeship and mentorship programmes that aim to provide equal opportunities while grooming future leaders. Farah Yassine, the Sustainable Resource Management Services Lead at WSP Middle East and vice chair for the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), concludes: “When I fi rst embarked on my career journey, I was amazed by the lack of bold female voices and representation in the region’s construction and engineering sector. “Fast-forward the clock to 2021 and this trend is starting to shift. However, progress is slow and I strongly believe more work needs to be done to encourage future female talent into sustainability and engineering roles.” “Women bring diverse ideas and attitudes which allow for an improvement in the dynamic of an all-male environment”12 MEP Middle East | March 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com WOMEN IN MEP Phillipa Grant, Partner at AESG Nivine Issa is a partner at AESG and the global director of environment. She graduated from the Kingston University of London with a Masters in Sustainable Environmental Development. Issa also directs AESG’s business development efforts in KSA and has been instrumental to the company’s growth in the kingdom. Nivine Issa & Phillipa Grant Nivine Issa, Partner at AESG With a combined environmental and sustainable development educational background and experience, having worked for a regional consulting fi rm and the United Nations Development Programme prior to joining AESG, Issa’s projects portfolio varies between government advisory projects, environmental policy, environmental impact assessment, and waste management design studies on a multitude of projects throughout the region varying from commercial, marine, and offshore developments, to industrial, utilities, and infrastructure. Nivine Issa manages a team of environmental engineers, ecologists, certifi ed environmental auditors, GIS planners and environmental modelling experts at AESG who together deliver in-house environmental and waste engineering services. Phillipa Grant is a partner at AESG and the global director of Sustainability. Grant graduated from the University of Nottingham in the UK with a fi rst-class honours Masters of Environmental Engineering degree. Having worked on some of the most complex and prestigious sustainability projects in AESG’s portfolio, including the development and implementation of Dubai’s Demand Side Management programmes and multiple pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai, Grant has gained a broad and thorough understanding of the energy and sustainability sector, both locally and internationally, and is passionate about furthering the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Grant leads all of AESG’s energy and sustainability related strategic advisory projects, including the development of government policies and programmes as well as sustainable development guidelines for low income housing. “The design and engineering industry is not static, and therefore there will always be room for improvement as the market evolves and adapts in response to new social, environmental, and economic challenges. The MEP industry must become more agile to respond to these challenges, all of which have been amplifi ed by recent events,” Grant says. “It is more important than ever for us to develop new, innovative approaches to MEP design to address the climate emergency and to work towards a net- zero future. In order to achieve the Paris agreement targets, all industries and sectors will need to revisit business as usual and adopt new approaches.” Grant adds: “The MEP industry has a signifi cant impact on the operational energy associated with buildings, and therefore the understanding of alternative approaches to new-build design and retrofi t will be critical to reduce our energy consumption.” “It is more important than ever for us to develop new, innovative approaches to MEP design to address the climate emergency and to work towards a net-zero future “The MEP industry must become more agile to respond to challenges, all of which have been amplifi ed by recent eventsMarch 2021 | MEP Middle East 13 www.mepmiddleeast.com WOMEN IN MEP Cathy Christer Ehsan Al Otaibah Cathy Christer, Director - MEP at AECOM Cathy Christer is a chartered building services engineer, a member of both CIBSE and AHSRAE, and has 26 years of experience in design consultancy experience. After graduating from Bath University in the UK, she began her engineering career with Atkins on the Burj Al Arab Hotel development in Dubai. Since then, she has worked on many projects in both the UK and the Middle East, designing high-rise, major mixed-use developments, hotels, and education facilities, progressing to her current role as the Director - MEP, AECOM. Cathy has a hands-on approach to design and really enjoys working with the highly experienced AECOM Team. Commenting on sustainability, Christer says: “I believe that it is our duty as designers to ensure that our resources are used in the best way possible. At AECOM, the environment, sustainability, The commercial manager at James L Williams Middle East, Ehsan Al Otaibah, has a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Beirut Arab University, and a master’s degree in Construction Law and Arbitration from Roberts Gordon University. and governance, are at the core of our business. I love to see real integration of sustainability practices into building design and believe that this should be the norm – that the design is analysed and assessed from the initial stages to ensure the best use of energy, materials, and water throughout the whole building life cycle.” Christer adds: “We can certainly now harness automation, parametric design techniques, and intelligent modelling to design hugely sustainable buildings that are totally bespoke to their specifi c climate, location, and use. “Harnessing digital design techniques ensures that early stage design options can be quickly analysed to understand the impact on energy consumption of building orientation, location, and size of windows; the type and weight of fabric; and to enable the optimal approach for the building to be established.” Al Otaibah has been a member of the Charted Institute of Arbitration since 2019 and started her career as an Electrical site Design Engineer. Following this, she worked as a Contract Administrator and Quantity Surveyor for more than a decade. She has represented companies from a client’s position, as a consultant, and has also worked in subordinate capacities for all related commercial and contractual key result areas. Commenting on the changes that she would like to see within the MEP industry, Al Otaibah says: “The opportunities for candidates within this sector should not be based on their gender, but rather based on their skill and experience, and as such, companies should take affi rmative steps to include more women in this fi eld. “It’s important to shed light and awareness on the importance of gender balance within the MEP sector. Where and when possible, companies should participate in apprenticeship programmes, internship programmes, and partner with schools across the world to bring women into the workforce. Mentorship programmes could groom women to become more effi cient leaders.” Ehsan Al Otaibah, Commercial Manager at JLW ME “ Opportunities for candidates within this sector should not be based on their gender, but rather based on their skill and experience and as such, companies should take affi rmative steps to include more women in this fi eld14 MEP Middle East | March 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com WOMEN IN MEP Shaheen Shaikh is a fi nancial and commercial executive who has been associated with Voltas since 1992. Sharing her thoughts on breaking the stereotypes of gender diversity, Shaikh says: “Voltas has always been ahead Shaheen Shaikh Shaheen Shaikh, Financial and Commercial Executive at Voltas of the times. The fi rm has encouraged their women employees and empowered them to believe in themselves. Voltas has motivated them to put their best foot forward. She adds: “The Finance Support team has perfectly knitted itself with the Voltas Business Strategies, working together – irrespective of the gender – at even remote project sites as one team.” Shaikh has called for families and educational institutions to encourage women to take up career options within the MEP sector, and points to an increased need for the industry to create a secure and safe environment for women to contribute and explore their potential. “The core message for international women’s day in 2020 was ‘An equal world is an enabled world’. This message couldn’t be truer,” Shaikh says. “One of the biggest challenges that women all around the world face is the stereotypes attached to the gender. To manifest creative and effective solutions for a challenging business environment, diversity is key, and we the ‘Women of Steel’ are here to make our time worthwhile and generate work of substance.” “ To manifest creative and effective solutions for a challenging business environment, diversity is key, and we the ‘Women of Steel’ are here to make our time worthwhile and generate work of substance Voltas’ “Women of Steel” First row, from left: Purnima Soanes; Lennette Mendoza; Maria Fe Gonzales; Gina Espiritu; Manal Al-Balushi; Naima Al-Balushi; Mar yam Mohammed; Manahel Second row, from left: Aishwar ya Sur yawanshi; Dony John; Maricel Arza; Sucheta Sucharita; Mooza Al Mawa’li; Geonzon Judith Abella; Suhaila Omar; Pinal Chaudhari Third row, from left: Danica Valois; Rubeni Arivazhagan; Kruti Archar ya; Kavya Barlapudi; Jamelyn BalaseMarch 2021 | MEP Middle East 15 www.mepmiddleeast.com WOMEN IN MEP Omnia Halawani Ghida Kaddah Omnia Halawani, Co-Founder, GRFN Omnia Halawani co-founded GRFN as a multidisciplinary consultancy with a mission to realise clients’ visions while sustaining the built environment through progressive, functional, and lucrative environmentally- conscious engineering and design solutions for sustainable built environments that serve the well-being of communities. The fi rm is driven by advanced engineering practices and innovative approaches and embeds environmental and social sustainability as integral to the operational model by embracing UN SDGs that align with the fi rm’s core activities in each and every project. Halawani has extensive experience in district cooling, buildings energy effi ciency, and corporate sustainability. Her combined education and background in engineering and business is instrumental in the effective management of projects and the fi rm. Ghida Kaddah joined Khatib & Alami in 2003 after gaining her Masters in Mechanical Engineering degree at the Lebanese University. As a design manager - Mechanical, she has been the mechanical technical lead on multiple “I believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how the construction industry requires a digitisation overhaul. The industry was hit hard on multiple fronts: worksite safety and shutdowns, supply chain disruptions, delays and suspensions, and more,” Halawani says. “It is time for a long-overdue adoption of digital and innovative technologies to produce more resilient approaches to project delivery and to practically enable remote operations.” She adds: “I believe that we should witness a change in real estate and construction investment patterns, as well as changes in how buildings will be designed, constructed, and operated. I expect that occupants’ well- being, resiliency, and energy effi ciency will be more central in future projects. To make sure that new developments operate within these three factors, I am hopeful to see more focus on regulations and codes whether for design or operational phases.” complex projects, ranging from high- rise buildings to a recent assignment for a specialised perfumery lab in Dubai Science Park. She was also responsible for leading the plumbing design works on the La Perle Water Theatre in Dubai’s Habtoor City, which won the Plumbing Project of the Year at the MEP Awards in 2018. Commenting on the need for more inclusion and diversity in the MEP sector, Kaddah says: “Women bring diverse ideas and attitudes, which allow for an improvement in the dynamic of an all- male environment.” Kaddah adds: “The global pandemic has had an impact on society, and there is plenty of evidence to suggest that it has changed people’s values. Whether this is a long-term change, it is hard to say, but I think it could be helpful for the engineering sector, because what we do is about improving people’s lives. “People don’t become engineers to get rich – they do it because they like to build things, and to help change the world around them. We need engineers now more than ever to create more sustainable towns and cities that meet the evolving needs of the communities.” Ghida Kaddah, Mechanical Design Manager, Khatib & Alami “ I always feel an immense sense of pride when I pass by a building that I helped create Sharing a snippet from her personal life, Kaddah says: “Growing up in the building industry, with both my parents working in Khatib & Alami during the war in Lebanon, I was able to witness fi rst-hand the destructive power of war and the constructive power of rebuilding. “I always feel an immense sense of pride when I pass by a building I helped create. It is this feeling that I hope will compel the next generation of engineers.”16 MEP Middle East | March 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com WOMEN IN MEP Anamika Gupta, ELV Consultant at Ramboll Rabab Husain is the head of Electrical and ELV at Ramboll in the Middle East and has more than 20 years of design and managerial experience within the MEP building services industry. She has worked in the Middle East region since 2000, gaining a wealth of experience across many sectors. She is highly profi cient in MEP engineering and as the head of MEP, she fosters a positive team- oriented environment where synergy is maximised. Husain joined Ramboll more than a decade ago, and throughout her career as an engineer, she has contributed signifi cantly to large scale projects in the Middle East including the Avenues Riyadh, Jumeirah Gate, Khalifa University, and the Green Planet, among many other landmark projects. Rabab is now a key member at Ramboll, driving the awareness and understanding of smart and sustainable design in the Middle East. In addition to her role, Rabab supports Ramboll’s Professional’s Women Network for the Middle East and India, which drives Ramboll’s vision of gender equality and women empowerment in the construction industry. Commenting on the need for smart and sustainable construction, Husain says: “We can see a drive towards smart technology to build post-pandemic buildings with a safer environment. It’s Rabab Husain & Anamika Gupta Rabab Husain, Head of MEP at Ramboll high time that we began fully embedding sustainability within MEP design. “The aim should be to minimise the carbon footprint, and we must select each design element based on this. With the region moving towards green building and modular standards, emphasis should be on the importance of designing sustainable MEP systems. We should keep abreast of the latest technologies by taking a hands-on approach to learning about the most current systems available.” Anamika Gupta holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of London in the UK and a Bachelor’s in Engineering (Honours) in Electronics and Instrumentation from the Birla Institute of Technology – Pilani in India. She is an ELV consultant at Ramboll and specialises in information and communication technology, audio visual, and security design. As a part of her business specialisation, Gupta has explored the prospects of refurbishing existing buildings to match tomorrow’s smart and sustainable demands. Over the course of her four-year career at Ramboll, Gupta has executed a diverse range of high-end projects in multiple construction verticals such as hospitality, education, cultural, mixed-use development, as well as entertainment and leisure across the Middle East region. She has worked on several buildings and master-planned projects for clients such as IMKAN Properties, Emaar Properties, Al Dar Properties, Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA), and Qiddiya Development. Gupta is also part of Ramboll’s Professional Women Network for the Middle East, where she serves as a liaison between employees and management to advocate gender equality and women empowerment in the industry. Commenting on the need for change, Gupta says: “The Engineering and Construction (E&C) sector is currently among the least digitised industries. This is beginning to change with innovative concepts being formulated to drive digital transformation. “Big Data is being leveraged along with connectivity and automation, which is starting to show results in the form of smarter and more sustainable buildings and enhanced value creation. The Middle East region presents several opportunities and, in many cases, leads by example by being at the forefront of technology adoption. Gupta adds: “Better technology allows companies to enter new revenue streams and explore new avenues that were previously thought inaccessible. With the implementation of newer technology, we have better simulations and visualisation of the development.” “Big Data is being leveraged along with connectivity and automation, which is starting to show results in the form of smarter and more sustainable buildingsMarch 2021 | MEP Middle East 17 www.mepmiddleeast.com WOMEN IN MEP Farah Yassine Marisol Oracion Farah Yassine, Sustainable Resource Management Services Lead at WSP Middle East Farah Yassine is the Sustainable Resource Management Services Lead at WSP Middle East. She is also a vice chair for the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) and a pivotal fi gure behind the launch of the EmiratesGBC’s Women’s Network (EWN). Yassine has held key roles throughout her seven-year tenure with WSP Middle East, and in this time she has established herself as a reputable expert in the sustainability fi eld. Her passions exist in advocating the need for human-centric design and being able to create future-proofed solutions that mitigate the environmental impacts of the built environment. Yassine has a Bachelor of Interior Design degree from the Ajman University of Science & Technology; a Master’s degree in Sustainable Design of the Built Environment from The British University in Dubai; and recently attained full membership with the Marisol Oracion is an Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from the University of Bohol in the Philippines. As a multi-skilled technician working with Khansaheb for more than six years, she is responsible for Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) as a chartered environmentalist. “Being part of a progressive organisation like WSP has enabled me to help promote the need for greater inclusion and diversity by redefi ning the perceptions that society and our industry have about who designers and engineers should and can be.” Yassine says. “Additionally, being selected as a vice chair for the EmiratesGBC was a career highlight for me, and I am immensely proud to be selected to chair the EWN.” Yassine adds: “I believe greater change must be made at the grass-root levels. Alongside my peers at WSP and EmiratesGBC, I’m excited by the potential we have to create positive changes towards achieving gender equality, empowering women, and making engineering and sustainability more inclusive for people of all backgrounds and minorities.” systematic checking of mechanical and electrical equipment and troubleshooting problems on-site. Oracion believes that women are still underrepresented in the mechanical and electrical engineering fi elds, and there is a need to do more to encourage women to take up core technical roles. She endorses female mentoring as a way to close this evident gap. Commenting on sustainability and energy effi ciency, Oracion says: “As someone who is on the frontline, I cannot stress enough the importance of educating technicians and operatives on the importance of energy management best practices. “Often, strategies and plans that are made at the management level are not supported by effective communication plans that can cascade information to the technicians. Outcomes of an organisation’s energy management plan are only as successful as the understanding that frontline operatives portray day-in and day-out on site.” Sharing her thoughts on HSE practices, Oracion adds: “Khansaheb is an industry leader when it comes to implementing health and safety in operations. Our Marisol Oracion, Multi-skilled Technician at Khansaheb “As someone who is on the frontline, I cannot stress enough the importance of educating technicians and operatives on the importance of energy management best practices protocols are among the most stringent in the region. By continually upholding these standards on sites over many years, we have managed to make HSE an integral part of our corporate culture.”18 MEP Middle East | March 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com WOMEN IN MEP Mais Baqaeen Rabia Danyal, Electrical Engineer at Arcadis Middle East An engineer with more than six years of experience, Rabia Danyal is responsible for electrical services design of new build, commercial, and residential projects from concept to detailed and tender stages. She works across a wide range of projects with diverse teams and leverages her problem-solving skills to confi dently deliver quality design and effectively manage complex developments. Danyal’s experience in delivering MEP design services along with her knowledge of the local market and building codes has allowed her to make purposeful relationships with team members, clients, and design partners to successfully deliver projects. She makes the most of every opportunity to foster collaboration, support best practices, endorse digital transformation, and offer sustainable solutions. Aware of the need for more diversity in the industry, Danyal strives to mentor female Mais Baqaeen recently joined Black & White Engineering as an associate director in their Dubai offi ce, bringing in more than 15 years of experience in the building services industry, covering a broad spectrum of building sectors. Baqaeen has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree with distinction in Business Administration. She has earned multiple internationally recognised certifi cations in the fi elds of sustainability and high- performance buildings design. She is an active advocate for sustainability with a well-recognised volunteer work record in the Middle East. Commenting on her passion for the buildings sector, Baqaeen says: “It is very rewarding to see effi cient system designs come to life and contribute to comfortable, functional, and safe places for people to live, use, and enjoy. This has driven my choice to pursue an education and career in mechanical engineering and building services. “In recent years, working on a variety of projects including prestigious airports, I have grown a passion for the aviation sector with all its diverse systems, engineering interns by setting examples of work-life balance and sharing her technical experiences to inspire and attract more female talent into the workforce. Having been a part of Arcadis’ digital transformation through the Expedition DNA programme, Danyal understands the importance of driving forward the industry’s adoption of technology. Danyal’s curiosity for numbers and science led her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Coventry University in the UK, graduating with a distinction. “At Arcadis, we have a number of female professionals in the MEP team, which the business recognises as a necessity to tap into new ideas and innovative solutions in order to address modern-day challenges,” Danyal says. “We celebrate diversity and encourage women to take on active roles.” specialities, and expertise. Being someone who loves to travel has also fuelled my enthusiasm and hands-on approach to all aspects of airports and aircrafts.” Baqaeen adds: “Despite the adverse impact of the pandemic on many Mais Baqaeen, Associate Director at Black & White Engineering “It is very rewarding to see effi cient system designs come to life and contribute to comfortable, functional, and safe places for people to live, use, and enjoy sectors, the MEP industry is reacting to pave the way for these new ways of living. Innovative solutions are arising to address the growing needs of the healthcare sector allowing it to cope. “I am thrilled to be joining the efforts and expertise of Black & White to continue leading with innovative, state-of- the-art designs and project management, addressing our clients’ needs in the technology and building sectors.” Rabia DanyalMarch 2021 | MEP Middle East 19 www.mepmiddleeast.com WOMEN IN MEP Takwa Dawdi Sybille Sajeet Takwa Dawdi, Graduate Electrical Engineer at Cundall Takwa Dawdi received her bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 2019. While still a student, she began training as a Machine Learning Research Engineer at a local space sciences research centre where she had the opportunity to dive into the world of AI applications in astronomy, embedded systems engineering, image processing and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. Dawdi went on to publish two papers detailing her research in the fi eld before leaving to join Cundall as a Graduate Electrical Engineer in February 2020. Although still relatively new to the fi eld, Dawdi has already worked with Cundall on multiple MEP design projects across the Middle East in sectors ranging from entertainment to railway. Through her work on electrical design at Cundall, she has developed an appreciation Sybille Sajeet is the technical manager – Electrical at KEO International Consultants’ Design Division. With more than 26 years of experience as an Electrical, Telecom, and ELV Engineer, Sajeet has executed design work for a variety of projects, for sustainability, creativity, and innovation in the construction industry. Moving forward, Dawdi hopes to be able to use her experience to help bridge the gap between traditional MEP design methodologies and the value that digital engineering and AI bring to the fi eld. Dawdi says: “The world around us is developing rapidly and we, as an industry, need to know how to adapt to it. Dubai in particular is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and what that means for MEP is that we are under more pressure to deliver sustainable, effi cient, and minimal-waste projects within record time. “The positive impact that AI & other data-driven technologies could bring to this is monumental. At the least we would be signifi cantly reducing man-hours in offi ces and on-site as well as reducing the likelihood of human error, cutting costs, and increasing productivity.” including stadiums, airports, commercial buildings, hospitals, colleges, and oil and gas installations. Sajeet has experience in project management and project fi nancial performance, and has also provided MEP technical and fi nancial input to bid proposals. She has been involved in the design and management of electrical and ELV services from conceptual design to completion. Commenting on the current trends in the industry, Sajeet says: “We are seeing a growing number of projects being procured through design and build strategies. To adapt to this the MEP industry needs to develop innovative concepts from planning stages all the way through to the design stages themselves. The process of design procurement is in an evolutionary path to this end and requires a more integrated process from design to construction stage.” Sajeet adds: “Another important development required is for the modular construction approach of Offsite Manufacture (OSM), which can assist in meeting client expectations for early project delivery. This is still in its relative infancy, with few players in the Middle Sybille Sajeet, Technical Manager - Electrical at KEOIC “We are seeing a growing number of projects being procured through design and build strategies East region, although it is growing fast. “There is a scope for Research and Development in this fi eld, but will again necessitate a different project procurement approach to enable OSM to be factored into early design development. The development and implementation of the modular construction approach, in turn, will need close collaboration between the MEP design team, specialist OSM providers, and construction teams.”Next >