Andrea van Eeden of Ethos Engineering claimed Excellence in Engineering at the Women in Construction Awards 2026, establishing a benchmark for engineering excellence. Her vast experience across complex, large-scale infrastructure projects reflects the technical depth and adaptive capability essential to senior engineering practice.

Andrea's career spans demanding infrastructure typologies requiring sophisticated engineering capability. Airport terminals demand integration of passenger flow, operational logistics, mechanical and electrical systems, and safety protocols across high-complexity facilities serving thousands daily. Rail infrastructure requires precision engineering, regulatory compliance, and coordination across civil and systems disciplines. Logistics developments demand operational efficiency, material handling systems, and facility performance optimisation. Her demonstrated success across these distinct sectors reflects versatile expertise and adaptive problem-solving capability across varying technical and operational requirements.

Her successful transition into data centre engineering further underscores her capability and versatility. Data centre environments represent a distinct engineering discipline demanding expertise in power systems, cooling infrastructure, resilience engineering, and operational reliability. Her ability to transition into this specialised sector whilst delivering complex projects demonstrates not only technical foundation but learning capability and adaptive expertise, qualities distinguishing engineering leaders from technical specialists.

Andrea's career spanning both Ireland and international projects reflects exposure to different regulatory environments, construction standards, and client expectations. International experience provides perspective on competitive standards and best practice, positioning her to evaluate entries with understanding of how Irish engineering compares within broader European contexts. Her submission demonstrated excellence in engineering at both personal and professional levels, showcasing her ability to deliver complex projects with innovative solutions that advance technical capability.

Judges highlighted van Eeden's distinctive engineering qualities. "Andrea van Eeden's vast experience across large-scale airport terminals, rail infrastructure, and logistics developments sets her apart as an exceptional leader in engineering," the panel said. "Her successful transition into the data centre environment further underscores her versatility and depth of expertise. With a career spanning both Ireland and international projects, Andrea's submission demonstrated excellence in engineering at both a personal and professional level, showcasing her ability to deliver complex projects with innovative solutions."

This award recognition reflects the Women in Construction Awards' commitment to acknowledging engineers advancing technical excellence and sector-wide capability. Andrea's achievement illustrates how diverse project experience, adaptive learning, and innovative problem-solving create exceptional engineering leadership.

For the full list of winners and category details, visit the official Women in Construction Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for exclusive insights and coverage from Ireland's construction sector.