NI Civil Engineer Is UK's Top Businesswoman

A Co Londonderry born civil engineer has been honoured for her success in the engineering world.

Michelle McDowell, 48, was nominated for the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year Award 2011 and was yesterday recognised for 'inspiring women who are high achievers'.

Ms McDowell - who comes from Coleraine and works at BDP Belfast - was praised for her work on low-carbon buildings and promoting the industry as a career for all.

Commenting, Elsa Corbineau, Brand Director of Veuve Clicquot champagne said Ms McDowell is an inspiration to all aspiring and up and coming entrepreneurs.

"Michelle has proven that commercial success can be achieved alongside acting as an ethical business and it is wonderful to see a stand out business woman actively championing the next generation of female entrepreneurs."

Ms McDowell told BBC NI that she wants to see more women with jobs in engineering and strongly promotes the trade: "Women are scarce, perhaps it's the image of construction - dirty, muddy boots; an unreconstructed working environment. But now the image is transforming, even on site."

The award is named after Nicole Ponsardin who invented the system to clarify champagne - a system that is still in use today.

In 1805, at the age of 27, she took over her husband's vineyards, Francois Clicquot, and created what is now an internationally recognised brand.

For the 2011 awards, the judging criteria placed 'an equal balance on financial results and the business practices adopted to deliver these.

Top businesswomen, Anita Roddick and LK Bennett founder Linda Bennett are previous winners of this prestigious award celebrating women of achievement, entrepreneurs and businesswomen from a wide range of industries that contribute to the economic life of the country.

The judging criteria placed an equal balance on financial results and the socially and environmentally responsible business practises adopted to deliver these.

The winner will be announced on Monday 28th March at a ceremony at Claridges, London

BDP is said to be the largest interdisciplinary practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists in Europe.

It aims to create special places for living, working, shopping, culture and learning across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Founded in 1961, BDP now employs more than 1,200 architects, designers, engineers, urbanists, sustainability experts, lighting designers and acoustics specialists in 17 studios across the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, UAE, India and associations in France with architecture practice Groupe-6.

(BMcC/GK)