Green with Annie

12:46pm Tuesday 5th June 2007

A Swindon engineer who is employed by Halcrow has been shortlisted for a top building services award.

Annie Brown, who is 27, has been nominated in the young achiever category.

She works in the energy and sustainable development department for Halcrow Yolles.

She is based in the company's Wroughton office and is heavily involved in green travel and Fairtrade.

"I also had experience ranging from working for a wind farm developer and the Energy Saving Trust, to volunteering at the Centre for Alternative Technology and on a small construction project in France.

"At University, I had served on the student union environment committee and visited several eco-building demonstration projects."

Four years later she is now about to apply for chartered engineer status, having fulfilled all the objectives in the company's accredited training scheme.

This includes participating in training activities, attending national and regional events - including the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers annual conference and South West dinner - plus talks and trade shows.

"Sustainability is my real passion and I'm an active member of the IMechE's Energy, Environment and Sustainability Committee and Young Member's Board," she said.

"I volunteer on a Halcrow Yolles working party set up to disseminate and build up our sustainability capabilities and contribute to fledgling initiatives related to wider corporate sustainability issues.

"While on the committee of the company's sports and social club I organised a Bike2Work day and Fairtrade event. I'm an active cyclist and runner, play for the company in the Swindon softball league and currently attend regular yoga and Indian dancing classes."

As well as being a member of the local Fairtrade group, which recently gained Fairtrade Borough status, she also recently completed an evening class in how to set up and run a business.

"I've found building services a rewarding career and have promoted it to undergraduates at an Ethical Careers fair at Imperial College.

"I'm also proud to be featured in the Scientists for Global Responsibility's Ethical Careers Guide as one of their "12 inspiring case studies of ethical careers in science and technology".

Her goals for the immediate future are to qualify for the Low Carbon Consultants Register and the Part L Competent Persons Scheme, and continue to lead on high quality building services design projects.

"I'm committed to what I do. Not just in my job, but the way I live my life and the activities I get involved in.

"I feel I have achieved a great deal in a short space of time and anticipate contributing much more with Halcrow Yolles in the future.

"I am pleased to be representing the next generation of building services engineers. It's a rewarding career where individuals can have a significant impact on the sustainability of buildings which will stand for years to come."

Follow the link below to see more info on the BSJ website www.bsjonline.co.uk/story.

Shortlisting for the 2007 awards has been completed and this year marks the 10th year of them.

They take place on June 25 at the Grosvenor House Hotel where, last year, 1,000 guests came to celebrate with the very best in the industry.

The 2007 entries demonstrated some excellent projects, great innovative thinking and a strong commitment to training and environmental issues.