Sidara Voices & Visions
Engineering a more equitable future: How Women at Sidara are creating a meaningful impact
Perspectives from the Women Leading Innovation across our Teams at TYLin and Maffeis Engineering At Sidara, we believe inclusive leadership fuels meaningful innovation. This International Women in Engineering Day, we’re proud to celebrate the women across our global collaborative who are shaping the future. This year’s theme, #TogetherWeEngineer, speaks to the collective strength of women who are transforming communities, redefining boundaries, and championing progress. In this special edition of Voices & Visions, we hear from women engineers across Sidara whose work spans underground infrastructure for water, energy, and transportation, as well as complex structures like bridges, buildings, and stadiums. From designing resilient tunnels to delivering large-scale public venues, their contributions are shaping the built environment and improving lives around the world. Through their stories, we reflect on the importance of representation in engineering —and that collaboration, mentorship, and equity are key to creating a more inclusive and impactful future for all.
We begin with Sara Bech, Tunnel Design Engineer at TYLin, whose path into infrastructure engineering was fueled by a commitment to advancing equitable access to mobility, water, and energy. From conducting research in Sierra Leone to shaping underground infrastructure across Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East, Sara brings a global perspective to every project she touches. Here, she shares how her commitment to “responsible engineering” guides her approach—from designing resilient tunnels that serve generations to fostering inclusive, impact-driven teamwork.
What drew you to infrastructure engineering, and how do you see your work shaping cities and communities?
"My interest in infrastructure engineering began with a desire to enhance people's lives by improving mobility and ensuring global access to water and energy. I was also inspired by the idea of creating equitable infrastructure worldwide. During my university years, I had the incredible opportunity to spend several months in Sierra Leone, Africa, where I conducted research on existing road infrastructure.
My goal was to develop a route selection methodology that prioritizes investment based on local, social, economic, and environmental benefits. Upon completing my MSc degree in Civil Engineering, I began my career in tunnel engineering. Since then, I have had the privilege of working on numerous exciting underground infrastructure projects across the transportation and water sectors. These experiences have not only been professionally rewarding but have also allowed me to contribute to the development and progress of cities and communities around the world."
Sara Bech Tunnel Design Engineer at TYLin, Spain
Jeddah East Tunnel, Saudi Arabia
"I certainly believe that diverse and inclusive teams add significant value to infrastructure design—through clearer communication, stronger coordination, and more tailored, optimized solutions."
How do you approach designing infrastructure that serves both today's needs and tomorrow’s challenges?
"When approaching a new infrastructure design, we aim to fulfill several objectives. Our primary focus is on providing safe, optimized, and sustainable infrastructure. We also prioritize functionality, durability, addressing both current and future societal needs, minimizing environmental impact, ensuring safety, and mitigating future risks.
The planning stages are crucial, as they offer engineers the opportunity to significantly enhance infrastructure for communities in terms of connectivity, landscape impact, and surface occupancy—with tunneling playing a vital role.
As the design progresses, the selection of materials, structural optimization, and maintenance considerations become essential tools in ensuring resilient infrastructure that can withstand the project’s design life, which for tunnels typically extends 100 to 120 years."
Halkali-Ispartakule Railway Line, Istanbul, Turkey
Barcelona Line 9 Metro Tunnel, Spain
"To me, responsible engineering means working hard to achieve excellence—going beyond project delivery with a commitment to enhance relationships and cultivate my passion for tunneling within the team."
What challenges have you overcome as a woman in engineering—and how have they shaped your leadership style?
"After 15 years of working as a woman in civil engineering, I can say I have faced two major personal challenges. The first has been the occasional feeling of needing to prove my competence as an engineer. Fortunately, this has only occurred in certain environments; in my day-to-day work, I have generally been recognized and empowered by clients, colleagues, and leaders.
The second challenge has been balancing my engineering career with family life, as both demand continuous and significant effort. Even when sacrifices are necessary, I’ve been able to maintain a healthy balance between my professional and personal roles.
These challenges have helped shape my leadership style, which I define as a 'Responsible Engineering' perspective. To me, this means working hard to achieve excellence—going beyond project delivery with a commitment to building relationships and cultivating my passion for tunneling within our team."
Can you share a moment when your voice or perspective as a woman made a difference in a project?
"I cannot say if the difference is because I am a woman or because of my personal approach, but I certainly believe that diverse and inclusive teams add significant value to any infrastructure design. In my particular case, I think I am able to detect, assess, and face challenges from a wide range of perspectives, providing clear, topic-focused communications, coordination and fostering better understanding among all involved parties. These strengths have contributed to optimized designs and tailored solutions."
Moa River Ferry, Pujehun District, Sierra Leone
Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day
Next, we turn to Petra Obrietan, Building Engineer and Architect | BIM Manager at Maffeis Engineering, who brings nearly a decade of experience leading the design and coordination of complex structures across the globe. With a background in both engineering and architecture, Petra specializes in large-scale projects—from bridges and buildings to stadiums—guiding them from concept through construction with technical precision and digital innovation.
In this interview, she reflects on the power of inclusive design, the impact of women in engineering, and how tools like BIM are reshaping not just how we build, but how we collaborate, lead, and evolve as an industry.
What inspires you most when you're designing spaces that bring people together, like arenas and stadiums?
"These days, arenas and stadiums have become more than just structures; they are places where people come together to share experiences related to sports, music, and culture. As a professional, I dedicate my expertise to creating inclusive, safe, and accessible environments where everyone feels welcome. Knowing that our work allows people to meet and share moments of collective joy, pride, and even history-making events motivates me every day. It's about designing experiences that bring communities and people together—not just buildings."
Petra Obrietan Building Engineer and Architect | BIM Manager at Maffeis Engineering, Italy
Al Janoub Stadium, Doha-Qatar
Ski Village, Olympics Asian Game 2029, Trojena, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
How do you translate architectural vision into structural precision for large-scale spaces?
“Translating architectural vision into structural precision requires synergy among disciplines, technologies, and people. As a BIM manager, I bridge the gap between creative ambition and technical feasibility through digital coordination. Using advanced modeling tools and cutting-edge workflows—many of which we develop in-house—we align every detail from the early stages of the design process. For large-scale venues like stadiums, this level of precision is essential. It enables us to manage complexity, optimize materials, and ensure safety and constructability while respecting the architectural intent. This process transforms vision into accurate, efficient, and inspiring reality."
Arena Santa Giulia, Milan, Italy
"As a woman in this field, I feel a deep sense of purpose—not just in delivering complex projects, but in representing what’s possible for the next generation."
What does it mean to you to be a woman in a highly specialized engineering field like this?
"It means resilience, responsibility, and pride. Working in a highly specialized engineering field, especially in large-scale and high-impact projects, has often meant being one of the few women in the room. But it has also meant being part of the change. Every day, I have the opportunity to demonstrate that leadership, innovation, and technical excellence know no gender.
As a woman in this field, I feel a deep sense of purpose—not just in delivering complex, world-class projects, but in representing what’s possible for the next generation. It’s incredibly rewarding to contribute to shaping spaces that bring people together while also helping to shape a more inclusive and diverse industry. And I’m proud to be part of a company that values that vision."
Do you feel the design and engineering of public spaces changes when more women are involved?
"A diverse range of points of view and experiences is essential to a successful design process. When people with different backgrounds bring different solutions to the table, a rich and creative design emerges. This leads to smoother workflows and better-coordinated outcomes, which is especially critical for projects like stadiums and arenas. Thanks to the rise of BIM, I’ve also seen a positive shift: more women entering and thriving in roles across the digital construction ecosystem. BIM has opened doors not just for innovation, but for inclusion.
Today, women are playing key roles in driving the digital transformation of the construction industry—and their contributions are reshaping how we build, collaborate, and lead."
Arena Santa Giulia, Milan, Italy
As we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day 2025, this edition of Voices & Visions reminds us that engineering goes beyond technical solutions—it’s about shared purpose, bold leadership, and the impact we create when we build together.
To learn more about the work of TYLin and Maffeis Engineering—and the women leading with innovation and intention—connect with our engineers on LinkedIn and explore how their projects are transforming infrastructure and shaping communities around the world.
Sara Bech Tunnel Design Engineer at TYLin
Petra Obrietan BIM Manager at Maffeis Engineering
