Bernadette O’Connell

Why did you join Atkins?

I was working as a sub-consultant to Atkins in Hong Kong between 1996 and1999 and was impressed by the range of skills that the Atkins team brought to a project. I joined the company as an employee in January 1999.

Do you have any professional accreditations?

I’m a chartered landscape architect.

How do you describe what you do to friends and family?

I describe my work by illustrating my most recent projects and the varying disciplines who contribute to the project’s design and construction.

What key projects have you worked on?

A few diverse projects in Ireland including the M50 motorway upgrade, Dun Laoghaire Library and Cultural Centre and Kill Hill Wind Farm.

What are you currently working on?

A new and very challenging wind farm project where we are providing multidisciplinary services for the first time including environment, engineering, traffic and planning services.

What achievement are you most proud of?

Winning the CMG Renewable Energy Award in December 2010, on behalf of a great internal team and for a long-standing client.

What’s the most technically challenging project you’ve worked on at Atkins?

Major highways projects such as M50 upgrade and N6 Galway to Ballinasloe have been challenging due to their scale, having to coordinate a large the number of disciplines in varying offices and having a contractor as a client.

What did you do before you joined Atkins?

Having worked as a sub-consultant to Atkins in Hong Kong for three years I applied to the Hong Kong office to work in the environment team. Two years later I moved to Ireland and took up a position with the Dublin office.

How has your career developed at Atkins?

Over the past 12 years at Atkins, I have been involved in a diverse range of large and complex projects which has helped refine my technical and people management skills.

What support have you had during your time at Atkins?

Atkins provides a wide range of training courses and supports participation in external conferences and learning experiences.