How has your career developed since joining Mott MacDonald as a graduate?
I originally joined Mott MacDonald’s geotechnical team in Singapore, though I am now based in Croydon. So far I have worked on tunnel, highways and underground structure projects where I have been lucky to have the support and appreciation of my peers.
What has been your favourite projects to work on?
My favourite project to date was an assessment of bored tunnels subjected to consolidation in soft soils. The site was reclaimed from sea and the ground was subsequently treated before tunnels were bored through it. The assessment required calibration of model parameters and lots of back analyses.
Other projects I have been involved in include Liverpool Street Station (Moorgate Shaft), and assessment works and soil-structure interaction analysis for one of the stations of the Doha Gold Line.
What is the best thing about working at Mott MacDonald?
The best thing about Mott MacDonald is that the company gives you total freedom, resources and mobility in developing your career path. With the projects I was involved in, not only did I get to interact and share knowledge with my colleagues in geotechnics, but I also got to learn things from people working in other domains, such as rail infrastructure.
What do you think makes Mott MacDonald unique?
Not only has Mott MacDonald made its name by delivering robust infrastructure over the years, but it’s also a company which also looks into the future to shape our current practices for the good of society. Sustainability ranks highly in all of our infrastructure initiatives, and we are also looking into using big data to improve the life-cycle of an asset whilst minimising risks to the owners, users and the environment.
What advice would you give to current students applying to Mott MacDonald?
Don’t limit yourself to just one sector, try to branch out! Interact with people from different teams where possible and create a career out of the things which you really love to do.
