Director of Public and Security Services at Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), Cabinet Office

I still call myself an engineer today as it underpins how I think and how I analyse problems - and all that came from my degree at the University of Nottingham.

 

What was your favourite thing about your degree?

The inspiration I got from my lecturers who brought things to life. One of them took me to see the construction of an Olympic canoe slalom at the National Water Sports Centre in Holme Pierrepont in Nottinghamshire. This got me enthused about hydraulics and my passion for the water industry grew from there. It was fascinating to know that engineering could help people achieve better improve sporting outcomes in the Olympics. 

What really motivates me is the difference engineering makes to people’s lives. 

What did you do when you graduated?

I worked abroad in Nepal as a Design Engineer at Tear Fund which developed sustainable roofing tile business and installed water wells. Then I did a Civil Engineering masters degree at the University of Southampton, which included a placement as a Research Engineer looking at irrigation canal conveyance loss at Sir M McDonald & Partners in Indonesia. 

For the next few years, I was a graduate engineer at Binnie & Partners including a year as Junior Site Agent with Degremont UK where I supervised the Hillingdon water treatment works site in Norfolk. Returning to Binnie Black & Veatch I took a role as Senior Project Manager - global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company - where I was on the design team for Severn Trent’s £53m Frankley water treatment works in Birmingham. I also did hydraulic modelling and gave legal advice to British Coal on the impact of subsidence on rivers and how to mitigate this. 

Where did your career take you next?

I worked for the Environment Agency for almost 23 years and I had four or five different careers within the same organisation - I stayed so long because I enjoyed it so much!

First, I was a Flood and Coastal Risk Manager then progressed through various operational roles including the and ended up as Director of Strategy and Investment. I did everything from project delivery, working on day-to-day management of flood defences, some policy and legal work, emergency flood response and even national media interviews. 

My highlights include working on emergency response to floods – I Ied the national response to catastrophic flooding over the 2013-4 and 2015-6 winters.  I represented the Environment Agency at COBR (the Government’s committee that handles matters of national emergency or major disruption). Plus, I really enjoyed transforming ways of working so that the Environment Agency, local authorities and partners like water companies could work better together to achieve more. 

I’m proud that I developed our national strategy for flooding and risk management. This really changed how we think about floods and coastal erosion – moving from defence and protection to include risk management, resilience and adaptation. This strategy informed how over £1bn annual expenditure was deployed. I was able to understand things from a range of perspectives, using my technical knowledge to find solutions for both communities and the politicians.

In the 2019 New Year’s Honours, I was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to the environment. 

What do you do now?

My main motivation and driver for engineering is achieving outcomes for people. My work at the Environment Agency introduced me to central government. I liked working with ministers, bringing my technical expertise and also being able to communicate things in an easy and accessible way. This led on to my current role. 

I’m a senior Civil Servant for the UK Government. My role is the Director of Public and Security Services at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA). This is the Government’s centre of expertise for infrastructure and major projects and part of the Cabinet Office. We deliver some of the most exciting and high-risk programmes and projects globally and my role is to ensure these are successful. We provide in-depth project delivery and advice to Government departments on everything from prisons and HS2, to the military, benefits and future farming. 

I’m lucky to work on a range of exciting projects: new hospitals, schools and submarines, tax and benefits systems, digitisation and transformation of the courts process and programmes to help people back to work.  Transforming our services to make them easier for the public is a key theme as is Net Zero and the UN Sustainable Development Goals and every day I look for ways to deliver Government projects better, greener and faster - focussing on social value   

What's your favourite thing about your job?

I thrive on supporting the Government departments to deliver projects well – helping to learn lessons, sharing best practice and driving innovation. 

How did your time at University help shape your career? 

My time at University of Nottingham was just brilliant. It trained me to think about things in a different way. My degree gave me technical knowledge, strategic thinking and problem-solving ability.  

It instilled in me that there are often several answers to get to the same end and this has been very relevant in my work – for example, balancing flood protection for people with the environment’s needs. Ultimately my degree was the foundation for being proficient in applying my knowledge and skills to real life situations. 

What has your UoN experience meant to you?

The whole experience was fabulous. I’ve made lifelong friendships, gained skills and experience and it also gave me real confidence. It's often the wider activities you do at university that give you confidence – including living at halls of residence and joining societies. 

What did you enjoy about your social time here?

I was heavily involved in CivilSoc (Civil Engineering Society), Nightline (student support telephone network) and took part in RAG week fundraising activities at my hall of residence. 

What advice would you give someone considering studying Civil Engineering?

Follow your heart. If you have the technical ability and are driven to reach technical excellence and meet outcomes for people, then civil engineering is the right course for you. Whether you go on to become a Chartered Engineer or not – this degree provides you with so many skills that it enables you to go on to do many things.  

Engineering degrees are highly thought of in the Government. I still call myself an engineer today as it underpins how I think and how I analyse problems - and all that came from my degree at the University of Nottingham.