Dervilla is a Civil Engineer with a background of design in the built environment. Her particular expertise is leading major programmes, and these have included Terminal 5, Heathrow, Terminal 2, Dublin and Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal.

Dervilla has spent most of her career at Arup where she has held Board and Executive positions, been responsible for staff groups, business leadership and has developed new business offers. Most recently she was Deputy Chair of Arup Group and prior to this she was Executive Chair of the UK, India, Middle East and Africa Region of Arup responsible for over 6000 people.

Dervilla currently chairs the National Engineering Policy Centre’s decarbonising UK working group bringing together representatives of engineering organisations to oversee a range of publications and engagement with Government, supporting the ambitions of reaching net zero. She is also a member of the Rapid Electricity System Decarbonisation group which is being led by the Royal Academy of Engineering.