Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED

Often in engineering we focus on the technical, production parts of a project, but it is the people who make the projects. As a leader, learning to support those people is vital.

Today we hear from a prominent engineer who through his work in ground engineering, consulting, operations, HR and business, has gained many skills in managing and leading people. He believes safety, quality, inclusion and collaboration should be at the forefront of every project and combining that with purpose-led business creates the ultimate best outcomes.

Our guest today has almost 30 years of experience with one of Ireland’s leading construction companies and believes in adapting the construction industry to support diversity and sustainability. He is BAM UK & Ireland’s Executive Director of Ireland, Alasdair Henderson.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• Transitioning from managing projects to leading people
• Approaching safety with prevention instead of reaction
• Working on public infrastructure such as the National Children’s Hospital
• Sustainable design to support a net zero future
• Planning diversity and inclusion to create an accessible society
• AI, robotics and material innovations for the future of engineering

GUEST DETAILS
Alasdair Henderson is BAM UK & Ireland’s Executive Director of Ireland.

Alasdair joined BAM as a graduate engineer in 1996 and has worked his way up through a variety of operational and business leadership roles across BAM.

He is well known as an advocate of purpose-led business, believing that the best and most sustainable financial results are achieved when the things we build add value to society. He holds safety, quality, inclusion, and collaboration as key tenets of what makes a good business and is delighted that he sees all these things on a daily basis at BAM.

Alasdair is actively involved in policy development in the industry and is a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, a fellow of the Institute of Quarrying, and a visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alasdairehenderson

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

The time you spend thinking most about safety is normally immediately after an accident. - Alasdair Henderson

It's one of the largest buildings in Europe. - Alasdair Henderson

If you start with a misaligned scope, it never gets better. It just gets worse and worse and worse. - Alasdair Henderson

You can absolutely make those environments safer, warmer, more welcoming by changing the way you design that infrastructure. . - Alasdair Henderson

Our industry is addicted to concrete and steel. If we want to get to net zero, we're going to have to do something around that. - Alasdair Henderson

KEYWORDS

#Engineering #construction #BAMIreland #NationalChildren'sHospital #publicprocurement #sustainability #diversity #digitalization