This year we are very grateful to have a large committee, with 5 new members joining the committee as general members! Get to know our committee by reading our bios below!
Chair: Jennifer Cox, AECOM
Jennifer is the Chair of the CIBSE YEN London Region and works as an electrical engineer for AECOM. Jennifer joined AECOM in 2018 after graduating from Heriot Watt University with a degree in Architectural Engineering. Jennifer is passionate about working to design efficient and sustainable engineering solutions to a variety of types of projects.
Jennifer joined the London committee in 2019 after wanting to engage more in the network and be involved in organising some of the many events aimed at providing young engineers the opportunity to network and gain both technical and soft skills.
Vice-Chair: Mat Stark, Hoare Lea
Mat is the Vice Chair of CIBSE YEN London Region and a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Hoare Lea. Graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering from Exeter University, Mat's passion lies in designing efficient and sustainable solutions that positively impact various projects. Since joining Hoare Lea in 2019, Mat has fostered a deep appreciation for innovative mechanical engineering solutions.
With a desire to support the growth of aspiring engineers, Mat joined the CIBSE YEN London committee in 2020 to actively engage with the network. Embracing opportunities to organize networking events and facilitate skill-building initiatives, Mat aims to foster a collaborative environment where young mechanical engineers can thrive. As Vice Chair, Mat is thrilled to support the Chair and the committee in their mission to empower young engineers, promote excellence, and drive positive change in the industry.
Secretary: Megan Whitbread, Troup, Bywaters + Anders
Megan is the Secretary of the CIBSE YEN London region, having joined as a general member in 2022 and works as an electrical engineer at Troup Bywaters + Anders, where she started as an apprentice in 2015. Having completed a Level 3 advance apprenticeship and a Level 6 degree apprenticeship, Megan is now undertaking a MSc in Smart Energy and the Built Environment at UCL.
Having worked at Troup Bywaters + Anders for 8 years, Megan specialises in designing Healthcare Facilities and is passionate on improving the welfare of patients, staff, and visitors through her designs.
Having previously been an ambassador for the London Apprentice Ambassador Network, Megan is enthusiastic about promoting the benefits of apprenticeships and actively works to highlight that a career in Building Services Engineering can be accessible for all.
Treasurer: Matt Dickenson, Atelier Ten
Matt Dickenson is a mechanical engineer at Atelier Ten and is currently the Honorary Treasurer for CIBSE YEN London. With his main experience in Residential and Commercial developments, he has a passion for creating healthy, safe, comfortable spaces for people to live and work. Sustainability is one of his core principles, which drives his desire to learn and innovate. He firmly believes collaboration is the only way for the industry to reach our sustainability goals, and consequently is dedicated to sharing knowledge and helping train and develop fellow engineers. Getting involved with CIBSE YEN is a great way to achieve this and help push the industry forward.
Matt read Architectural Environment Engineering at the University of Nottingham. He joined the industry in 2019 and has worked at both AECOM and Waterman Group before making the jump to Atelier Ten. In addition to YEN, he is also the Events Coordinator for the CIBSE HVAC Systems Group.
Comms Coordinator: Laura Luckhurst, RCDC
Laura is this year’s External communications coordinator and is a mechanical engineer at RCDC. She joined the industry in 2018, and has since been working on a variety of projects across mainly the commercial and public sector. Her role involves mechanical and public health elements, as well as looking at the operational and embodied carbon implications for projects.
She is a keen volunteer, and is passionate about inspiring the next generation of female engineers, as well as empowering graduates to drive positive change in the industry. She is heavily involved in the Women's Engineering Society (WES) London Cluster, and helps to organise their Work shadowing week.
Laura joined the committee last year to support the network and help out with events and meet more of the network. She is excited to be on committee again this year!
Comms Officer: Ceyda Davidson, Introba
Ceyda is part of the External Communications team, in the London region. She works as an Environmental Design Engineer at Introba. In 2020, she graduated from the University of Nottingham with a BEng Hons in Architectural Environment Engineering. The following year completed an MSc in Environmental Design and Engineering at UCL. She joined the CIBSE YEN committee as a graduate in June 2020.
Ceyda has a strong interest in sustainability within the built environment whilst simultaneously optimising health, comfort and well-being of occupants. She believes it’s important that engineers from all disciplines of building services work together to reach net-zero carbon emissions throughout a building’s life-cycle. She joined the CIBSE YEN committee to network with young engineers and widen her network in the construction industry.
Comms Officer: Hiba Talmoust, Waterman Group
Hiba is a Communications Officer in the YEN London 2023/2024 committee. In 2020, she graduated from the University of Exeter with B.Eng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, and in 2022, she graduated from Queen Mary University of London with a MSc in Advanced Mechanical Engineering. She is currently a Graduate Sustainability Consultant at Waterman Group focusing on Whole Life Carbon, Circular Economy, Net Zero and Energy. During her time in industry, Hiba has worked on many project from different sectors such as Residential, Commercial, Healthcare and Research Facilities. Alongside her role, she is pursuing a PhD in Engineering where she is researching the carbon impact of M&E systems to deliver Net Zero Buildings.
Hiba is passionate about Sustainability and is keen to promote the role of Building Services engineers in achieving the Net Zero target.
General Member: Lizzy Pettitt, KLH Sustainability
Lizzy has joined as a general member of the CIBSE YEN London Region and has worked as a sustainability advisor for KLH Sustainability since January. Previously, Lizzy worked for Wates Building Services, managing MEP services design and installation on site, after graduating from the University of Sheffield in 2019 with a mechanical engineering degree. Lizzy is passionate about sustainability in the built environment, particularly the impact that building services can have on operational energy and carbon, but also comfort and wellbeing.
Lizzy has joined the committee this year and is excited to meet with other young engineers in the network who are also working towards achieving chartership!
General Member: Zoe Dickson, SSE
Zoe started as a graduate engineer at SSE Energy Solutions less than a year ago, working specifically within building controls. After studying Mechanical Engineering with International Study at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, she took a year off to travel before moving to London for the role. CIBSE YEN is assisting her transition to the professional world by allowing her to network in a new city, gain valuable industry knowledge and widen her exposure to the institution early on in her career. Sustainability has been a passion of Zoe’s for a long time, and believes the building services industry is an integral part reaching net zero. She’s looking forward to a career of taking tangible action in building decarbonisation.
General Member: Sundara Gurushev, Hoare Lea
Sundara Gurushev is a Sustainability Consultant with Hoare Lea, based out of Oxford. Prior to Hoare Lea, she was based in the UAE where she worked as a sustainability consultant and was involved with the CIBSE and YEN network in the region. She believes in taking a collaborative approach to climate action by putting together effective partnerships. She is passionate about creating sustainable built environments, decarbonisation and youth action on climate change, and has been involved in various sustainability initiatives, projects and groups in the Middle East.
Sundara currently sits with the YEN Global network as the CIBSE ASHRAE Vice-Liasion and continues her work with the UAE network as a technical events member in addition to her role with YEN London as a General Member.
General Member: Matt Yates, Atelier Ten
Matthew is a graduate mechanical engineer working for Atelier Ten (London office). In 2020 he graduate at undergraduate level from DeMontfort university in mechanical engineering, and once again in 2022 from DeMontfort for his post-graduate in energy and sustainable building design.
His experience to date has span across a wide range of exciting projects from large communities for residential flats to early stage design in NEOM projects in Saudi Arabia.
He is looking forward to getting to know like minded engineers within the industry where he able to widen his network through the YEN community.
General Member: Sehrish Wakil, Atkins
Sehrish graduated with an MEng(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering in 2020 from QMUL and is currently working as a Graduate Mechanical Engineer within the Building Services team at Atkins. She has experience thus far of working on Low Carbon Projects involving HVAC Design and Building Physics in various sectors. Sehrish has a great passion for Sustainability and Technology, as such, she has been involved in helping develop a digital service-line called DecarbonomicsTM from SNC-Lavalin.
Sehrish joined the CIBSE YEN London Group this year as a General Member and is also Secretary for the CIBSE Resilient Cities Special Interest Group. Sehrish is also on a secondment with the Low Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) where she has been working on the development of the groups’ new publications.
Sehrish is looking forward to expanding her network through activities related to YEN and hopes to help inspire the future generation of building services engineers.