Dervilla Mitchell
{{short description|Irish engineer (born 1958)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use Irish English|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox scientist
|name = Dame Dervilla Mitchell
|honorific_suffix = DBE FREng FIEI
|image =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1958|8}}
|birth_place = Ireland
|death_date =
|death_place =
|nationality = Irish
|field = Civil engineering
|work_institution = Arup UK
|alma_mater = University College Dublin,
Trinity College Dublin
|known_for = Project management of London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5
|thesis_year =
|thesis_title =
|prizes = {{no wrap|FREng (2005)
Honorary CBE (2014)
RAEng President's Medal (2020)
}}
}}
File:Terminal 5 at London Heathrow Airport, 2008.jpg, one of Mitchell's major projects]]
Dame Dervilla Mary Mitchell {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}} FREng FIEI (born August 1958) is an Irish engineer and a director and joint deputy chair of Arup Group.{{cite web |title=Arup Group board welcomes new members, with Dervilla Mitchell CBE becoming Joint Deputy Chair |url=https://www.arup.com/news-and-events/arup-group-board-welcomes-new-members |publisher=Arup|first=Kate |last=Adlington|date=31 March 2021|access-date=4 February 2022}} 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.{{cite web |title=The Royal Academy of Engineering has announced 16 winners of its 2020 medals and awards |url=https://www.raeng.org.uk/news/news-releases/2020/september/academy-recognises-pioneering-engineers-leading-in |accessdate=14 September 2020}}
Personal life
Mitchell is married and has three children, has been a local school governor, and enjoys cycling. She lives in Fulham.
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite web |title=UCD honours "exceptional role model" for women in engineering |url=https://www.ucd.ie/newsandopinion/news/2016/september/28/ucdhonoursexceptionalrolemodelforwomeninengineering/ |publisher=University College Dublin |accessdate=28 September 2019 |date=29 September 2016}}
{{cite web |title=Dervilla Mitchell |url=https://www.wes.org.uk/content/dervilla-mitchell-0 |publisher=Women's Engineering Society |accessdate=28 September 2019}}
}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Dervilla}}
Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Category:Female fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Category:Alumni of University College Dublin
Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin
Category:Engineers from Dublin (city)
Category:20th-century Irish engineers
Category:21st-century Irish engineers
Category:20th-century Irish women engineers
Category:21st-century Irish women engineers
{{Ireland-engineer-stub}}