News

The Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) is gearing up for the inauguration of its next President. The prestigious event is scheduled to take place at the remarkable venue of Stirling Castle on 21 June, marking the commencement of the IHE presidential term for 2024–2026.

Katharine Kelly CEng FIHE (pictured), the incoming President, will be the 28th individual to assume the position in the IHE’s 59-year history. Noteworthy is the fact that she will be the second female president elected during this period. Currently serving as an infrastructure development manager at Arcadis in Glasgow, Katharine will succeed Martin Polland in this significant role.

Hailing from Durham, Katharine pursued her studies at The University of Edinburgh, earning a BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering with Construction Management in 2003. Initiating her career in the bridges department of JMP Consultants, she later joined the highways team at Halcrow Grow Ltd. During her tenure there, she spent 18 months in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), contributing to the infrastructure design of Yas Island—a purposebuilt island hosting the Formula 1 racing circuit and other major developments. Her expertise was further extended while being the lead designer for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

In 2020, Katharine joined Transport Scotland, where she became a part of the major projects team. Two years later, she returned to the private sector and joined her current employer, Arcadis. Katharine brings a wealth of experience to her new position, derived from her diverse and extensive professional background.

Having previously served in both Junior and Senior Vice President roles, Katharine possesses extensive knowledge of how the IHE is managed by the Presidential team. When approached about assuming the role, Katharine expressed her honour at becoming only the second female president of the Institute. She is enthusiastic about the challenges ahead.

Katharine has outlined three key themes she intends to focus on during her presidency:

• Recruitment: Bringing fresh talent into the industry while preserving the knowledge of retiring professionals.
• Resilience: Building a resilient workforce, diversifying skillsets, and adapting to new challenges within the sector.
• Professional Development: Encouraging individuals to acquire professional qualifications to uphold high standards across the industry.

The IHE leadership team is confident that Katharine will have a successful term and will represent the sector and the IHE exceptionally well during her office.

With the planning for the presidential event now well underway, tables for the event are available to purchase for the price of £2,500 per table of 10 with half a bottle of wine included for each person. Further details of sponsorship opportunities and details of the event are available online: www.theihe.org/events/ihe-presidential-event-2024.