Joanna Kennedy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joanna Kennedy
OBE FREng
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Kennedy in 2021
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| Born |
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 July 22, 1950) is a famous British civil engineer and project manager. Civil engineers design and build big structures like bridges, buildings, and train stations. As a project manager, she was in charge of making sure these huge projects were finished correctly and on time.
For many years, she was a top leader at Arup, a major engineering company. She is also a strong supporter of getting more women into science and engineering. She helped start a group called Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) in 1984.
More recently, she helped lead a big project to update the National Portrait Gallery in London. The project, called Inspiring People, was a huge success.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joanna Kennedy was born in London. She was a very bright student and went to top schools like The Abbey School, Reading and Queen Anne's School, Caversham. She earned a scholarship to the University of Oxford to study engineering.
At Oxford, she was one of only three women in a class of over 100 engineering students. She graduated with the highest honors and won a prize from the Institution of Civil Engineers.
She has two sons, and one of them is the musician Pearson Sound.
A Career in Engineering
In 1972, Kennedy started working at the engineering firm Ove Arup & Partners. She began as a design engineer, helping to create important structures.
What is a Project Manager?
In 1990, Kennedy helped start Arup's project management group. A project manager is like the captain of a team for a big construction job. They plan everything, solve problems, and make sure everyone works together to get the job done.
Under her leadership, her team won Project Management Company of the Year twice.
Famous Projects
Kennedy has been in charge of many exciting projects. She led the teams for:
- The redesign of King's Cross St Pancras tube station, a huge and busy London Underground station.
- The building of the Francis Crick Institute, a world-class science lab in London.
- Updates to famous places like the Southbank Centre, the Horniman Museum, and the Hackney Empire theatre.
- The M25 Runnymede Bridge, a major bridge on one of Britain's busiest motorways.
- The St Paul's Thameslink station in London.
Other Important Roles
Besides her work at Arup, Kennedy has held many other important positions. She has helped guide organizations like:
- The Port of London Authority, which manages the River Thames.
- The Science Museum.
- The Royal College of Art.
- The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, a group that supports science and art.
She was also a Major in the Engineer and Logistic Staff Corps, a special group of expert engineers who advise the British Army.
Honours and Awards
Joanna Kennedy has received many awards for her amazing work in engineering and for being a role model.
- 1995: She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen for her services to engineering.
- 1997: She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, one of the highest honors for an engineer in the UK.
- 2007: She was named Woman of the Year at the Atkins Inspire Awards.
- 2013: She won the First Woman of Engineering award.
She has also received honorary degrees and fellowships from universities, recognizing her great contributions to her field.
