Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day
This International Women in Engineering Day (June 23rd), we’re proud to join the global celebration led by the International Women in Engineering Day, an initiative created by the Women’s Engineering Society.
Now in its 13th year, INWED continues to highlight the contribution of women in engineering across the world. Women make up just 16.5% of engineers in the UK. The day exists to raise visibility, challenge perceptions and encourage more young women to explore careers in engineering.
The theme for INWED 2026, #EngineeringIntelligence, reflects the reality of modern engineering: a discipline that combines technical knowledge, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving to shape the built environment.
At dbstructural, we are proud to celebrate the women in our team whose work reflects this every day.
To mark INWED 2026, we are sharing stories from members of our team, highlighting their journeys and perspectives on working in structural engineering.
Carmen Carles: Senior Structural Engineer
Carmen is a Senior Structural Engineer with nearly 18 years of experience working across Spain and the UK. Her work focuses on the design and analysis of buildings, ensuring structures are safe, efficient and buildable while collaborating closely with architects and contractors.
Carmen began her career in Spain after graduating from the University of Valencia in 2008, before moving to London in 2011 to further her professional development. Carmen has been at dbstructural for two years and she plays a key role in delivering projects across a wide range of sectors, with a particular passion for refurbishment and complex architectural builds.
Learn more about Carmen’s journey and her advice for young people starting out in the industry by reading her full interview here.
Vikii McCarry: Structural Technician
Vikii is a Structural Technician with more than six years of experience across a variety of projects. Vikii’s role includes providing technical drawings, modelling and coordination for projects including conversions, new builds and extensions.
Vikii entered the industry in a non-traditional way, joining after being offered an AutoCAD technician role without initially knowing what structural engineering involved. Since then, she has built a strong career in a fast-paced and constantly evolving environment.
Vikii is one of the first team members who joined dbstructural and has seen it evolved over the years.
Learn more about Vikii’s journey in the industry, what she has learned, her advice and changes she’d like to see in engineering here.
Why representation matters in engineering
Darren Ball, owner of dbstructural said: “Engineering is at its best when it brings together different experiences and ways of thinking. Diversity is not a ‘nice to have’ in our industry, it directly leads to stronger collaboration, innovation and diverse thinking.
“This year’s theme, #EngineeringIntelligence, reflects something we see first-hand in our work: engineering is not just technical calculation. It is judgement, creativity, communication and problem-solving, all working together to deliver robust results.
“From asking the right questions to solving unexpected challenges on site, the human side of engineering is just as important as the technical foundation.”
Final thoughts
Darren concluded: “As we celebrate INWED 2026, we recognise the women who are helping shape the future of structural engineering every day.
“To anyone considering a career in engineering: there is no single path, no single background and no single way to succeed. We are always open to having a conversation with anyone looking to start a career in engineering and are proud to support the women shaping our industry today and those who will join it tomorrow.”
