Accessibility tools

Back
Browse jobs
Locations Location Location
My shortlist My shortlist My shortlist
EN
Menu Close

Digital, work life balance, and sustainability

Posted by 4MAT Administrator
Posting date:12/4/2020 3:32 PM
This year’s global pandemic has had a huge impact on the Infrastructure sector, and has fast forwarded the importance of digital, work life balance, and sustainability. Our Face of the Future, Jia Afsar, says how these are changing the face of the industry.

What is your role and what does it entail?

I’m an Architectural Assistant (Designer), and this role entails an understanding of design that satisfies aesthetic and technical requirements, knowledge of the arts and the wider industries, urban design, construction, planning and the relationship between people, their buildings and the impact on the wider environment.

Was there a definitive moment that steered you towards a career in infrastructure? 

My career in infrastructure is closely associated to, and shaped by, my experiences. 

As someone who was fortunate enough to travel and live in countries around the world from a young age, my environment was continuously changing which helped to gain a unique global perspective. I found myself mentored through my exposure to different cultures, mindsets and variation in the surrounding infrastructure. These factors defined my understanding of design. As a result, there was no definitive moment, just a constant awareness of the meaning and impact of design on people’s lives and therefore my purpose. 

Why do you think it’s important to work and learn about it? 

Infrastructure helps facilitate our lives; without it the modern human would not be able to function. In order to have the vision that responds to the ever-changing needs of people, it is incredibly important to understand that learning about infrastructure is learning about ourselves as humans. 

Who has inspired you in your studies and starting your career?

My biggest inspiration will always be my parents as without their open minds and inquisitive nature, I would not be who I am today – personally and professionally. Within architecture, Zaha Hadid helped provide an example of the extent of what women from minority backgrounds can achieve in the field and sadly, how much harder they must try. While never her intention, the effects of seeing representation in the highest form of the profession is extremely important and a lesson of dreaming big that I carry with me to this day:

“Your success will not be determined by your gender or your ethnicity but only by the scope of your dreams.”

What are you finding the most interesting; challenging; rewarding so far?

For me the impact a global pandemic has had on the industry of Infrastructure has been the most interesting (and difficult due to the loss of life). It has fast forwarded the importance of digital, work life balance, sustainability which as a result has positively changed the face of the industry. The most challenging and therefore the most rewarding is designing. The current industry has established ways of working, procurement routes, frameworks that can overlook the voice of the people: end users, communities, clients. However, with the Well-Being of Future Generations Act (Wales) and the potential of data in understanding human centred design, the future is inclusive and exciting.

How do you think we can educate and encourage younger generations about this work? What methods do you think work best? 

This question is close to my heart. As a recent winner *Highly Commended in STEM Woman of the Year Wales Award” and winner of the “Constructing Excellence Wales Generation for Change Award*, I strongly believe in effectively educating the next generation. This goes beyond schools and universities and includes the community and the industry.

Some interesting ways to do this could be to generate a circular approach:

  1. Build strategic partnerships with schools, universities, local charities, museums, vocational colleges to educate not just students but parents and teachers about the industry and help clarify the perception of working in a construction industry;
  2. Create long term relationships with the institutions to share informed employer intelligence, information on local jobs and capture these discussions within the curriculum;
  3. Increase focus on apprenticeships, vocational training for the skillsets of the future – not a task-based approach to delivery but a purpose led style of industry placement; 
  4. Within the business, diversify the hiring pool to include those who did not have the opportunity or self-belief to go to a private school, University etc;
  5. Re-think the definition of ‘productivity’ as a measure of value in the business – invest in training at a 50:50 rate and generate trust based working values.

What would (or even do) you personally say to younger people interested in the sector? 

  • Open your mind and be humble
  • Have a purpose & think about your responsibility to the world and its people.
  • Voice your opinion, and fight for your rights - yes you have them, and will have to fight for them
  • Challenge your seniors to do better – reverse mentoring is key
  • Spend time to understand what you want from your job
  • Understand others – learn empathy
  • Align yourself with people you respect
  • Share your knowledge transparently and ask questions freely without concern of being judged
  • When you lose hope, look to the future and create it.
 
How do you feel about being a part of future-focused work?

This industry is bursting at the seams of its previous existence. Enhancements in digital, sustainability and inclusivity in society are key catalysts in ripping it apart. I feel exhilarated to not only be a part of its future, through my external role in the Generation of Change (CEW) and Chair of the Employee Engagement Forum in Atkins, but also instrumental in its shaping.

Related article

Meet Agnes Lautenschlager
9/30/2020

  • #insideAtkins

  • Flexible working

  • Career story

jobscarousel

Related Jobs

Principal Active Travel Consultant

Salary

Location

Bristol

Job Type

Flexible Working

Full Time

Category

Permanent

Brand

Atkins

Market

Transportation

Career Area

Architecture

Location

Bristol

Description

Principal Active Travel ConsultantAtkins’ UK Transportation business brings together the capabilities of our Rail, Highway and Local Transport teams, into a single business of 3,000 talented engineeri

Reference

R-045451

Expiry Date

2/18/2021

Priyanka Sharma

Author

Priyanka Sharma
Priyanka Sharma

Author

Priyanka Sharma
View ** DEFAULT listwidget.vacancypartial.shortlist - en-GB **
View ** DEFAULT listwidget.vacancypartial.shortlist - en-GB **
Principal /Senior Planner

Salary

Location

UK

Job Type

Full Time

Category

Permanent

Brand

Atkins

Career Area

Architecture

Location

United Kingdom

Warrington

Description

Preferred location: Warrington, Leeds or GlasgowAtkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, is one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary consultancy firms offering unparalleled opportunities for ta

Reference

R-046970

Expiry Date

2/18/2021

Abhishek Manmadhan

Author

Abhishek Manmadhan
Abhishek Manmadhan

Author

Abhishek Manmadhan
View ** DEFAULT listwidget.vacancypartial.shortlist - en-GB **
View ** DEFAULT listwidget.vacancypartial.shortlist - en-GB **
Planning Manager

Salary

Location

Birmingham

Job Type

Flexible Working

Full Time

Category

Permanent

Brand

Atkins

Market

Transportation

Career Area

Architecture

Location

Birmingham

Description

Atkins’ UK Transportation business brings together the capabilities of our Rail, Highway and Local Transport teams, into a single business of 3,000 talented engineering professionals transport planner

Reference

R-045247

Expiry Date

2/18/2021

Abhishek Saha

Author

Abhishek Saha
Abhishek Saha

Author

Abhishek Saha
View ** DEFAULT listwidget.vacancypartial.shortlist - en-GB **
View ** DEFAULT listwidget.vacancypartial.shortlist - en-GB **
Principal /Senior Planner

Salary

Location

London

Job Type

Full Time

Category

Permanent

Brand

Atkins

Market

Cities & development

Career Area

Architecture

Location

London

Description

Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, is one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary consultancy firms offering unparalleled opportunities for talented individuals in search of a rewarding care

Reference

R-046111

Expiry Date

2/18/2021

Abhishek Manmadhan

Author

Abhishek Manmadhan
Abhishek Manmadhan

Author

Abhishek Manmadhan
View ** DEFAULT listwidget.vacancypartial.shortlist - en-GB **
View ** DEFAULT listwidget.vacancypartial.shortlist - en-GB **
Associate / Principal Town Planner

Salary

Location

London

Job Type

Full Time

Category

Permanent

Brand

Atkins

Career Area

Architecture

Location

London

Description

Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, is one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary consultancy firms offering unparalleled opportunities for talented individuals in search of a rewarding care

Reference

R-047956

Expiry Date

2/18/2021

Abhishek Manmadhan

Author

Abhishek Manmadhan
Abhishek Manmadhan

Author

Abhishek Manmadhan
View ** DEFAULT listwidget.vacancypartial.shortlist - en-GB **
View ** DEFAULT listwidget.vacancypartial.shortlist - en-GB **

Related Articles

Faces of the future: Sustainability

Freya Crunden, environmental consultant, focuses on making infrastructure projects more sustainable

10/27/2020

A Conversation on Sustainability with Karen Hills & Victoria Hutchinson

Listen to our latest #InsideAtkins podcast with UK Environment Leads, Karen & Vicky.

8/18/2020

Embedding Sustainability in Infrastructure Design to ‘Save Our Planet’

See how Divya embeds sustainability in design on infrastructure projects.

8/4/2020

Economy plus ecology: how wildlife habitat innovations are just one legacy of the A14 upgrade

Our decade-long ecological understanding of the scheme also enabled us to introduce new innovations in biodiversity mitigation.

7/31/2020

jobscarousel

Recently viewed jobs

Start your next job search

Navigation

Clear