Mark Ellis

Describe what the Mott Mac Life means to you in three words

Excellence, commitment and family.

What do you enjoy about working here?

I enjoy working with a highly talented and diverse team of planners and engineers to support social change, positively impacting the residents of the country where I live. I take pride in delivering some of the most innovative and significant land development projects in the world.

Tell us about your specialism and why you chose it

Graduating civil engineering gave me an opportunity to consider a diverse range of specialisms. I have always been interested in how the engineering solutions that we develop directly impact and affect the people that interact with them. This led me to pursue a career in transportation planning and land development where people’s interaction with their community is shaped by the solutions we provide. I have combined this technical passion with the skillset of multi-disciplinary project management, ultimately leading a team delivering this in Abu Dhabi.

Why did you choose to join Mott MacDonald?

I love the fact that we are employee owned, giving us the ability to really shape the future business of Mott MacDonald with full control of growth and quality.
How has your career progressed since joining? My career at Mott MacDonald has been varied and working in a large, multi-disciplinary, global company has enabled me to gain experience across multiple disciplines, client side, site as a package manager, and international experience. I have progressed technically and operationally to the point where I currently lead a team of over 50 people and manage our land development business in Abu Dhabi.

What have you learnt while working at Mott MacDonald?

People are at the centre of all we do. Whether this be our staff, our clients or the end user, it is all about finding solutions to improve the lives of all people.

How do you demonstrate Technical Excellence in your work?

Ensuring outputs meet project specific aspirations through enabling every aspect of project delivery and ensuring accountability of all involved. Our team is constantly challenged to ensure continuous technical and personal development to remain the very best at what they do.

How do you contribute to Mott MacDonald making a difference to people and the planet?

This is core to all I do. My role and my team’s delivery are centred around creating developments for the betterment of society, residents and the local environment. Every project we embark on, we intend to create an environment where people are more connected to each other, and their environment, enhancing wellbeing for individual residents and their local communities.

Where in the world has your role taken you?

I’ve been fortunate to work across the UK and further afield in the Middle East including the UAE, KSA, Oman and Qatar. I’ve also had the privilege of working in and with teams in the USA, Europe, Singapore and Australia.

What are your career highlights and achievements?

The sheer variety of what I have been able to tackle and the opportunity to regularly take on new challenges. In particular, my move to the Middle East to work on several complex land development projects with our trusted partners and clients, across Abu Dhabi and KSA.

Are you involved in any additional initiatives at Mott MacDonald, aside from your day-to-day role?

Many initiatives to support innovation and technical excellence including automation of project delivery.