Joanna Kennedy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joanna Kennedy
OBE FREng
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Kennedy in 2021
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Joanna Alicia Gore Ormsby
22 July 1950 London
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| Alma mater | Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford |
| Occupation | Civil engineer and project manager |
| Organization | Arup |
| Spouse(s) | Richard Kennedy (m.1979) |
| Children | 2s inc David Kennedy |
| Awards | HonDSc (Salford 1997) Woman of the Year (Atkins Inspire Awards 2007) First Woman of Engineering (CBI/Real Business Awards 2013) Hon. Fellow (RCA 2017) |
Joanna Kennedy, born on July 22, 1950, is a famous British civil engineer and project manager. A civil engineer helps design and build big things like bridges and buildings. A project manager makes sure these projects are finished on time and budget. Joanna was a top leader at a company called Arup, where she managed many important projects.
She is also a supporter of WISE (Women into Science and Engineering). This group encourages more girls and women to work in science and engineering. Joanna helped start WISE in 1984. From 2015 to 2023, she was a Trustee at the National Portrait Gallery. She led a big project to rebuild parts of the gallery. This project finished on time for the gallery's reopening in 2023.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joanna Kennedy was born in London. Her birth name was Joanna Alicia Gore Ormsby. She went to The Abbey School and Queen Anne's School. She was very good at her studies and won a scholarship to Lady Margaret Hall at the University of Oxford.
At Oxford, she studied Engineering Science. She was one of only three girls in a class of over 100 engineering students. She graduated with top honors and even won a special prize from the Institution of Civil Engineers. Joanna is a mother of two sons, and one of them is the musician Pearson Sound.
A Career in Engineering
Joining Arup
Joanna Kennedy started working at Ove Arup & Partners, a company of consulting engineers, in 1972. As a design engineer, she worked on important projects. These included the M25 Runnymede Bridge and St Paul's Thameslink station.
In 1990, she helped create the company's project management team. This team focuses on planning and leading big building projects. She became the leader for this team in Europe in 2006. By 2010, she was the Global Leader for Programme and Project Management for the whole company. Her team was even named "Project Management Company of the Year" twice!
Leading Major Projects
Joanna was the project director for many exciting building projects. She helped with new designs at the Southbank Centre. She also worked on the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and the Hackney Empire theatre. Another project was the Horniman Museum. She also led the team that designed the updated King's Cross St Pancras tube station.
From 2008 to 2013, she was a project management director for the Francis Crick Institute. This is a very important center for medical research. She also worked on plans for the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre.
Other Important Roles
Joanna Kennedy has held many other important positions. She was the Vice-Chairman of the Port of London Authority. This group manages the famous River Thames in London. She was also a Commissioner for the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. This group supports science and art.
She served as a Trustee for the Science Museum. She was also a member of the Engineering Council. From 2001 to 2016, she was part of the Royal College of Art. In 2004, she became a Major in the Engineer and Logistic Staff Corps. This is a special group of engineers who help the British Army.
Awards and Recognitions
Joanna Kennedy has received many awards for her amazing work in engineering.
- 1994: She received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Salford.
- 1995: She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen. This is a special honor for people who have done great things for the country.
- 1997: She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. This is a very high honor for engineers in the UK.
- 2007: She was named "Woman of the Year" at the Atkins Inspire Awards.
- 2008: She received the "Woman of Outstanding Achievement" award for her leadership.
- 2013: She was recognized as the "First Woman of Engineering" at the CBI/Real Business Awards.
- 2017: She became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Art.
