Emma Anderson (1972 – 2025)
A brilliant engineering geologist, respected worldwide for her expertise in ground investigations.
Emma Anderson (© Haskoning)
Emma Anderson was a confident, capable engineer, who took on each new project with interest, enthusiasm and her usual meticulous attention to detail.
Making her mark
Emma began her journey as a geologist at the University of St Andrews with a BSc in Geoscience, before undertaking an Engineering Geology Masters at Newcastle University, which she completed in 1998. She then worked for 4 years for AEG (now part of Igne), undertaking and supervising ground investigations all over the UK.
Working for a contractor on site in those days would have had its rewards and challenges; long hours, often challenging weather, and dealing with what was very much a male dominated industry. It would have also exposed her to the varied geology that the British Isles brings and inevitably shaped her into the geologist everyone came to know.
Global recognition
In 2003, she joined consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV (now Haskoning) and spent over two decades supervising ground investigations, eventually becoming the company’s Principal Engineering Geologist. Through Emma’s skill and experience, she was able to guide projects through their early stages when little was known about a site’s history and development potential. She was always keen to get out on site and supervise the ground investigations, providing invaluable experience to clients and colleagues. Being incredibly organised, thorough, clear in her decisions and meticulously detailed, her expertise was sought out by many across the UK and overseas.
Her expertise was sought out by many across the UK and overseas
In the past year alone, Emma worked on projects located over the full extent of the UK mainland; from Barra in the Scottish Outer Hebrides and Pembroke dock in Wales to Portsmouth in the south of England. Further afield, she was involved in upgrades to Nepal’s International Airport, and a new airport development in Bhutan.
Over her working life, she was part of projects spanning the globe, including Poland, Indonesia, the Philippines, Egypt, Qatar, Vietnam, Japan, Myanmar, Mexico, Eritrea, Bahrain, Jordan, Turkey, Singapore, Pakistan, Nigeria…. the list goes on. A highlight she often reflected on was an epic journey to St Helena, consisting of a flight to South Africa and 5-day boat trip to the island, each way. For Emma however, perhaps a welcome chance to catch up on some good books!
Beyond the site
Outside of work, Emma was a member of three different choirs, one of which she was part of for some 30 years. Over that period, she performed at many prestigious venues across the country, including Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster and Durham Cathedral. She was also an avid reader of books, having well over 3,000 physical copies on her shelves at home.
Emma was a pleasure to be around. She had a calm, thoughtful way about her, an infectious explosive laugh and mischievous sense of humour. She will be remembered not only for her immense professional contributions, but just as much for her warm, engaging spirit and the thoughtful person she was.
By Chris Hartley Geotechnical Technical Director for Haskoning UK
