Michelle McDowell wins Women in Public Life award

Michelle McDowell, chair of the civil and structural engineering profession at BDP, has been announced as the winner of the women in business category at the Dod’s Women in Public Life Awards. The awards were presented at a public sector conference for women in leadership in London on 12 September. Judges included Baroness Glenys Kinnock and Laura Kuenssberg, ITV’s Business Editor.

The awards, in association with ActionAid UK the international development organisation, celebrate women leaders in society, seeking to recognising and promote the work of women in politics, business the civil service and community leadership.

Past winners of this category include Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder and director of Kids Company and Laura Tenison, founder of JoJo Maman Bebe.

Previous accolades for Michelle include the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year award, a fellowship from the Royal Academy of Engineering and an MBE for services to the construction industry.