Rimmy Vij is a Technical Director at WSP and has over 15 years of experience in Facade Engineering in the UK, bringing a wealth of expertise and innovation to the forefront of Façade Design and Engineering. With a passion for pushing the boundaries of façade aesthetics and performance, she leads the technical delivery of facade engineering services on major projects, playing a pivotal role in projects from early concept stages to completion, ensuring quality, efficiency, and client satisfaction. With a deep understanding of both technical intricacies and architectural aspects, she ensures that she brings invaluable insight into the design process. Beyond her role at WSP, Rimmy is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the SFE where she also serves as Vice Chair. She is a Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) and a full Member of the Association of Project Management (APM)t.
Kenneth Zammit is a director in Thornton Tomasetti’s Façade Engineering practice responsible for accelerating the team’s growth in the UK and the European region. He leads the innovation drive for the façade engineering team globally and is part of the R&D oversight board allocating investment across the firm. Kenneth is a committee member of the British Standards Institution, and a contributor to its upcoming CEN/TS 19100 “Design of glass structures”. He is also a member of the Centre for CWCT’s technical board and Chair of the SFE. He holds a Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Cambridge, a master’s degree in façade engineering from the University of Bath and a bachelor’s degree in architecture and engineering from the University of Malta. He is also a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a chartered engineer.
Q1 – How do you reflect on your volunteering journey with the SFE that led you to the position of Chair?
(RV) My journey with the SFE began with a genuine desire to give back to the profession and connect with like-minded peers. It started in 2016, working behind the scenes on the SFE Awards. From there, I gradually became more involved in various initiatives, each deepening my appreciation for the Society’s role in promoting knowledge-sharing and professional development.
Each step expanded my perspective and sense of purpose, naturally leading to greater responsibility. Becoming Chair felt like a natural progression — one I’m especially grateful for, as it was my fellow Board members who saw leadership potential in me that I hadn’t fully recognized in myself. It became an opportunity to help shape the future of the SFE and to give others the same sense of connection and growth that I’ve experienced.
Through this journey, I’ve learned the power of collaboration, the importance of inclusivity, and that meaningful impact often starts with small, consistent contributions.
Q2 – What achievements are you most proud of while leading the SFE?
(RV) When I became Chair two years ago, I set out to shape the SFE into a society that not only championed technical excellence but also fostered an inclusive and engaged community. I’m proud of the tangible progress we’ve made — from expanding our events and launching regional Hubs to rolling out a Quarterly Newsletter. These efforts have strengthened our industry engagement and kept our members at the forefront of façade engineering. But what I’m most proud of is the collaborative spirit we’ve nurtured and the enhanced value we now offer our members.
Q3 – What are your key take-aways from this experience and what advice would you give to the new Chair as they take on this role?
(RV) One of my key takeaways from leading the SFE is that the success of a professional engineering institution depends not only on technical excellence but also on strong, adaptive leadership that listens, evolves, and drives meaningful action. For the SFE, this has meant fostering collaboration, amplifying member voices, and ensuring our initiatives provide real value for professional growth and industry relevance.
Looking to the future, my advice to the new Chair is to focus on three clear priorities. First, to strengthen our membership proposition by delivering tangible benefits to early-career professionals, industry veterans, and everyone in between. Second, to deepen engagement with both industry and academia, encouraging innovation, research, and practical application in façade engineering. Finally, and critically, the SFE must continue to play a proactive role in addressing the key challenges facing our industry in the wake of the Grenfell incident and the Building Safety Act.
This involves advocating for technical rigour and best practices in façade design, while also being a leading voice in advancing regulatory understanding, building safety, and ethical responsibility across the profession. Leadership in this role means creating a platform that unites all stakeholders, promotes knowledge sharing, and supports continuous improvement — always with public safety and trust at the forefront of our work. I am confident that our new Chair, Kenneth, will successfully lead us in achieving these goals.
Q4 – What motivated you to take on this new challenge as SFE Chair?
(KZ) I have been inspired by the progress of the SFE over the past few years, keeping up with the significant growth of the facades industry across the globe. Rimmy’s relentless efforts in encouraging change and improvement kindled my drive to make a more significant impact in our sphere of influence. I truly hope to be able to continue our growth and inspire current and future members to contribute to this.
Q5 – What areas of opportunity do you see as particularly exciting for SFE in the coming years?
(KZ) The current drive to grow and develop competence in safety matters relating to the construction industry is having a particular impact on our field of expertise. This is influencing all the parts of our process from early-stage design through to the occupation of our buildings. I see it as a responsibility of the SFE to contribute to bringing all of us together and help show routes to building and demonstrating competence. We will be launching a Mentorship programme, establishing the High-Risk Buildings registration and evolving our membership across the entire facades supply chain.
Q6 – What message do you have for the SFE members as you begin your term as Chair?
(KZ) The SFE is here for all those involved in façade development. Whether you are a designer, estimator or involved in supply advice we are curious to hear from you and understand how the SFE can contribute to your line of work.
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