Fiona Cousins, Helen Meutermans and ASHRAE President M. Dennis Knight
The CIBSE Young Engineer Awards 2024 once again shined a spotlight on the brightest and best emerging talent in building services engineering. Held annually, these prestigious awards recognise exceptional young engineers, as well as the employers who nurture and support the next generation of industry leaders. The event gathered a vibrant audience of professionals who celebrated innovation, talent and the future of the industry.
This year’s winners exemplify dedication, creativity and technical excellence across multiple categories.
CIBSE ASHRAE Graduate of the Year 2024:
1st place: Helen Meutermans from AtkinsRealis
Helen Meutermans, a graduate mechanical engineer at AtkinsRealis and University of Sheffield alumna, won first place with a thought-provoking speech on how modern office environments need to evolve to meet diverse occupant needs to keep people safe, healthy and productive. She highlighted the shift away from traditional office setups and how hybrid work is becoming a key post-pandemic legacy.
Meutermans believes that designing buildings with a ‘one size fits all’ approach is outdated, as every occupant is unique. She focused on three often-overlooked groups: neurodivergent individuals, women going through menopause, and those experiencing mental health challenges.
She noted that noise sensitivity in neurodivergent people can make open-plan offices overwhelming, while women experiencing menopause may struggle with temperature control, leading to discomfort and reduced productivity.
Designers should consider not only sustainability but also comfort, Meutermans urged, saying, ‘If everyone who works in an office is unique, why are we designing typical buildings when the typical person does not exist?’
She also proposed cost-effective solutions like anti-glare lamps and biophilic design, and more advanced options like individual temperature control at desks.
Her vision for the future includes offices where personal comfort is prioritised, tailored to suit users’ specific needs to keep them ‘safe, healthy, and productive.’ Helen’s speech serves as a reminder that modern building design should support the physical and mental well-being of all occupants.
2nd place: Zoe Dickson from SSE Energy Solutions
Zoe Dickson took second place with an inspiring speech focused on the importance of building controls in shaping the future of smart buildings.
After completing her mechanical engineering degree and graduate program at SSE Energy Solutions, she now works at the company as a BMS (Building Management System) project sales engineer.
Zoe emphasised how building controls are central to improving performance, safety, and comfort in buildings, especially with the changing demographics and evolving needs of occupants. She discussed the role of BMS in connecting systems like lighting, air quality, and occupancy, and how emerging technologies such as AI and IoT are revolutionising the field.
Zoe also highlighted challenges like an aging workforce, lack of regulation, and the need for more awareness about the value of BMS. She finished her speech by urging industry leaders to prioritise building controls. ‘I’ve shown that smart buildings can adapt to changing demographics, changing lifestyles, and keep people safe, healthy, and productive. If you take anything away from today, please consider prioritising building controls as a key way to improve your building’s performance and a way for us to control our futures,’ she said.
3rd place: Ikechukwu Umeokoli from AtkinsRealis
Ikechukwu Umeokoli, a graduate mechanical engineer from AtkinsRealis, won third place at the YEA Awards with a speech focused on the impact of changing demographics and lifestyles on building performance. He highlighted how schools, like many other sectors, are adapting to accommodate diverse cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, as well as the growing trend of homeschooling, which has risen by 80% in the UK over the last five years.
He emphasised the need for adaptable buildings, saying, ‘Building performance is not just about sustainability and energy efficiency, but about meeting the needs of its occupants.’ He discussed how increased home occupancy during homeschooling can lead to issues like higher CO2 levels, which can cause respiratory problems, and the need for better design to create conducive learning environments.
Ikechukwu proposed several solutions, including the use of acoustic panels to reduce distractions, smart thermostats for maintaining a comfortable environment, and proper ventilation to ensure good air quality.
- CIBSE Undergraduate of the Year 2024: Karolina Prusicka, studying Architectural Engineering at the University of Sheffield
- CIBSE Apprentice of the Year 2024:
- Level 3-4: Taylor McLaughlin, an Apprentice HVAC Service & Maintenance Engineer at CubicWorks
- Level 5-7: Dan Robins, Senior Trainee at AECOM
