A BASINGSTOKE woman has been crowned Best Woman Civil Engineer at the sixth annual Women in Construction and Engineering (WICE) awards.

Demonstrating excellence in her role, Sonia Hassan beat off eight other finalists to take home the coveted award, designed to find the most exemplary women within construction and engineering across Europe.

As a quality and completions manager for EKFB on the HS2 project in the North Chilterns Area, Sonia is responsible for delivering all aspects of construction related quality and assurance and leading the continuous improvement of standards.

Sonia said: “I am delighted to have won this prestigious award, and to be recognised for my work on one of Europe’s largest civil engineering projects, HS2. In my day-to-day role I am at the sharp end of the project, ensuring that quality and assurance are at the heart of everything we do.

"There were some really excellent candidates in my category, and I believe that if you enjoy your profession and love what you do, you are already a winner!

“There are so many career opportunities in construction and civil engineering, and I am excited to be considered as a role model for other women who might be considering the sector as a career choice.”