What has been your biggest career challenge to date?

All projects bring their unique challenges but my biggest to date was working on the high consequence infectious diseases (HCID) unit at the University Hospital of Wales at the start of the Coronavirus outbreak in March 2020. 

I was given three months to design and construct a ten-bed modular ward on stilts. Once completed I moved onto the covid-19 wards for the same University Health Board.

If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?

Its reputation, particularly the wellbeing of its people and the long hours/stress culture that sometimes pushes people to addictions or suicide. I understand that around 25% of the workforce have thought at least once about ending their lives… This is now being addressed my many – but not all – construction companies.

I must add another thing too: equality in pay. Irrespective of gender one should be paid the same for undertaking the same responsibilities, or performing equally. 

This should be differentiated using a grading system according to job position, and whether an individual has additional qualifications. This is also now being addressed, albeit slowly. As long as it keeps moving forward, that is a positive.

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