Danielle Simpson leads charge as sole female engineer on SPARK Project

INSPIRED by her parents’ love for serving others, Danielle Simpson always aspired to give back to her county in a meaningful way.

Now, as a major projects manager at the National Works Agency (NWA), she is doing just that by quietly reshaping Jamaica’s civil engineering landscape as the sole female engineer on the agency’s SPARK Road Rehabilitation Programme — an initiative focused on delivering smarter, safer roads to communities across the country.

At age 27, Simpson said she was motivated by her family’s strong tradition of service and saw engineering as a natural path, one that allowed her to combine technical skills with the chance to make a substantial public impact through her passion for building and design.

“I always wanted to build something,” she said, reflecting on her early interest in design and creation. “I first started out with visual arts, but it didn’t quite fit. Then I discovered engineering and that changed everything.”

That moment of clarity set her on a path from St Andrew High School for Girls to the halls of The University of the West Indies, Mona, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.

She shared that her day-to-day routine ranges from managing technical drawings to walking project sites and engaging with community members, ensuring that every element of the SPARK Road Rehabilitation Programme delivers real, measurable impact. Her role spans the length and breadth of the country, taking her to every site involved in the programme’s roll-out.

“This job might not benefit me directly, as it might not be my road that is being transformed at the moment, but if it helps someone else, then it’s worth every bit of effort,” she said.

Beaming with joy, Simpson added: “We’re seeing communities that never had proper drainage getting full systems now. Places where there were no sidewalks, but space existed, we’re putting them in. Roads that were full of potholes are finally being paved. It’s not just about constructing and maintaining roadways, it’s about transforming the lives of those who use our roadways everyday.”

Still, she expressed that being the only woman on the team comes with its own hurdles, as globally, women account for just 16 to 20 per cent of the engineering workforce, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

“I’ve been mistaken for administrative staff more times than I care to admit,” she shared. “But I don’t focus on that. I focus on being prepared. Knowing the project inside out. I make sure that when I’m called on, I’m ready.”

She added: “Women bring fresh perspectives. Sometimes we help arrive at more practical, people-focused solutions and that matters.”

She added that young women with a knack for building or problem-solving should pursue it boldly.

And even now, with years of experience under her belt, Simpson remains curious.

“I remember my first time on site, I had so many questions. I still do. That’s the beauty of this field. There’s always more to learn.”

Her hope for the SPARK Programme is that its legacy stretches beyond asphalt and concrete.

“If we can use this as a model, not just to improve roads, but to strengthen communities and support economic growth, then we’ve really done something meaningful,” she said.

International Women in Engineering Day is being observed today, June 23.