David Paterson

Having always been interested in learning about how things worked, engineering seemed a natural career choice for me. I therefore decided to do a degree in civil engineering at Edinburgh University. After graduating, I embarked on a career as a structural engineer and became Chartered with the Institution of Civil Engineers in 2003. I have worked with design consultants in the UK and the Middle East, and still find the variety of work we do as engineers exciting as it brings plenty of challenges and opportunities along the way.

Solving problems creatively is a fundamental driver for my colleagues and I. With the drive towards net zero carbon, engineers are required to be more creative than ever to deliver responsible solutions and minimise the potential of any negative environmental impacts from our projects.

One of the greatest attractions of working in construction is that it relies on teamwork. Harnessing the strengths of different design and construction disciplines in a spirit of openness is what delivers fantastic projects. Maintaining a collaborative approach will always be a key stimulus for me.