It’s hard to believe it’s been over nine years since I walked into the Environment Agency as a fresh-faced graduate civil engineer.

But my water journey began much earlier. At seven, I decided I wanted to be a civil engineer, captivated by the idea of shaping the world for the better. Years later, floods brought that choice into sharp focus. I remember my mum wading through rising waters to get us home, carrying my sister and holding tightly onto me. That moment made flooding real. Personal. Frightening. And it shaped the kind of engineer I aspired to be: one committed to protecting people and building resilient communities.

At the EA, I began as Assistant Project Manager on the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, leading on assurance and approvals. I then managed the Abingdon scheme, took secondments with West Berkshire Council supervising construction of the Tull Way scheme, and was seconded to Jacobs to support Canvey Island and the wider TEAM 2100 programme. I went on to work with the asset performance team, led BIM delivery across the Eastern Hub, and lead teams on the River Thames Scheme and the asset condition programme culminating in programme delivery for major projects. Each role gave me the chance to see the tangible impact of reducing flood risk for communities, work that connected directly to my childhood ambition.

I signed off my ICE training agreement in just 2.5 years and achieved chartership within 3 years. I was honoured to be an ICE President’s Future Leader, contributing to the In Plain Sight and State of the Nation reports. I’ve also supported the next generation as a Supervising Civil Engineer, served on ICE committees, and spoken at the House of Lords.

Over the years I’ve become a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Manager, and Fellow of the RSA and ICE. But more than titles, it’s the knowledge, experiences, and people that have shaped my career.

Outside the day job, I’m grateful for the EA’s leave policy, which gave me space to pursue passions close to my heart:
⬆️ Promoting engineering
🗳️ Serving as Reading’s youngest Deputy Mayor
📺 Presenting Get Set Galactic on CBeebies
🌍 Co-founding Plastic Free Caversham
❤️ Supporting charities as trustee, patron, and volunteer
💻 Exploring tech entrepreneurship

After 10 years in water, I’m stepping into a new chapter but leave the EA with deep gratitude for the chance to turn a childhood memory into meaningful impact.