Women in
Construction

Working at Suir Engineering I feel they empower you to do your job well and equip you with everything you need to be successful. Luckily, I have been surrounded by great role models and mentors throughout my career. Whether that be the other Advisor & Managers in the EHS circle but also the Supervisors, Foremen, Chargehands, Electricians & Apprentices that I have worked with daily on many of the projects throughout Munster. And for that, I thank them all.

I initially started with Suir Engineering working as a Purchasing Officer based in the head office, which allowed me to gain knowledge of the structure and procedures within the company. During my first year with Suir, I was encouraged to develop my skills further and took the opportunity to apply for a Trainee QS position. Becoming a QS had been a long-term goal of mine and one the company have continually supported me with.

There are several aspects of my role that I enjoy but the best part is the satisfaction from building relationships and the sense of achievement at the end of day. Every day is different, it’s dynamic and challenging which really motivates me. It keeps me driven and curious to learn more.

The diversity of my role is what I enjoy the most. The area that I work in is constantly evolving and requires keeping up to date with all sections on the business. Recently with the support of Suir Engineering I upskilled and successfully completed a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing. As a result, I am also responsible for our social media presence, website and customer relationship management (CRM) system.

I started my career as an Architect trainee before finishing my bachelor’s degree, and although this would bring out the creative side of me, I wanted to see the projects beyond the drawing board. For that reason, I started a new job as a Construction Analyst onsite where every day I could literally see something new coming to life.

I had the opportunity to visit the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant in Toronto and received training in their “Just in Time” “Lean Production” systems. I felt inspired by this concept and add that to the principles of Project Management, I could see how they could have a positive impact on overall productivity, communication and clients’ satisfaction. 

After nearly 10 years in pharmaceuticals I decided I needed a change in the environment I worked in. I was no longer challenged in that role. At Suir Engineering I found the company I was looking for and started out as a Document Controller. I started working on site in Alexion Pharmaceuticals before moving onto Data Centre’s where I had sole responsibility for that role. After nearly 2 years, a position opened for a trainee planner and I was approached to see if this would interest me. Although I was very happy with my position, I jumped at the opportunity to further my career and haven’t looked back since. I successfully completed the Primavera P6 course which helped with the understanding and navigation of the new software that came with the Planning role. I also have a great support network of colleagues and management to help on hand too which is hugely beneficial to me.

My MSc in Environmental Health and Safety Management has given me the tools and confidence to successfully manage safety onsite. However, the most beneficial training I have received is the training at Suir Engineering, and from my EHS Managers and Supervisors. With their mentorship and guidance, I have gained an invaluable amount of knowledge and practical experience, not to mention the relationships I have gained both on and off site. My job is different every day, no two days are the same and I work with a great team, so it doesn’t feel like work a lot of the time. The thing I like most about working at Suir Engineering is the people I work with - a great team creates a supportive family type environment at work and you never feel isolated.