Jean Venables

Who is Jean Venables?

Professor Jean Venables CBE, BSc, MSc, DSc, FREng, CEng, CEnv, FICE, FCGI, MCIWEM, MCIArb is a British civil engineer who in November 2008 became the 144th President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the first woman to be elected to the position.

Venables has worked on flood risk management projects. She was chairman of the Thames Regional Flood Defence Committee for a period of nine years. In 2003 Jean was appointed Chair of the Thames Estuary Partnership. a British charity that provides a framework for managing the Thames Estuary. She is also chief executive of the Association of Drainage Authorities. Venables in her capacity as chief executive of ADA is a representative of organisations related to water level management and flood risk management, such as Internal Drainage Boards, flood defence committees, environmental agencies, local authorities and various different associate members. Venables has been associated with formation of CEEQUAL.

Venables was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2010 Birthday Honours. She had earlier been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2004 New Year Honours for services as Chairman of the Thames Region Flood Defence Committee and before that a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1997 New Year Honours for services to civil engineering. The University of Nottingham and Kingston University have each awarded her an honorary doctorate. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and a visiting professor at the University of Southampton and at Imperial College London. Previously, she was a visiting professor at Strathclyde University. In 2001, she was awarded the Garth Watson Medal for services to the Institution of Civil Engineers. In 2011, the Institution of Civil Engineers instituted the Jean Venables Medal. It is awarded to its best Technician Professional Review candidate.