Jonathan Ruddy, EirGrid, named Engineers Ireland Chartered Engineer of the Year

Thursday 12 November 2026

Jonathan Ruddy, Commissioning Manager at EirGrid, has been named Chartered Engineer of the Year by Engineers Ireland. The Donegal native was named as recipient of the prize at a ceremony last night at Engineers Ireland’s offices in Ballsbridge.

Jonathan is currently the Commissioning Manager with EirGrid on the Celtic Interconnector, the €1.6 bn~ HVDC link between Ireland and France. He is responsible for the commissioning of the Irish converter station, and overall commissioning of the HVDC control system. Prior to joining EirGrid, Jonathan was Technology Manager for the €500M Greenlink Interconnector project where he led the delivery of a 500MW VSC HVDC interconnector between Ireland and Wales. The project involved complex multidisciplinary systems, including HVDC converter stations, HVAC/HVDC underground and submarine cables, and both 220kV and 400kV grid connections. Jonathan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in engineering from University College Dublin (UCD), before completing a master’s degree and a PhD, also at UCD.

(L-R): Donal McDaid, Director, Ireland Country Leader, Arup; Jonathan Ruddy, Commissioning Manager at EirGrid & Engineers Ireland Chartered Engineer of the Year; Áine Myler, Director General at Engineers Ireland

Speaking at the event, Áine Myler, Director General at Engineers Ireland, commented:

“Behind the energy we rely on every day are engineers like Jonathan. His work is helping to build a more resilient energy system for Ireland while supporting our transition to cleaner energy. Chartered Engineer is the highest professional title awarded by Engineers Ireland, recognising engineers who demonstrate exceptional competence and a commitment to the highest standards. This year’s finalists reflect the amazing engineering talent we have, and the vital role that engineers play in shaping a more sustainable and secure world. We're delighted to recognise Jonathan as Chartered Engineer of the Year 2026 and celebrate the important contribution he's making to Ireland's future.”

The Chartered Engineer of the Year Award, supported by sustainable development consultancy Arup, is presented annually to an engineer who has demonstrated commitment to his or her engineering discipline and showcases the standards of integrity, innovation, and professionalism that Engineers Ireland upholds. It is recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in Irish engineering. Engineers Ireland is the sole authority to award the registered professional title of Chartered Engineer within the Republic of Ireland, which is granted to professional engineers through a rigorous review process.

(L-R): Áine Myler, Director General at Engineers Ireland; Donal McDaid, Director, Ireland Country Leader, Arup; Jonathan Ruddy, Commissioning Manager at EirGrid & Engineers Ireland Chartered Engineer of the Year; Dave Murphy, President of Engineers Ireland; and Shirley McDonald, Membership Director at Engineers Ireland.

Donal McDaid, Director, Ireland Country Leader at Arup, spoke about the importance of achieving the Chartered Engineer title:

“At Arup, we actively encourage our engineers to become Chartered Engineers. For us, the Chartered Engineer title, which is internationally recognised, is about more than technical excellence. It demonstrates judgement, leadership, professional responsibility, and a commitment to keep learning. Those qualities have never been more important. If you’re considering applying for the title of Chartered Engineer, I’d really encourage you to go for it. It’s a fantastic investment in your future career.”

Runners-up on the evening were finalists Aishwarya Ashok, Energy and Systems Engineer, Transport Infrastructure Ireland; Enda Geraghty, Senior Electrical Engineer, ESB Networks; Eoin Kavanagh Senior Mechanical Engineer, Malone Group; and Laura Fernández Vila, Structural Engineer, Roughan & O’Donovan.