One of the UK’s "top 50 women in engineering” is part of three new arrivals at consultancy and engineering firm WSP, as part of its drive to grow the transport team across the country.

Katy Toms, Nishani Sakizlis and Aasif Variava have all joined WSP at the start of the new year to help support the delivery of significant infrastructure projects. The trio of appointments will be playing parts in major projects after WSP continues to work on developments at the A303 in Stonehenge, Euston Station and Crossrail.

Toms has been appointed as a senior engineer of the highways team with the new role helping to grow her experience over the past six-years after she obtained her professional qualifications with ICE in 2016. She has recently achieved one of the proudest moments in her career by being named one of the Telegraph's Top 50 Women in Engineering. Her biggest project achievement to date is being part of the team that created Wales’ largest onshore windfarm, Pen y Cymoedd, which involved supporting the early design stages on the £365m scheme involving 76 wind turbines.

Commenting on her new role, Toms said: “As one of the most respected engineering consultancies, with an exciting portfolio of projects, it was easy to say yes to join WSP. I know I will be well supported at WSP to be the best I can be, working with some amazing people who match my enthusiasm for engineering and commitment to inspire the next generation.”

Sakizlis joins WSP as an associate director to lead the rail fire engineering team and brings 12 years of consultancy and design experience to the role after working on projects like HS2, Crossrail and the Doha Metro. 

She said: “Fire engineering is an integral part of the ever-growing construction industry and I would like to develop my skills further to meet this industry demand. The goals that WSP has for its projects are innovative and are compatible with my ideals.”

Variava has joined WSP as an associate director and group manager after working for some of the largest global design companies including Arcadis, Atkins and CH2M. He comes with 18 years’ experience in the industry and has on two major national rail projects in the Middle East. 

Commenting on the role, he said: “After spending 11 excellent years in the Middle East, I joined WSP in London wanting to work for a great company having heard the reviews and growth of the business. I hope to successfully lead one of the largest highways design team in the southeast of England.”

Bruce Donaldson, WSP head of Highways, said: “Our transport team has continued to go from strength to strength over this past year. This latest set of appointments highlights the importance of our team as we continue to win projects like the A303 at Stonehenge, Smart Motorways on the M62, Euston Station and Crossrail. The government has now recognised the importance of infrastructure to strengthen and support the UK’s economy, we need the strongest team to deliver improved infrastructure for the UK.”