2003 - SMEC Staff Member Wins British Award

The Queen's New Year's Honours List for 2003 included the award of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, rank of Member (MBE) to Mrs Nancy Benham for her services to women, children and disabled people in Bangladesh.

Nancy is married to Colin Benham who is Team Leader for the Andhra Pradesh State Highways Project in Hyderabad, India. Colin joined SMEC after working in Bangladesh. Nancy is employed part-time by SMEC in Hyderabad in a business development role.

During her time in Bangladesh Nancy was tireless in raising funds and organising events on behalf of socially disadvantaged groups. She was actively involved such diverse events as a crafts bazaar to raise money for local charities, organisation of a musical evening for fund-raising at the residence of the British High Commissioner and planning a party and distribution of food and clothing for the street children of Dhaka. Nancy also persuaded many international companies operating in Bangladesh to donate goods for distribution to orphanages and other worthwhile causes.

2002 - SMEC TEAM LEADER WINS CHINESE AWARD

In 2002 the Team Leader of the Hefei-Anqing Expressway Project, Alan Waterworth, was awarded the Huangshan Friendship Award by the Anhui Provincial Government in China. The award acknowledges foreign experts who have been particularly distinguished in their assistance to the province and demonstrated a good spirit of co-operation. This is only the tenth such award to date and was presented by the Vice-Governor of Anhui Province, Mr Tian Wei Qian at a reception.

At the time Alan was leading a SMEC team supporting the local construction managers for the 154-kilometre expressway which was completed on time and within budget.