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"For several decades, he has taken a
leading role in sharing his knowledge, insights and expertise
with the public as well as a
wide range of professionals..."
The Jury for the Sasakawa
Award for Disaster Reduction 2007
Mr Tony Gibbs is a
pioneer in developing buildings in the Caribbean and elsewhere
to withstand natural hazards such as hurricanes and earthquakes.
Other interests of this civil engineer involve working with
architects and other professionals to create innovative designs
for hazard-resistant buildings using a variety of high-strength
concrete forms.
Tony Gibbs was born on
2nd October, 1937 in St. George's, Grenada. His parents
were civil servants whose jobs entailed frequent overseas
assignments. As a result, he attended 10 schools: eight
primary schools in Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Trinidad
and Tobago, and two secondary schools, St. Vincent Boys' Grammar
School and Presentation Brothers' College in Grenada.
His academic ability
won him a Colonial Development Scholarship, which he used to
attend Queen's University in Belfast in 1957. There, he
completed a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Civil Engineering in
1961. After gaining some professional experience in the
field both in Trinidad and in London, he was awarded a
Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue a postgraduate Diploma in
Concrete Technology at the University of Leeds.
Mr Gibbs is truly a
Caribbean man. He has worked in every country in the
region and was personally responsible for over 1,600 building
projects of his firm over a period of 35 years. In
addition to designing buildings to withstand natural hazards, he
has taken a keen and practical interest in the interrelationship
of engineering and insurance.
Mr Gibbs played a
critical role on the Caribbean Uniform Building Code committee
and was a member of several committees on building standards,
and on science and technology in Barbados.
Internationally, he has held top positions at The Institution of
Structural Engineers in the United Kingdom, and the American
Association for Wind Engineering.
 As
a result of his outstanding work, Mr Gibbs has been honoured
with several awards, most notably the Lewis Kent Award for
service to structural engineering for three decades, given by
The Institution of Structural Engineers. In 2007, he was
Joint Laureate for the Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction
given by the United Nations.
Mr Tony Gibbs has influenced standards and
advances in building design worldwide. Currently, he is
the Secretary General of the Council of Caribbean Engineering
Organisations and a member of many international committees on
natural hazards. He is also a member of the Disaster
Mitigation Advisory Group of the Pan American Health
Organization.
He advises students to, "Make the best use of
opportunities that come your way. Be prepared to continue
learning throughout your career."
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