SYSTRA has announced that Charlotte Woodhall-Jones has been chosen as one of the Top 20 Women in Ground Engineering. Charlotte joined SYSTRA in December 2022 as the new Discipline Lead for Ground Engineering. She leads a team of over 40 geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists that delivers major transport projects in the UK and overseas.
Charlotte is both a chartered geologist and a chartered civil engineer, a rare combination. She has over 20 years’ industry experience in the public and private sectors, working on major road and rail projects such as the East Leeds Orbital Route and recently opened Ebbw Vale Rail Enhancement project, South Wales.
Charlotte’s work on the redevelopment of the historic Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon was pivotal at the beginning of her career and laid the foundations for Charlotte’s future career and fascination in ground engineering. It involved constructing a 20m bore hole underneath the stage to investigate the ground conditions while the theatre continued to operate.
Within a year of joining SYSTRA, Charlotte has transformed her team into a connected, energised, and forward-looking unit. Charlotte established progressive workshops for her team to understand and celebrate difference in social and learning styles to ensure that colleagues with neurodivergent traits do not feel marginalised. Charlotte’s team is currently delivering the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU East) between Leeds and York.
Nia Kajastie, Editor at Ground Engineering Magazine said she was particularly struck by Charlotte’s “bold leadership style and her passion for equality and diversity in the workplace which has led to initiatives to support and encourage neurodivergent colleagues in her team.”
Nick Salt, CEO of SYSTRA Ltd, said: “We are extremely proud of Charlotte, she is not only technically qualified and thoroughly experienced in ground engineering, but also an inspiring and inclusive leader who brings out the very best in those around her. A fantastic achievement.”
Charlotte Woodhall-Jones, Ground Engineering Discipline Lead, SYSTRA said: “I feel incredibly humbled and privileged to be recognised as one of the Top 20 Women in Ground Engineering 2024. I take this responsibility seriously and promise to be a role model for my discipline, SYSTRA and to all women in engineering. I am proactive in collaboration and have learned to bring my whole self to work, I believe that makes me a far better leader. Witnessing my team develop their skills and confidence is my aspiration; I want them to be supported in becoming the best version of themself.”
To find out more about SYSTRA’s Ground Engineering team, visit: https://www.systra.com/uk/
