Anna Gradishar, PE is the Washington, DC Office Leader and an Associate Principal at Arup, where she leads strategic engagement in the local market, empowers staff, and fosters an inclusive and dynamic office culture. With over 25 years in the built environment industry and 20 years of experience in fire protection engineering, Anna brings a unique blend of technical expertise and real-world insight from her years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Fairfax County, VA.
Anna holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MS in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in Virginia, Maryland, DC, Tennessee, and Georgia. A passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Anna co-founded the Connect Women Employee Resource Group in the Arup Americas region.
Anna is a proud mom of three teenagers and two Labrador Retrievers. She is quick to point out that she is reliant on the support of coworkers, friends, family and community, and remains sane due to her husband, who has always been an equal partner in their busy lives, and by prioritizing sleep and exercise.