Ian Firth

Ian Firth is well known as a bridge designer responsible for the engineering design of a wide variety of bridges, great and small, around the world. He regularly works in multi-disciplinary teams alongside leading bridge architects and several of his projects have received high profile design awards. His bridge projects include major large span suspension or cable stayed bridges, as well as more modest but aesthetically interesting and technically challenging pedestrian bridges.

In addition to his design work, Ian has been involved for many years in the assessment, maintenance and upgrading of existing bridges, particularly steel box girder bridges, and he regularly provides specialist advice on long span bridge design and construction. Ian joined Flint & Neill in 1979 after graduating from the University of Bristol in the UK and became a Partner in the firm in 1990. When F&N joined the COWI Group in 2008 Ian became Chief Operating Officer.

He has been for many years an active member of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) and is Chairman of the British Group of the Association. He is also Vice President of the Institution of Structural Engineers, due to assume the role of President in 2017 which he considers to be a great honour.

Ian Firth is a member of the Bridges to Prosperity Board of Directors and Chair of the Bridges to Prosperity UK Charitable Trust.