New SuDS Award honours the legacy of Dr Louise Walker
This year, susdrain introduced a very special award in memory of a much‑missed colleague and passionate advocate for sustainable drainage, Dr Louise Walker.
The Dr Louise Walker Award for Outstanding Contribution to SuDS celebrates those who have gone above and beyond to champion and advance sustainable drainage across the sector. It’s a tribute to Louise, who sadly passed away from MND, and whose legacy and impact continue to inspire.
The judging panel felt it was only fitting that the first recipient of this award be Dr Jacqueline Diaz‑Nieto, Associate SuDS Engineer at The Environmental Protection Group (EPG).
Dr Diaz‑Nieto has long been a tireless champion for SuDS, demonstrating the very best of the values that the award aims to highlight. Her dedication, collaborative approach, and deep expertise have advanced the case for better and more widespread use of sustainable drainage across communities and projects.
Accepting the award, Dr Diaz‑Nieto said:
“This is the most meaningful award I could imagine receiving. Louise was a personal friend, so to win the inaugural award in her name is incredibly touching. I’m truly honoured and humbled.”
CIRIA’s Adrien Baudrimont added:
“This award is a fitting tribute to Louise’s legacy, and it’s an honour to present it to Jacqueline, who embodies the same passion, drive, and collaborative spirit that Louise brought to the sector every day.”
The award will now become an annual feature of the susdrain SuDS Champions Awards, shining a light on those making a lasting difference to sustainable drainage.