ACE has been a strong supporter of increasing the diverse and inclusive culture within the industry to meet today’s modern work environment. Reflecting this positive development ACE has welcomed a further two female business professionals to its Board of Directors.

Sara Lipscombe, group communications director at Atkins and Clare Bristow, group legal director at Arup have joined the ACE Board of Directors.

Significant strides have been made with the publication in November 2015 of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Diversity Leadership Group report and benchmarking tool to provide measurable insights on diversity within engineering.  This was followed in January this year by the launch of ACE’s 10 Strategies for a diverse and inclusive culture aimed to help all companies, regardless of their size, to overcome the challenges to improve representation within their organisations.

Dr Nelson Ogunshakin OBE, chief executive of ACE, announced the appointments at the launch of the association's trailblazing report, Diversity & Inclusion – marginal or mandatory?

"Sara and Clare bring a wealth of experience to ACE and their achievements speak for themselves. They are respected professional leaders and mentors in their particular fields and all have great vision and focus that will lead ACE in the future. It is exciting to welcome new members to both ACE boards who will bring with them a fresh perspective. The benefit from their combined expertise will help us continue with ACE’s ongoing growth and its support for important campaigns. Companies can no longer have any excuses not to implement a diverse and inclusive culture in today’s modern work environment. We ignore the issues at our peril and risk our industry faltering under the magnitude of the challenges ahead."

Speaking on her appointment Sara Lipscombe said: "ACE’s Board of Directors has an important role to play in guiding the main board on strategic matters and ensuring it is contributing to the national debate on infrastructure. This is a crucial time for the industry with much-needed investment a key priority for ACE to influence at national, devolved, regional and local levels. I look forward to participating fully with my fellow board members to guarantee that what matters to the industry is being raised at the highest level.”

Speaking on her appointment Clare Bristow added: "ACE is synonymous with the highest standards of professionalism and is committed to shaping the development of the UK’s social and economic infrastructure policy. I hope to be able to support this agenda, particularly in areas such as risk management where ACE and its members are playing a leading part in developing frameworks for the future.”

ENDS