People Spotlight: Meet Stephen Munro
Our People Spotlight series gives you an inside look at our technical experts around the world. This week, we are highlighting an engineering director from our Water business in the United Kingdom and providing an insight into their inspiration and work.
Stephen Munro is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Water and Environmental Manager with over 30 years of experience delivering complex infrastructure projects. Prior to joining AECOM through the acquisition of Allen Gordon, where he served as Senior Partner, Stephen led multidisciplinary teams across water, renewables, transport and education sectors. Based in Inverness, he has a strong track record across Scotland and the wider UK, and has also contributed internationally, including post-disaster recovery work in Christchurch, New Zealand following the 2011 earthquake. Stephen’s current role includes leading AECOM design teams working on a range of water sector projects across Scotland as well as working directly in client teams on major projects in the water and energy sectors.
Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.
I’ve always had a natural interest in physics and engineering, even back in my school days. But what truly drew me to civil engineering was the idea of creating infrastructure that genuinely benefits people — bridges that connect communities, dams that protect resources. That sense of purpose has stayed with me throughout my career. Whilst my journey through my career was with a relatively small firm, I have been lucky to work across a diverse variety of major projects and programmes and have taken inspiration from the outcomes the projects deliver.
What truly drew me to civil engineering was the idea of creating infrastructure that genuinely benefits people — bridges that connect communities, dams that protect resources.
What is your favorite project that you’ve worked on and why?
One of the most defining projects in my career was the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, which I worked on through the Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) while still at Allen Gordon, in collaboration with AECOM. The project involved constructing a major bypass around Aberdeen, which required the diversion of critical water and wastewater infrastructure to allow for the construction of the new road. This road was designed to alleviate congestion in the center of Aberdeen and significantly improve journey times for those traveling around or across the city.
I led a collaborative team that included Scottish Water, CWA, and our supply chain, navigating a five-year program of high-risk, technically demanding works. The complexity of the project was matched only by the pressure we faced. We were responsible for relocating major aqueducts and strategic water mains, and in some cases, failure would have meant cutting off the water supply to the entire city. This work involved complex designs, frequently including connections whilst existing water mains remained live, and construction of diversions often in constrained locations within live existing roads and during construction of the new road, including major bridges.
Yet, through strong teamwork and a shared commitment to delivery, we successfully completed the infrastructure works. What stood out most was the spirit of collaboration — even with the main contractor, where despite challenges, we built relationships that lasted beyond the project. It was a true testament to what can be achieved when everyone pulls together.
What stood out most was the spirit of collaboration — even with the main contractor, where despite challenges, we built relationships that lasted beyond the project.
Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.
One of the most profound and personally impactful experiences in my career was the work I undertook in Christchurch, New Zealand, following the devastating series of earthquakes in 2011.
I spent several months leading efforts to re-establish essential water and wastewater services in a city still grappling with ongoing aftershocks and widespread infrastructure damage. The environment was incredibly challenging, not only from a technical standpoint but also emotionally. Many of the team members and residents were still living without basic services and dealing with the trauma of repeated seismic events. I was Program Manager leading a multidisciplinary design team working alongside construction teams and some were themselves directly affected by the disaster.
Our work went beyond restoring infrastructure; it was about supporting a community in recovery. We had to approach every task with empathy and heightened awareness with project teams partnering with communities, understanding that even minor issues could become emotionally charged in such a fragile context. This involved working closely with contractors and council teams in engaging with communities and minimizing the impact of initial service re-establishment and longer terms solutions. The experience taught me the importance of balancing technical delivery with human sensitivity, and it remains a powerful example of how engineering can play a vital role in healing and rebuilding communities.
We had to approach every task with empathy and heightened awareness with project teams partnering with communities, understanding that even minor issues could become emotionally charged in such a fragile context.
Share a piece of career advice
Success comes down to two key traits: aspiration and application. If you have the drive to achieve and the commitment to put in the work, there isn’t just one path — you can carve your own.