Professor William Powrie is awarded a CBE
The British Geotechnical Association is pleased to share the news that William Powrie, Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Southampton, has been awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in King Charles’ Birthday honours for services to engineering.
William Powrie is Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Southampton and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. His work on geotechnical aspects of transport infrastructure encompasses groundwater control, in-ground construction to reduce environmental impacts in urban and other sensitive areas, understanding and mitigating vegetation and climate change effects, and fundamental soil behaviour. His internationally-acclaimed textbook Soil Mechanics: Concepts and Applications is now in its third edition
He will deliver the 64th Rankine Lecture in 2026.
He served as chair of Defra’s Technologies Advisory Committee and carried out technical reviews for Network Rail, HS1 and HS2, and chairs the HS2 Independent Geotechnical Expert Panel.
Professor Powrie told the University of Southampton website :“I have worked with many colleagues, who have supported my endeavours, and I’d like to see this award as being as much for them as for me. Most people want to do what they can to make the world a better place – usually without any special recognition – so I feel hugely honoured and fortunate. I’m also very grateful for the consistent and unstinting support of friends and family, so the award is for them too.”
The BGA sends its congratulations to Professor Powrie.