Ciaran Willcocks

Tell us about your specialism and why you chose it

My specialism is in civil engineering and infrastructure development but I’m really a professional generalist. I have project and programme management and strategic advisory as the golden thread running through four or five careers I’ve had at Mott MacDonald over the last 20 years.

It was good fortune that when I was applying for a student placement that Mott MacDonald said yes. But my decision to stay ever since has been fully informed and driven by the quality of the people and the variety or work on offer.

Where in the world has your role taken you? 

My career has taken me all over the world, including two years in Basrah, Iraq, doing post invasion re-construction and infrastructure development; three years living in Jakarta; three years living in Toronto, time in the United Arab Emirates and the US as well as voluntary work in Ecuador and Kenya, which was supported and part-funded by Mott MacDonald.

What have you learnt while working at Mott MacDonald?

It takes more than just great engineering to deliver positive social impact for the communities in which we work. Real change often comes from the grey space between policy, people, politics, investment and engineering – if our technical knowledge is applied well and at the right time, it is vital.

Whenever I am delivering my portfolio or selecting future opportunities, I place the impact on people (internally and externally) at the centre of every decision.

How do you demonstrate technical excellence in your work?

I always try to consider what we are doing within the bigger picture – not just are we doing things right, but are we doing the right things?

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

Social purpose, integrity, variety.

What are your career highlights and achievements?

One of the highlights was as build director for the main COVID-19 Response hospital in Wales, Dragon Hart Hospital in the Millenium Stadium. We managed to get the first 300 beds ready in six days and 1500 more ready three weeks later.

Other highlights have been delivering a portfolio of post-conflict reconstruction work; establishing and leading the project/programme recovery unit within the UK Ministry of Defence; and working as programme manager for the PanAM Games in Toronto, a continental multi-sport event in the Americas, where I was part of the Games Operations Team.