MEA Awards 2017 Shortlist: Engineer of the Year

Engi Jaber, MEP Engineer at Dewan

Originally Palestinian, Sharjah-raised Engi Jaber is a multidisciplinary architect and engineer based in Dubai who’s committed to sustainability. She joined Dewan Architects & Engineers in 2010 as an architect before working her way up the ladder and establishing Dewan’s sustainability department, and now leads the office’s Dubai and Abu Dhabi teams as sustainability manager.

In the nearly seven years since she’s joined, she has engineered and coordinated the success of over 60 green building projects, of which 31 were undertaken just this past year.

Her accomplishments include winning the 2017 MEED Quality Award for the Education Project of the Year and the successful delivery of the first LEED v4 Gold Rating CAT A Commercial Tower. She was also shortlisted for the 2015 Big Projects Young Construction Professional Award, and was a finalist in the 2016 Gulf CSR and Sustainability Professional of the Year Award, as well as the 2008 British Petroleum Innovation Student Project Award.

Danilo Aquino, Structural Engineer at NORR

Danilo Aquino has over 34 years of experience, including more than 18 years as a civil and structural design manager and director in well-known international consulting firms across the globe.

His experience includes the design and management of various civil and structural projects including super high-rise residential and office buildings, industrial, commercial, mixed developments, hotels, offshore structures, underground fortified structures designed to resist nuclear and biochemical bomb effects and electromagnetic shock waves, tunnelling, railroad and railroad stations, roads and highways, airport structures and other building facilities.

As one of the 18 Voting Members of ACI E702 Educational Committee USA, Danilo has co-authored the structural codes and design manuals for both Seismic Design Codes and ACI Reinforced Concrete Design Manual-USA.

The recipient of various engineering awards and citations, his projects include the BLVD Address Hotel, the Address Sky View Residence, a multiuse development in Iran, Sahara Sky in India, The One in Kenya and Jenan City in Saudi Arabia.

Jonathan Huang, Technical Director, Tall Buildings Group, WS Atkins

Jonathan is a professional structural engineer with more than 17 years of experience in Australia, the Middle East and South East Asia. Jonathan’s main passion is in the design of super high-rise structures with challenging composite steel and concrete structure. Having been involved in the design of a vast numbers of super high-rise buildings throughout his career, he is also very passionate in wind engineering.

Selected as one of the youngest senior key-member staff for the Burj Khalifa from 2004 to 2008, he has also worked on Circle on Cavill, the Central Bank of Kuwait, D1 and Pallaco Versace in Dubai, Capitol Tower in Kuwait and many others.

Reem Dayoub, MEP Director at La Casa

A technically proficient MEP director, Reem possesses a strong portfolio that includes some of the region’s mega projects.

With over 15 years of hands-on progressive and varied experience in all aspects and sub-disciplines of mechanical design and engineering, Reem has completed high-profile and international projects for the key developers in the region. Her submission highlighted her ability to analyse project requirements, develop and deliver strategies, as well as review and identify potential improvements and deficiencies.

Her work includes PRIVE Serviced Apartments in Business Bay, Serviced Hotel Residences Tower in Dubai Maritime City, a hotel in Al Khobar, Burj Damac Waterfront Residence, the Dubai Wharf and many more.

Martin McFadden, MEP Engineering Technical Director at KEO International Consultants

Martin is a UK Engineering Council Chartered engineer and an MEP Engineering Technical Director for the Design Division at KEO International Consultants. Within the MEP engineering team, Martin is responsible for formulating and implementing a design excellence agenda across the 150 strong MEP team members operating in the GCC. This role involves driving innovation and sustainability, implementing best design practice and continuous improvement in the MEP teams as well as leading MEP design for key clients and projects.

Throughout his career, Martin has acquired extensive experience in the design of MEP building services, and in project management including cost control and construction supervision. His experience extends to both single and multi-discipline design team management and includes many large scale and signature construction projects.

Martin brings with him a wealth of knowledge working on some of the most iconic projects in various market sectors including medical, education, stadia, rail, commercial, retail, residential, leisure, and many others.

His project list includes the Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences in Dubai, Al Sheraa Dewa HW, Opera District B1 & B2, Expo Village, The Address Dubai Creek Harbour and more.

Richard Cerfontyne, Senior Structural Engineer at BuroHappold Engineering

Since relocating to the Middle East five years ago, Richard has been involved in two of highly-anticipated design projects in the region: the Museum of the Future with Killa Design and the Expo 2020 Sustainability Pavilion with Grimshaw Architects.

After gaining five years of experience as a structural engineer working in London on a variety of international projects within retail and commercial sectors for architects such as Zaha Hadid (Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, Michigan State University), Fosters + Partners (Riva Hotel, Heathrow), Richard moved to BuroHappold in 2012.

Since joining BuroHappold, Richard has been involved in numerous high profile projects across various sectors in the region including sports, commercial and retail. 2016 was a particularly busy year for Richard as he was one of the key leading members of the design team for back to back projects from bid stage through to construction, allowing the projects to benefit from his enthusiasm for the latest design tools in conjunction with analytical rigour – namely the Museum of the Future and the Expo 2020 Sustainability Pavilion.