Ailie MacAdam facts for kids

Ailie MacAdam (born 6 October 1962) is a British engineer. She is a senior leader at Bechtel Corporation, a very large engineering and construction company. She has worked on many huge building projects around the world.

Becoming an Engineer

Ailie MacAdam was born in Edmonton, London. She was the oldest of four children. Her father was a mechanical engineer. This might have inspired her to become an engineer too!

She grew up in a village called Chrishall. She went to primary school and then Saffron Walden County High School. During her school years, she loved playing hockey. She was a center-half for her team.

After high school, Ailie studied for her advanced exams in maths, physics, and chemistry. She then went to the University of Bradford. There, she earned a Master of Science degree in chemical engineering.

A Career Building Big Things

Ailie MacAdam has had an amazing career. She has worked on some of the biggest building projects in the world. These are often called megaprojects.

Working at Bechtel

Ailie joined Bechtel in 1985. She started on a special training program for new graduates. Bechtel is one of the largest construction and engineering companies globally. She has held many important roles there.

Major Projects Ailie Has Worked On

Ailie has helped build many impressive structures. Here are some of them:

• Crossrail in London: This is a huge new railway line. It runs across London, mostly underground. Ailie was a director for a central part of this project. It is one of Europe's largest engineering projects.
• High Speed 1 (also known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link): This railway connects London to the Channel Tunnel. It allows high-speed trains to travel between the UK and mainland Europe.
• Big Dig in Boston, USA: This was a massive project to put a major highway underground in Boston.
• St Pancras railway station upgrade: Ailie helped turn this historic London train station into a modern terminal for Eurostar trains. These trains travel through the Channel Tunnel.
• Sydney Metro in Australia: This is a new metro system in Sydney.

Awards and Recognition

Ailie MacAdam is a respected leader in her field.

• In 2016, she was named one of the Top 50 Influential Women in Engineering. This award came from the Women's Engineering Society.
• She works with STEMNET. This group encourages young people to study science, technology, engineering, and maths.
• She was made a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (FICE). This is a high honor for civil engineers.
• In 2022, her old university, the University of Bradford, gave her an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree.

Ailie's Family Life

Ailie is married and has a son and a daughter. Both of her children were born in Boston, USA. Her husband, Ade Sofolarin, is also a chemical engineer. He also played rugby.

Her son, Femi Sofolarin, born in 2000, followed in his father's footsteps and became a rugby player. He even played for Scotland in the 2022 Commonwealth Games! Her daughter also loved sports. She competed in discus and other athletics events. She later played hockey for her university team.