UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
HONORARY CONFERRING
Monday, 5 September 2016
TEXT OF THE INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS DELIVERED BY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AMANDA GIBNEY, Vice-Principal for Teaching and Learning, UCD College of Engineering and Architecture on 5 September 2016, on the occasion of the conferring of the Degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa on DERVILLA MITCHELL
_____________________________________________________________________
President, Graduates, Honoured Guests, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to have the opportunity to deliver the citation today for our Honorary Conferring of the Degree of Doctor of Science on Dervilla Mitchell. Dervilla is an inspiring leader who is calm, determined, principled, enthusiastic, supportive and approachable. I had the great pleasure of making Dervilla’s acquaintance as a student engineer in Dublin and subsequently as a graduate engineer in London where I benefited greatly from her advice, her guidance, and her friendship.
Dervilla graduated from UCD with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in 1980, one of four women in a graduating year of 200. Dervilla had familial influence in the choice of her career, with her father an architect and her grandfather and two uncles who were engineers (all UCD graduates!). For her, and probably for many of you here today, engineering represents the perfect combination of science and design.
Dervilla commenced her career with Arup in Dublin with one of her early roles being that of resident engineer on the UCD Library Building. She subsequently moved to Boston before rejoining Arup in London, where she is now a Director.
Dervilla has faced many technically difficult challenges in her work, assuming a high level of responsibility. A project of particular note was, Portcullis House, constructed above Westminster underground station. This project required very close collaboration with the architect, on Dervilla’s part, in order that she could inspire her team to realise the technically demanding vision. Dervilla is most renowned for her aviation projects in London, Dublin and Abu Dhabi, with her most notable role as Head of Design Management for the 4.6 billion pound Heathrow’s Terminal 5 construction project. Commencing in the year 2000, this was the largest construction project in Europe at that time. Dervilla lead the 1,500 people team, through the successful design of the terminal buildings; a control tower, an energy centre and a car park. In her current role as Project Director for the 10 billion Dirham Abu Dhabi Midfield terminal she is leading a large team across offices in America, the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Asia and Australia, to deliver the multidiscipline design for this new 700,000 square metre terminal Building
Dervilla recognises the importance of building a team and the impact that this has on successfully delivering a project. Ensuring that the combined skillsets are appropriate, and developing a strong bond and trust is paramount. She believes that empathy and compassion are key leadership skills and she highlights the importance of workplace culture and values as enablers for success.
Dervilla is Arup’s most senior female professional. She sits on the Arup Group Board with a responsibility for ethics, she also sits on the UK Middle East and Africa Board leading the Aviation Business in this region.
She has been committed to addressing gender balance in science, engineering, and technology throughout her career, tirelessly participating in outreach activities and mentorship. Dervilla played an important role in the establishment of Arup’s women’s network, Connect Women, and she is a founding member of Arup’s Diversity Steering Group, through which she has championed Arup’s Inclusive Leadership Programme. Dervilla is committed to promoting diversity within the organization and has been instrumental in the emergence of an organisational culture conducive to supporting the success of talented women. Dervilla has recently taken on the role of Chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering Diversity Committee and though this will have impact beyond Arup.
Dervilla has herself spoken about the influence of many engineers that she has worked with throughout her career, who supported her development and provided guidance. She herself is an exceptional role model for those considering a career in engineering and for engineering graduates aspiring to achieve excellence and distinction in their career. She is strongly of the opinion that a solid technical basis is a key building block in the making of a successful career, the foundations for which were developed through her studies here at UCD.
Dervilla has managed to pursue a very rewarding and successful career with a very high level of responsibility while still finding the time to raise a wonderful family. While she has said that balancing all of her responsibilities was a challenge, to those around her she appeared to manage this with great ease.
Dervilla is a Fellow of Engineers Ireland, the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Royal Academy of Engineering. She is a member of the Council for Science and Technology, which advises the Prime Minister on science and technology policy issues.
Dervilla has had many awards bestowed on her including the Institution of Structural Engineers Murray Buxton Award and the Derrington Construction Award, for papers of merit. She received the Women of Outstanding Achievement Award for Inspiration and Leadership in Business and Industry in 2011. In 2014 Engineers Ireland presented Dervilla with the ESB Outstanding Contribution to Engineering Award. That same year Dervilla was presented with an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for Services to Engineering, an honour which she received from the minister for Universities, Science and Cities, Greg Clark, at the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. Being a proud Irish citizen, Dervilla was not entitled to receive this honour from the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
I know from my conversations with Dervilla that she believes it is a very exciting time to be an engineer. We are living in a rapidly changing world presenting many challenges which engineers are well equipped to solve. Dervilla recalls her early tools being a drawing board, a t-square and a simple calculator, a stark contrast to the tools and software which are available today enabling us to rapidly solve complex problems. I know that she wishes each one of you graduating here today a very happy and rewarding career. She encourages you to take on challenges and opportunities that come your way and to learn from others while maintaining your sense of self and authenticity.
UCD are delighted, today, to acknowledge Dervilla’s outstanding career, with the award of an honorary degree of Doctor of Science.
Praehonorabilis Praeses, totaque Universitas,
Praesento vobis hanc meam filiam, quam scio tam moribus quam doctrina habilem et idoneam esse quae admittatur, honoris causa, ad Gradum Doctoratus Scientiae; idque tibi fide mea testor ac spondeo, totique Academiae.