Arup COO Fiona Cousins Elected RAEng Fellow
The leadership appointment of this engineering veteran marks a key milestone for the global design firm.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in People
In 2026, the Royal Academy of Engineering elected Fiona Cousins as one of 75 new Fellows. Cousins currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Total Design at Arup.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights the career trajectory of leadership figures who bridge operational design at large-scale firms with influential roles in international professional bodies.
The Royal Academy of Engineering appointed 75 new Fellows in 2026, marking a significant annual induction group. The process draws from industry-wide expertise across both UK and US jurisdictions.
The players
Fiona Cousins
The Chief Operating Officer for Total Design at Arup who has held leadership roles at the US Green Building Council and CIBSE.
Royal Academy of Engineering
A UK-based engineering academy that awards Fellowships to industry leaders based on peer-reviewed professional excellence.
Arup
A global multidisciplinary design and engineering firm known for its large-scale infrastructure and architectural projects.
The details
The fellowship election process at the Royal Academy of Engineering recognizes engineering professionals for excellence in their field. Cousins, who previously led the US Green Building Council and served as President of CIBSE, brings her experience as Arup's Chief Operating Officer for Total Design to the organization. This election reflects her long-term engagement with global professional standards.
Timeline
Fiona Cousins served as President of CIBSE from 2024 to 2025.
The Royal Academy of Engineering elected Fiona Cousins as a Fellow in 2026.
Market Landscape
The 2026 Royal Academy of Engineering election cycle continues the trend of integrating corporate operational leaders into academic and professional oversight bodies. This follows the pattern set by the Academy’s historical focus on bridging high-level industrial practice with institutional policy.
Operators should monitor the shifting influence of industry leaders who hold concurrent roles in major professional bodies. Tracking these appointments helps identify the executives driving cross-industry regulatory and engineering standards.
The takeaway
The election of Arup's COO underscores the importance of leadership presence in key engineering institutions to steer industry standards. Track the future involvement of newly named fellows to anticipate shifts in the professional guidelines impacting your specific design or engineering sub-sectors.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership and executive moves, see our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Raeng.
