People Spotlight: Meet Ross Burke
Our People Spotlight series gives you an inside look at our technical experts around the world. This week, we are highlighting a civil engineer from our Water Business line in Glasgow and providing an insight into their inspiration and work.
Ross Burke is a civil engineer working in the water/wastewater sector for the Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA), our joint venture with Morrison Water Services to deliver clean wastewater projects for Scottish Water. He is currently working towards becoming an incorporated engineer at the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) and gaining experience to take his career to the next level through AECOM’s Freedom to Grow framework.
What inspired you to join the industry?
My journey into engineering began with my early exposure to AutoCAD during my school days, igniting my fascination with the intricacies of construction and design. Joining AECOM as a CAD technician marked the genesis of my career, where I dedicated the initial six years to mastering the craft while spearheading the ‘As built’ team for the capital maintenance division in water infrastructure. The ‘As built’ team helps at a stage where projects are finished being constructed on site and may have changed from the original drawings that were sent out before works started. Our team captured what was done on site so the most accurate drawing could be produced before handing it over to Scottish Water’s GIS to be updated on their system.
Working collaboratively with engineers, project managers and site engineers on various water projects, I honed my skills in software applications like 2D & Civil 3D to meticulously create detailed drawings. As I immersed myself in these projects, I became interested in project design work. This led me to join a part-time degree program in Environmental Civil Engineering from Glasgow Caledonian University. The opportunity was facilitated by AECOM and was a rigorous yet rewarding endeavour.
While transitioning from CAD technician to an engineer role, the emergence of wastewater projects within CWA caught my attention, as it presented a compelling opportunity to leverage my experience in the water domain. This strategic career pivot afforded me invaluable insights into wastewater processes while actively contributing to design projects. My dedication and proficiency led to career advancement and empowered me to spearhead design initiatives within CWA’s wastewater sector.
Embracing these new responsibilities, I forged a close partnership with our esteemed client, Scottish Water, ensuring the seamless delivery of wastewater projects. This evolution has led to continuous growth and helped me develop technical excellence within the dynamic realm of engineering.
My journey into engineering began with my early exposure to AutoCAD during my school days, igniting my fascination with the intricacies of construction and design. While transitioning from CAD technician to an engineer role, the emergence of wastewater projects within CWA caught my attention, as it presented a compelling opportunity to leverage my experience in the water domain. This strategic career pivot afforded me invaluable insights into wastewater processes while actively contributing to design projects.”
What is your favorite AECOM project that you’ve worked on and why?
In my experience, each project I’ve been a part of has offered unique opportunities to make meaningful contributions to local communities. With a shared objective of resolving pressing issues, the journey from initial conception to final execution has been immensely rewarding. Collaborating with specialists across various fields has been enriching, witnessing the evolution of projects from inception to fruition.
Key challenges involved in such projects are making sure we speak to local landowners so they are aware of the work taking place on their land, so the earlier we communicate with them the better. We notify any businesses surrounding the project work and alert the community of the work in the area.
There’s a profound satisfaction in knowing that the infrastructure I’ve helped design will serve communities for decades to come, even if its impact may go unnoticed beneath the surface. It’s a testament to the enduring legacy of our work, resonating long after construction is completed.
Each project I’ve been a part of has offered unique opportunities to make meaningful contributions to local communities. With a shared objective of resolving pressing issues, the journey from initial conception to final execution has been immensely rewarding. There’s a profound satisfaction in knowing that the infrastructure I’ve helped design will serve communities for decades to come.”
Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.
The projects I’m involved in have a tangible, positive effect on individuals and their communities. We focus on enhancing future network capabilities for clean water and wastewater management, which encompasses strategies for flood prevention and ensuring consistent, reliable water pressure for customers. Addressing concerns surrounding ageing wastewater mains, particularly the risk of bursts, is a top priority. Our approach involves devising innovative designs that minimize public disruption during maintenance and pipe replacement, thereby safeguarding uninterrupted service for customers in the long term.
We focus on enhancing future network capabilities for clean water and wastewater management, which encompasses strategies for flood prevention and ensuring consistent, reliable water pressure for customers. Addressing concerns surrounding ageing wastewater mains, particularly the risk of bursts, is a top priority.”
Share a piece of career advice.
My career journey began with a passion for a specific field, but it wasn’t long before I felt a pull towards a different path. This realization dawned on me during my university experience, coinciding with my exploration of a fresh role. Through this process, I learned that career trajectories are dynamic. Despite starting from diverse points, we can shape our path towards our desired roles by embracing change and proactively seeking growth opportunities.
