Understanding Board Member Roles
Contributing to Our Mission
The American Society of Civil Engineers, United Kingdom Section, comprises a dedicated team of board members who each play vital roles in steering the direction and policies of the society. Each member brings unique expertise that enriches our collective efforts towards advancing best practices in civil engineering. Board members are tasked with a range of responsibilities, including strategic planning, organisational governance, and fostering community engagement within the engineering sector. They dedicate their time to promoting the society's mission, which centres on improving infrastructure and advocating for sustainable development principles. Through collaboration and leadership, board members ensure that the society remains responsive to the needs of its members and the civil engineering community at large. By harnessing their diverse backgrounds—spanning academia, industry, and government—each member contributes to a holistic understanding of the challenges faced within the discipline, thereby enhancing our capacity to address societal issues effectively. As a result, the American Society of Civil Engineers United Kingdom Section is not only a resource for professional development but also a pivotal player in civil engineering
Meet Our Leadership Team
Learn more about our leadership team members. Each member brings unique insights and experience to the board, driving initiatives forward and fostering a community of civil engineers in the UK.
Gbemisola
Agbaje
CEng MIET, CP.MASCE, Engr.
President
It is a great pleasure to serve as President of ASCE UK SECTION.
I am a Chartered Professional Engineer., Progenitor of Engineering-Themed Environmental Tourism and Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Engineering-Themed Environmental Tourism (JETET).
I believe in promoting STEM to Students in UK .
As an advocate of Equity , Diversity and Inclusion , I invite all to join and together, apply our skills , training and knowledge to make the World , a better and safe place for all Mankind in a sustainable and ethical manner.
ASCE has many Professional Development and Networking Resources accessible to Members .
I invite all engaged in the Civil Engineering Industry in the UK to engage & network with ASCE UK SECTION
Dr. Stefanos Pasto
PhD MBA
President-Elect
Dr. Stefanos Pasto is a senior leader with 25 years of professional and academic experience in civil engineering. His expertise encompasses leading and delivering large-scale complex capital projects across a variety of sectors including aviation , energy , highways , metro, rail and water infrastructure. He has held senior leadership positions at prominent organisations and contributed to academic teaching and research. Stefano has built high performing teams and combines robust technical expertise with effective organisational and operational leadership. He is a Chartered Engineer , holds a PhD in Risk Management in the Built Environment, an MEng in Civil Engineering Structures and has completed an MBA with Entrepreneurship.
Hamedreza Esmaeili
TechCIOB MASCE
Secretary
Hamedreza Esmaeili is a civil and retrofit engineering professional based in Birmingham, United Kingdom, with over 20 years of international experience in construction, infrastructure, drainage, and wastewater systems.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Shiraz (Iran), obtained in 2007, and has recently completed further Civil Engineering studies at De Montfort University in the UK.
Throughout his career in Iran, he has worked on major infrastructure and construction projects in collaboration with leading organisations including the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), Iranian Gas Company, Telecommunications Company, and other large contractors. His experience includes pipeline installation (oil, gas, and water), drainage and sewer systems, and large-scale construction works.
In addition, he has professional experience in engineering insurance, working with insurance companies in Iran in roles related to engineering insurance underwriting and loss assessment, including evaluation of damages, risk assessment, and technical inspections.
In the UK, he has gained further hands-on experience in construction, retrofit, plumbing, and drainage projects, including residential developments and building refurbishment works.
He also holds UK-recognised qualifications in Plumbing and Gas Engineering (City & Guilds), and is a Technical Member of CIOB (TechCIOB) and a member of ASCE. He is currently progressing towards a Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination (PAS 2035), continuing his professional development towards chartered status.
Alongside his professional work, he is actively involved in research focusing on moisture risk, digital monitoring, and sustainable retrofit solutions. His research has been published with a DOI and is based on real UK case studies.
Dr.Nikolaos Lesgidis
PhD M.ASCE
Treasurer
Nikolaos Lesgidis, PhD, M.ASCE is a computational mechanics engineer specializing in the intersection of geotechnical and structural engineering. He is currently serving as the lead developer at Deep Excavation LLC, where he spearheads the development of advanced finite element modeling software for geotechnical applications. He earned his Dipl.-Ing. degree from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), where he also completed his doctoral studies within the Division of Structural Engineering. Dr. Lesgidis has authored more than a dozen peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and international conferences, covering topics such as the seismic fragility of reinforced concrete structures and the model order reduction of inelastic dynamic systems.
Meet Our Leadership Support Team
Learn more about our leadership support team members. Each member brings unique insights and experience to the board, driving initiatives forward and fostering a community of civil engineers in the UK.
Ian
Parke
PE, ICE POLICY FELLOW
Immediate
Past President.
ICE Liason
I am recently retired but very much involved with Civil Engineering. I am the current Immediate Past President of the ASCE United Kingdom Section. I am a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. I Co-Chair the Low Carbon Energy Community Advisory Board at the Institution. I am also a reviewer of those members who are applying for Chartered Membership. I am a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Engineers in the City of London. In addition to Engineering I am a family mentor with the charity BackUp for those individuals and families that have and are suffering from spinal injury
I was a Director of the Engineering Equipment and Material Users Association in the UK. I was also Chair of the Civil Engineering Board on behalf of UK Power Station Operators (GENSIP)
Chris
Gwaltney
PE MASCE
University Engagment Liason
I have recently retired from the Civil & Environmental Engineering faculty at Lipscomb University in Nashville Tennessee and moved to County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. My primary area of interest is in geotechnical engineering and my consulting was focused on earth dams. Although my career spanned nearly 30 years as a faculty member, I also worked for several years for the US Army Corps of Engineers and consulted with the Nashville Office of Stantec. I have been licensed as a professional engineer in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee; and I’m currently an emeritus member of the Indiana State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.
I have served ASCE in various capacities including all offices in the SW Branch of the Indiana Section, Treasurer of the Indiana Section, and President of the Nashville Branch of the Tennessee Section. I am most proud of serving as the Faculty Advisor for the award winning Student Chapters of the University of Evansville in Indiana and the Lipscomb University in Nashville. I am happy to serve the ASCE UK Section and I am looking forward to helping UK universities in forming student chapters
Lorenzo
Allievi
Industrial Engagement Liason
I am a Civil Engineer specialising in Geotechnical Engineering.
Having started my professional career in Italy, my experience comprises the design of civil engineering and building structures across Mainland Europe, USA and UK.
I am a chartered engineer in Italy and UK and I authored a number of papers treating topics related to geotechnical engineering.
My main area of interest is soil-structure interaction and its application to civil engineering projects.
I am happy to join the ASCE UK SECTION and to give my contribution to help linking it up with the civil engineering consulting industry in UK.
