Nicola Turrini

Fika, Director of Private Sector Partnerships

As a structural engineer, I have always been interested in bridges. After finishing my masters in Structural Engineering in Modena (Italy), I spent the first three years of my career working in Spain for “FHECOR Consulting Engineers”, building up my abilities in design and bridge engineering.

After joining Fika’s mission in Nicaragua as a Bridge Corps Fellow at the beginning of 2017, I have built almost 3 years of experience as Rwanda Engineering Manager working from Kigali, where I currently live. Since the beginning of 2021, I work as Global Corporate Partnerships Manager, where I build and maintain the relationships with our corporate partners. In parallel, I am also working as East Africa Marketing Manager, coordinating the capture of media and stories from our East Africa programs.

My Sessions at Day 2

Thursday 11 March 2027

14:00

Connecting Nkombo Island: Engineering a Long-Span Lifeline in Rural Rwanda

14:00 - 14:20

For about 20,000 people living in isolated communities on Nkombo Island in Lake Kivu, Rwanda, access to schools, healthcare and markets currently depends on trying to reach the mainland by boat. Nicola Turrini and Fernando Madrazo-Aguirre explain how Cowi and Fika worked together on the feasibility study for a 350+ m long suspension trail bridge to provide safe year-round access to the entire island:

  • The engineering challenges of a long span in a remote location
  • Designing for local materials, skills and maintenance
  • The social and economic impact of improved access

Speakers