Anne Marie Conibear, a distinguished Engineers Ireland Fellow and civil engineer with nearly 35 years of experience, has been named the recipient of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Republic of Ireland branch Outstanding Achievement Award for 2026, according to an announcement made at the branch’s recent annual dinner. The annual award recognizes a civil engineer who has made a significant contribution to the profession in Ireland, marking its 12th year since its 2015 inception.
Candidates for the honor are nominated by previous recipients, the committee, and branch members, with the winner decided by a vote of past award recipients. Branch chair Keith Elliott stated that Conibear represents a shining example of a professional engineer encompassing technical excellence, leadership, and teamwork.
Career in Water Infrastructure and International Projects
Conibear’s career spans almost 35 years of leading the development of water treatment, wastewater, and flood relief schemes across Ireland. After graduating from University College Dublin in 1991 with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, she began working in the UK with Binnie and Partners—later known as Binnie Black and Veatch—where she spent seven years building water sector experience alongside secondments with Ferguson and McIlveen and Taylor Woodrow Civil Engineering Ltd.
Her international portfolio includes key water infrastructure and flood relief projects in the UK, Latvia, Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, and Lesotho. Returning to Ireland in 1998, she joined JB Barry and Partners, handling feasibility reports, detailed design, tender assessment, construction supervision, and project management across flooding, water, and wastewater infrastructure until her retirement in 2025.
Among her most prominent assignments, Conibear served for nine years from 2016 to 2025 as project director for the major upgrade of the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant in Dublin. Appointed a director of JB Barry in 2016, she helped guide the firm up to its acquisition by the international consultancy group egis.
Did You Know? The Outstanding Achievement Award was established in 2015, making the 2026 presentation the 12th year of the accolade’s history within the Republic of Ireland branch of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Energy Management and Sustainable Urban Development
In addition to her extensive water sector portfolio, Conibear expanded her professional scope into energy management and the sustainable development of cities. She concluded her career with JB Barry and egis as Ireland country lead in energy and sustainable cities, and she currently continues to act as a consultant to egis across her areas of expertise.
Her professional credentials include being a Chartered Engineer, a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers since 1998, a Fellow of Engineers Ireland since 2010, and a Fellow of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI) since 2016. She served as president of the ACEI, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the organization’s 86-year history. Elliott noted that her career serves as an inspiration to young people considering engineering, particularly women entering a traditionally male-dominated field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who selects the recipient of the ICE Republic of Ireland branch Outstanding Achievement Award?
The recipient is decided by a vote of previous award recipients, following nominations submitted by past winners, the ICE RoI committee, and branch members.
What key water project did Anne Marie Conibear direct between 2016 and 2025?
She served as project director for the major upgrade of the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant in Dublin.
What historic milestone did Conibear achieve with the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland?
She served as president of the ACEI, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the organization’s 86-year history.