From Cardiff to the Gold Coast: Hannah Little on saying yes

Making the most of every opportunity as an early career professional

After moving from the UK to Australia, senior civil engineer Hannah Little has been busy building her Australian life. When she’s not working on The Wave, supporting infrastructure for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, she’s surfing, running half marathons, growing her global network and embracing every opportunity to step outside her comfort zone.

Hannah on a hike in the Glass House Mountains.

What do you do at Mott MacDonald and what are you currently working on?

I am a senior civil engineer with a background in drainage. Recently I’ve been working on airports, pumped hydro projects and have just moved on to The Wave, an exciting new transport project in the Sunshine Coast to support the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure.

What advice would you give to someone looking to shape their own story at Mott MacDonald?

Chat to new people and say yes to opportunities. Know when it’s time to explore new challenges across the business, particularly if you’re no longer growing and learning.

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

Opportunity. Friendly. Varied.

The Brisbane office run club after a tiring morning at the Brisbane Marathon Festival.

What does it mean to you to be trusted to do brilliant things at Mott MacDonald?

To take ownership of tasks and be pushed beyond my comfort zone whilst having the support of senior mentors.

Can you share a project you’ve worked on that you’re particularly proud of and explain why it stands out to you?

I’ve worked on many great projects with amazing people, but the one I will always go back to was during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was working on-site at the Dragon’s Heart Hospital in Cardiff’s Principality Stadium – a 1,500 bed emergency hospital that was designed, delivered and operational within a matter of weeks. I’ve never worked on a project where the designers, architects, contractors, council, emergency services and public were all on board to get the job done.

What does being part of a global team mean to you and how does it influence your work?

A global team for me has opened up the opportunity to move from the UK to Australia, which I wouldn’t have been able to do without the connections and friendships that I have made. I work with colleagues from across the world and always love a good chat to get to know them. Recently, I had the privilege of travelling to Madrid for the global early career professional (ECP) steering committee workshops and I finally got to meet some colleagues in person that I have known for years, but only ever spoken to over Microsoft Teams!

Hannah was part of the project team for the Dragon’s Heart Hospital, an emergency facility delivered in a matter of weeks to provide care for COVID patients.

What opportunities have you had to grow your specialism or develop your career here?

The global ECP network has supported my career development in more ways than I could have imagined. I started with local ECP opportunities in my office, then got involved as the social outcomes ECP lead for Europe and now I am part of the ECP committee for Asia Pacific, New Zealand and Australia. All these roles have supported my soft skills development and helped me to build a fantastic network and friendships across the organisation.

What opportunities have you had to get involved in the wider industry, and what have you gained from them?

The industry in Brisbane is very small. Everyone seems to know everyone and there are lots of well-established networks, so I’ve been making a conscious effort to build my own external network over here. I recently attended the Transport Australia Emerging Leaders Forum, was part of a panel discussion for an ICE Queensland event and have attended various Engineers Australia events. I am also part of the Gold Coast Women in Engineering. We meet for breakfast every couple of months, which has been a really lovely way to meet people.

How do you strive to create an inclusive, collaborative and supportive environment with your colleagues?

Be kind, curious and celebrate others’ achievements. Everyone has a story and a life beyond work.