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Meet our engineers  Male structural engineer in earthquake ruins
Joshua Macabuag, male structural engineer

Joshua Macabuag

Catastrophe Consultant

I’m from Romford in Essex and I didn’t know much about engineering when I chose to study it at university. This started me on a journey that would take me to earthquake and tsunami zones around the world, to use my skills as a Structural Engineer to help people affected by natural disasters.

What is your current role?

Structural Vulnerability Specialist and volunteer Search and Rescue Engineer.

What inspired you?

It was a series of small but significant steps that me took to become a Structural Vulnerability Specialist and volunteer Search and Rescue Engineer. I got a master’s degree in Engineering Science, then volunteered for a year in rural South Africa in a government engineering department. That year was an eye-opener for me, and I saw how crucial engineering was to provide the roads and buildings that make living, working, and travelling possible.

Taking part in an engineering investigation after the Japan tsunami inspired me to research how to help buildings survive tsunamis, and I now model the impact on buildings and infrastructure of natural disasters and other catastrophes such as hurricanes, earthquakes and floods.

Factfile

Role
Structural engineer with Search and Rescue Aid
Favourite part of engineering
My driving passion is to use my engineering skills to help make a difference.
Qualification path
GCSEs, A levels, master's degree in engineering science at university.
Joshua Macabuag, male structural engineer

Joshua Macabuag, catastrophe consultant

 Structural engineers in disaster relief training

Joshua discussing structural risks with colleagues

 Male structural engineer in earthquake ruins

Joshua Macabuag, structural engineer

 Structural engineers in disaster relief training

Joshua discussing structural risks with colleagues

Male structural engineer under building archway

Joshua Macabuag, structural engineer

Passion to help using engineering

My driving passion is to use my engineering skills to help make a difference. I spend my free time training as a volunteer search and rescue engineer and have been deployed by urban search and rescue charity SARAID to provide support in the aftermath of disasters like the earthquake in Nepal, and Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean.

"I now model the impact on buildings and infrastructure of natural disasters and other catastrophes"

— Joshua Macabuag, structural engineer

Career timeline

GCSEs and A levels

University

Master's degree in engineering science.

Current role

Structural engineer with Search and Rescue Aid.

Fellowship

Elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng).

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