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Emily McDonald, UK Managing Director based in London

What inspired you to work within the engineering industry?

I became an engineer because I like design, I like working with people, and I like solving problems. Those are still the reasons I get up and come to work each day, because of the clients I work with and the projects I work on – they are very much at the heart of what motivates me.  

Who were the key people supporting you/mentoring you through your journey to becoming an engineer?

I feel very fortunate in that I’ve had lots of different people in my life mentor me, and not always in the engineering profession. I would say Mrs Greenstock, my physics teacher, was my first mentor. She inspired me and gave me the confidence that I was good enough to really push myself. 

Within º£½ÇÊÓƵ, Tanya Ross was absolutely pivotal as a female mentor to me in my early career. Also Neil Squibbs, Sarah Pritchard, Marc Barone and Oliver Plunkett have all helped me take various next steps into leadership positions – I probably wouldn’t have been brave enough unless they’d given me a bit of a nudge. 

What’s your current role? And what type of roles did you work in previously? 

I’m currently UK Managing Director, leading our brilliant team across the UK. I’ve been at º£½ÇÊÓƵ since I started as a graduate structural engineer in 1996, with a brief period of working elsewhere. Over the years I’ve held various leadership roles within the practice. Having worked as part of the UK team for most of that time, it’s a massive privilege to now be leading the powerhouse of talent we have towards a successful business.  

I’d like to inspire future generations by showing how hugely exciting engineering can be.

What are you looking forward to achieving at º£½ÇÊÓƵ? 

º£½ÇÊÓƵ has always been a place that cares about the individuals who work within it. This creates an ecosystem in which people are encouraged to experiment and play, and find their own niche. It’s a place they can really flourish. 

For me, this flexibility of mindset was vital in taking the role of UK Managing Director. I wanted to remain working as a practitioner and to retain some of my clients and portfolio, because that’s so important to me and to who I am. This was met with a real openness to make this approach work. 

This supportive culture is something I’ve really valued through my time at º£½ÇÊÓƵ, and one of the reasons I’ve stayed so long. I certainly didn’t set out with the intention to spend most of my career in one organisation, but I’ve stayed because I love the people I work with and the opportunities I’ve had along the way. 

What are you most proud of in your career?

I have a passion for projects which offer significant regeneration to an area. It’s a pleasure to work on places where I would want to spend time, and that can be enjoyed and appreciated by all. 

Currently, I’m Project Principal for the Stratford Waterfront project, creating a new cultural and education district within the wider East Bank regeneration that’s taking place in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. I’m also leading the º£½ÇÊÓƵ team for the amazing Barbican Renewal Programme, and the Canning Town Estates regeneration.

Thinking ahead to the future, what would you like your legacy to be within the engineering industry? 

I’d like to inspire future generations by showing how hugely exciting engineering can be. The industry is broad, with lots of opportunities, and that gives you the ability to have a rich and diverse career that’s truly your own. Whether you’re the absolute technical expert at one thing, or whether you’re an integrator – a weaver of things together – there’s a place for you. 

Within that, I’d also say don’t be too set in your ways about which path you’re going to follow. Sometimes you need to work out what you don’t want to do just as much as what you do. If there’s one thing I could have said to my younger self it’s to be a bit braver. Want to try something different? Do it. Enjoy it. Travel positively! 

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