BCECA members provide engineering, design, procurement, project management and construction services to the process and energy industries.
Operating in over 54 countries with over 30,000 employees, McDermott is a fully integrated provider of engineering and construction solutions for the energy industries. Hannah joined the company as a project controller in 2008. Her career has seen her involved in engineering project design and execution in countries including Kazakhstan, Mozambique, and Uganda.
Unexpected development
"I recall a quotation that says, 'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans'. That sums up my career perfectly. My degree was in psychology, but after a week's placement to provide temporary holiday cover, I was invited to join an engineering project team, and the rest is history. Since then, I've worked in procurement, project control, commercial management, and, most recently, project management. I've worked for some great managers with a good eye for potential and how best to nurture and develop it. That's how I've ended up in various roles that would never have crossed my mind when I started."
Enhancing engineering
"In addition to helping my career development, those great managers also taught me some important lessons about leadership. Undoubtedly, the best results are achieved when a positive working environment is in place. This won't happen by itself, and you must work on it. Creating a positive environment where my teams – including many engineers – thrive is important. A crucial part of my job is creating space for people to be the best version of themselves. They thrive, I thrive, our clients get great results, and McDermott thrives; it's a win-win situation that shapes the approach to my latest role with our Low Carbon Solutions business line.
Making a difference
"You can't make a difference on your own. The best times in my career have come about largely because of the people I've been working with. I've worked on complex joint ventures in many different locations and find the coming together of different cultures fascinating. But let me be frank: sometimes, the pressure to get results can be pretty demanding. This means working late and maybe through weekends, too, but when you build a sense of togetherness, commitment follows, and remarkable things can be achieved. Together, we can create a better world for future generations."
For more information about career prospects in the engineering contracting sector, contact BCECA at 10th Floor, Camelford House, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP
t: 020 7 091 8652
e: [email protected]
w: bceca.org.uk
