IStructE - Humanitarian Engineering

This presentation follows three stages commonly encountered after major disasters: rapid damage and needs assessment, forensic investigation of structural failures, and the implementation of practical “build back better” solutions. Examples from Jamaica, Dominica, Haiti, and other Caribbean nations will demonstrate how relatively simple engineering interventions can significantly improve the performance of critical infrastructure such as hospitals and health centres. The presentation also considers broader questions facing the profession: What skills define a humanitarian engineer? Are current engineering education and professional development pathways adequately preparing engineers for these challenges? And what role should structural engineers play in addressing the increasing impacts of climate change and disaster risk?

Shalini Jagnarine-Azan is a Chartered Structural Engineer with over 17 years of professional experience, and she is Vice President for the Americas, and a Board Trustee of the Institution of Structural Engineers, having previously served on Council and as a Trustee.

In recognition of her international humanitarian contributions, she was awarded the IStructE Keith Eaton International Award in 2022. . She holds a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering from Imperial College London. Shalini has spent more than a decade working with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization as a Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist and Structural Engineer. Her work included the development of resilient healthcare facilities, post-disaster damage assessments, emergency response, and recovery planning following hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, and volcanic events across the Caribbean. She is a co-author of several technical publications on disaster-resilient infrastructure and healthcare facilities.