Royaldesigners

Dame Jo da Silva has earned global recognition as an engineer who has applied her knowledge and design expertise to improve safety, promote inclusivity, and enhance resilience of communities, cities, and infrastructure globally.

Jo is currently Global Director, Sustainable Development at Arup leading business transformation in response to the climate, biodiversity and equity crises, and an Arup Fellow. She founded Arup International Development to direct Arup’s expertise and creativity to improving human development outcomes in the global south. She has led the planning, design and implementation of buildings, infrastructure, and urban regeneration projects globally, and worked extensively in crisis and disaster contexts for non-governmental, UN agencies and multi-laterals.  

She has an honorary doctorate in humanitarian engineering from Coventry University, and was awarded the Gold Medal by the Institution of Structural Engineers in 2017. She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire this year in recognition of her contribution to international development.