Trenchless Woman of the Year – Past and Present

TRENCHLESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER 2025

SHAUNA HERRON

UKSTT is delighted to announce that the esteemed Trenchless Woman of the Year Award for 2025 will be presented to Shauna Herron BEng CEng FICE CEnv, Managing Director at Environmental Techniques. This prestigious accolade celebrates her remarkable achievements and steadfast dedication to advancing the trenchless technology sector over the years.

Shauna has been a cornerstone of the UKSTT since joining in 2002, showcasing her commitment through her invaluable service on the Council. Her exceptional leadership in organising and coordinating the IRISH roadshows has been particularly noteworthy, helping to expand the reach and impact of trenchless technologies across Ireland. Her technical expertise, coupled with her passion for innovation in the field, has made her an inspiration to many in the industry. We recently sat down with Shauna to discuss her professional journey and insights into the industry, and here’s what she shared…

First of all, congratulations on being presented with the UKSTT’s Trenchless Woman of the Year award.
What does it feel like to be recognised for what, for those of us that know you, has been a significant part of your working life?

It’s a real honour and privilege to receive this award. Over the years, I’ve seen remarkable women like Jo Parker and Kimberlie Staheli celebrated for their contributions, but I never imagined my own work would place me among them. It’s both humbling and deeply gratifying to be recognised by my peers in this way.

What does the Award mean to you personally (and/or to your family)?

Most of my time is spent focused on the day-to-day work—building our team, driving projects forward, and helping the business grow. Recognition like this isn’t something I ever expect, so it came as a genuine surprise. I’m proud of it, of course, but what means the most is what it says about the amazing people I’ve had the chance to work with and learn from over the years.

What was your background/experience originally and what brought you into the trenchless industry?

I studied Civil Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast, starting at age 16. My early career included roles with Harland & Wolff and a design consultancy in Jordan, followed by a decade with Charles Brand Ltd in their Marine Division, where I worked on ports, pipelines, bridges, and even trained as a commercial diver to inspect underwater works firsthand.

In 1999, I joined Environmental Techniques (ET) as General Manager. The company had been founded to focus on inspection and trenchless repair of tunnels and sewers. Since then, we’ve grown from a small local team into a UK-wide operation with a reputation for technical innovation and environmental responsibility. Joining Azuria in 2017 has enabled Environmental Techniques to flourish.

What has been your most challenging trenchless experience over those years (project/product development)?

Every project brings its own set of challenges—technical, logistical, or stakeholder-related—but the one that stands out most for me has been leading the drone-based inspection initiative we developed in partnership with Good Friday Robotics, Dawson Wam, Scottish Water, Northern Ireland Water, and Caledonia Water Alliance. The goal was to inspect previously inaccessible or hazardous environments using autonomous drones supported by AI-driven analysis.

It pushed us into new technical territory—navigating confined, GPS-denied spaces, integrating emerging technologies, and aligning different organisations behind a shared goal. The learning curve was steep, but the potential impact on safety, efficiency, and data quality has made it one of the most rewarding efforts of my career. It was a true trenchless challenge—not in digging less, but in seeing more without digging at all.

Can you detail your specific actions or activities related to the advancement of trenchless technology during your career?

Technical Innovation:

• Championed the development of higher-performance liners and improved installation processes, helping to raise the bar for trenchless rehabilitation standards. One of our sister companies, Insituform invented Cured in Place Lining (CIPP) in 1971 and it has been fantastic to be involved in the progression of lining.
• Led the adoption of drone-based inspection technologies, most notably through a collaborative initiative involving Good Friday Robotics, Dawson Wam, Scottish Water, Northern Ireland Water, and Caledonia Water Alliance. This project extends Environmental Techniques trenchless capabilities into the inspection of complex and confined infrastructure, integrating drone technology with AI-based analysis to deliver faster, safer, and more consistent inspection outcomes.
• Pioneered the use of artificial intelligence in condition assessment workflows—automating the review of CCTV footage to accelerate decision-making and reduce operator subjectivity.

Marketing & Communication:

• Focused on securing early-stage Water Companies buy-in by demonstrating the value of new technologies in real-world conditions.
• Worked to overcome resistance to change across the industry—from site teams to senior designers—by fostering open dialogue and promoting a culture of innovation. This has included everything from toolbox talks on-site to speaking at trenchless technology forums across the UK, Ireland and globally.

What do you see as being your own greatest personal achievement in the trenchless industry?

Helping to build and sustain a company culture where people feel empowered to innovate, take ownership, and continuously improve. Seeing Environmental Techniques grow into a trusted name across the UK while staying true to our environmental ethos and commitment to quality has been a deeply fulfilling journey.

Have you any now or when you started in trenchless did you have any role models in the industry? Who? Why?

I’ve had a number of fantastic mentors, but one role models who stands out is Dec Downey. His ability to balance deep technical knowledge with vision and practical execution made a lasting impression on me. He exemplified the kind of leadership and passion that moves our industry forward.

What do you currently see as the UK’s and the industry’s most urgent challenges and where do you hope to see the trenchless industry in the next 10 to 20 years?

The industry is largely moving from reactive repair to preventative maintenance based on regular inspection intervals. The next big challenge is bringing together the right mix of technologies—robotics, sensors, AI—to make these inspections faster, safer, and more actionable.

There’s significant opportunity in the inspection of smaller diameter sewers as component miniaturisation advances. I also hope to see regulatory and funding frameworks evolve to better support faster, more efficient underground project delivery.

And crucially, we must keep investing in people—training, mentoring, and retaining the next generation of skilled trenchless professionals. That’s something we remain focused on every day in our own business.

If there is anything else trenchless related you would like to mention that we have not covered already, please feel free to comment.

One thing I’d like to add is how important it is for our industry to be visible and inclusive—particularly to younger generations and those who may not traditionally see themselves in roles like ours. When I was at school and told my careers teacher I wanted to be an engineer, I was told to consider nursing or teaching instead because I was a girl. Thankfully, I ignored that advice.

Throughout my career, I’ve tried to lead by example and open the door a little wider for others—especially young women considering a future in engineering. Whether through mentoring, outreach, or simply showing up and doing the job with integrity, I hope I’ve helped to shift the perception of who belongs in this space.

I also think the environmental and sustainability aspects of trenchless technology are still under-celebrated. The ability to minimise disruption, reduce waste, and extend the life of infrastructure aligns perfectly with the challenges our society faces today. It’s one of the reasons I remain so passionate about this work—we’re not just innovating; we’re contributing to a more responsible and resilient future.