Maria Mingallon

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

Collaboration, innovation, impact. 

What do you enjoy about working here?

I love that we’re employee-owned and have a collaborative culture and shared purpose.

Being an employee-owned company means everyone’s voice matters, and there’s a real sense of ownership and teamwork. I enjoy working with diverse, talented colleagues on projects that truly make a difference. There’s strong support for growth, flexibility in how we work, and encouragement to pursue new ideas – it’s a place where I’ve been able to thrive and innovate.

Working with smart, talented and driven people, who don’t stop at first block found, is inspiring. Our people are really passionate about the ingenuity part of being an engineer and that, in the world of digital transformation, becomes a real catalyst for successful implementation.

Tell us about your specialism and why you chose it

As a trusted advisor in the digital space, I specialise in helping clients and project teams navigate digital transformation, especially with AI. I chose this field because I’ve always been fascinated by how technology can make construction smarter and more efficient and solve complex challenges.

My background is in civil engineering and I started out designing bridges, then moved on to buildings. I had originally wanted to study architecture but couldn’t because of financial constraints. When I began working, I managed to secure a scholarship and completed a masters in emergent technologies at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. It was there that I discovered visual scripting and computational design techniques, which allowed me to use coding and computation to streamline calculations, design, and modelling. This was a turning point in my career, blending engineering with technology.

Around the end of 2019, I began exploring AI. Seeing its applications in other industries got me curious about how it could be used in our lives as engineers. I started experimenting with AI Builder in Microsoft’s Power Platform while my team was working on robotic process automation and with the TensorFlow libraries in Python to streamline design and business processes. This led me to enrol in an online micro-masters programme on AI with ColumbiaX during the Covid-19 pandemic. The programme helped me understand algorithms like computer vision, natural language processing, and deep search.

How has your career progressed since joining?

It has been a rewarding journey supported by the company’s commitment to career growth. I started as the Australia and New Zealand lead for computational design and New Zealand digital delivery practice lead. From there, I became the global lead for automation and computational design, helping teams adopt new digital tools and ways of working. Since then, I have moved into leading our knoweldge and information pillar and AI implementation for the Asia Pacific region. My current role allows me to shape the technology initiatives across the business. Along the way I’ve grown from a hands-on specialist to a leader guiding strategy.

What have you learnt while working at Mott MacDonald?

Working here has taught me how to turn innovative ideas into real-world outcomes. Implementing new technologies effectively on projects is not just about developing the technology but also engaging people and demonstrating value which is crucial for successful adoption. This is honestly often the hardest part. Most of all, I’ve seen that combining great engineering with forward-thinking digital solutions can significantly improve project delivery and impact for our clients and communities.

Where in the world has your role taken you?

I’ve been fortunate to live and work on three continents. I studied both in Spain and UK, started out as a graduate in the UK, then spent over a decade in Canada, and now I’m based in Auckland, New Zealand. Beyond that, my role is global in nature. It’s not unusual for me to be discussing a project with teams in Europe one day and presenting ideas to colleagues in North America the next. I love having this global perspective which I think will become even more important as the challenges the world faces right now are of a planetary scale.

What are your career highlights and achievements?

One highlight was being named among Autodesk’s “40 Under 40: Champions of Construction” in 2020, which was an especially tough year due to Covid-19. During that time, I collaborated with the Coronavirus Makers Movement, a community of people who 3D-printed face shields and other protective gear for frontline workers. It was inspiring to see hobbyists step up when supply chains were stretched thin.

Another highlight was receiving a Visionary Award in Quebec for a unique and challenging project I worked on while teaching part-time at McGill University. It was an unconventional project involving complex geometry and digital fabrication techniques that faced resistance from more traditional engineers. I learnt a lot about the importance of courage and soft skills to push boundaries, which are often harder than the technical calculations we deal with.

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

In 2022, I spearheaded Mott MacDonald becoming the first engineering consultancy to join the AI Forum New Zealand (AIFNZ). I’m now on the Executive Council of AIFNZ, where I lead a working group of about 15 members with the aim of helping the construction industry adopt AI. We organise AI workshops and masterclasses to boost sustainability, safety, and efficiency in the sector and we recently created an AI Blueprint paper shared with the New Zealand Government.