Our People
Meet Charles Schelpe
Peterborough, England, U.K.
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Jacobs’ Global Principal for Flood Infrastructure Engineering Charles Schelpe has over 30 years of experience developing major flood risk management and water infrastructure solutions for our clients.
As climate change threatens our cities and environments with more severe rain events, flooding and storm surges, Charles helps to develop forward-thinking solutions that protect communities for tomorrow.
Charles’ experience spans a wide variety of projects involving fluvial, tidal and coastal engineering, covering works including storm surge barriers, flood and lock gates, flood storage reservoirs, flood defense walls and embankments, erosion protection and managed realignment/wetland creation. He has supported clients with services ranging from the preparation of feasibility and economic appraisal studies to flood risk assessments, detailed designs, construction supervision and asset management plans. His experience includes the use of computational and physical hydraulic and sediment modeling, ecological surveys and mitigation, river restoration, environmental impact assessments and community planning and engagement.
As global principal, Charles has supported major flood infrastructure programs worldwide such as the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project in New York City, NY, and the TEAM2100 program in London. He was also responsible for the project management, conceptual design and appraisal of the fixed flood defenses—190 miles in length—on both shores of the River Thames as part of the Thames Estuary 2100 Strategy.
“The power of water has always fascinated me and has driven my career path. In a way, you are interfacing with something inspiring that can be both destructive and life supporting.”
Charles Schelpe
Get to know Charles
Charles, you’ve been working in flood risk management for three decades. How did you get started in this field, and what attracted you to it?
In high school, I was adept at math and science. They sat me down during a career advisement session and told me I would be good at either accounting or engineering. Accounting sounded way too boring for me, so engineering it was! We also had a family friend who was one of the top water engineers in South Africa, so learning about what he did really interested me. That influence led to my choosing to go to university to study civil engineering.
Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, my life involved a constant interaction with water as I lived next to a river and near to the sea. The power of water has always fascinated me and has driven my career path. In a way, you are interfacing with something inspiring that can be both destructive and life supporting. Both my father and mother were botanists, which has shaped my experience and interest in nature and the need to protect and nurture it.
How has your international experience influenced the way you approach engineering?
My involvement with the development and delivery of projects across the globe, as well as international networks such as I-STORM, has given me a direct exposure to the unique ideas and innovative solutions that people are bringing to sustainability and flood resiliency around the world. Every project is never quite the same and they all vary in the size and complexity involved; but there are always lessons learned and experiences that you can take from one situation and apply it somewhere else in the world to develop a stronger solution.
What do you enjoy most about being part of #OurJacobs team?
It’s the variety of projects I get to work on, the reach of experts you can work with and the power of such a vast network. Whether it’s technology or management, you can usually find someone in our global team to help solve your problem. This ability to continue to innovate, engage and exchange knowledge to make the world a better place through these networks, as well as mentor the next generation of flood infrastructure engineers, is a constant source of enjoyment for me.