ICE STEMM ambassadors provide a link between industry and schools to inspire the next generation of civil engineers.

This year, ICE Wales Cymru has much pleasure in announcing Luke Cook as winner of its STEMM Ambassador 2021.

Luke has been an active member of ICE graduate and student committee in Swansea, rising to Vice-Chair in 2018 and a registered STEMM Ambassador since 2017. He impressed the judges with his commitment to this role, organising the ICE Engineering Team Challenge in Swansea where over 70 pupils from seven different primary schools got together with volunteers from local companies to build a bridge pier to support a deck in a valley over a river and encouraging other year 5 and 6 pupils to participate in a mini challenge to learn about wind turbines.

Luke has also been active encouraging his peers at Swansea University where he has lead a series of presentations about life as a graduate engineer and organised events, through his role at ICE, involving local companies (consultants, contractors and educators) in talks to university and college students about working life as a civil engineer. At work, he is part of the ICE Leadership group with his employer, Atkins supporting graduates and apprentices on existing schemes and promoting others.

Keith Jones, Director ICE Wales Cymru said:

“We are fortunate to have young people like Luke working alongside us encouraging others to consider a career in civil engineering. STEMM ambassadors are vital in pointing the way for all to get involved in this great, rewarding career”.

As regional winner, Luke will now go forward to the UK finals and he is wished all the best as he goes forward. This year the competition in Wales was extremely close and Luke has already fought of excellent rivals for the title. So close was the competition, that ICE Wales Cymru decided to award a ‘Highly Commended’ prize for the first time. This title went to Stephani Botusharova, who has been the STEMM co-lead at Jacobs Cardiff office since late 2019. Warm congratulations go to Stephani too.

All our ICE STEMM Ambassadors of the Year are great role models to young people and industry. More information about joining ICE’s STEMM Ambassadors in inspiring the next generation of civil engineers can be found on the website https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/inspire-the-next-generation/become-an-ice-ambassador.