People Spotlight: Meet Thomas Westlake
Our People Spotlight series gives you an inside look at our technical experts around the world. For the UK Armed Forces Week, we’re proud to recognize and celebrate the dedication, service, and sacrifice of those who serve — and have served — in the UK Armed Forces.
We’re spotlighting our Veterans Champion and project manager from our Buildings and Places business in the UK, Thomas Westlake, whose experience and continued contributions are helping shape how we support veterans across our organization. Their insight is helping us build a more inclusive, resilient, and supportive workplace for those transitioning from military to industry life.
Thomas Westlake is from our Project Management team in London and works predominantly in the Security and Resilience sector. He has been with AECOM since 2023, following a career in the British Armed Forces. Thomas works on projects across government, public sector, defense, and disaster management, coordinating with a wide range of stakeholders and teams. His projects have been across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.
After serving in the British Army for eight years, I was eager to find a career where I could apply the skills I had developed and continue doing work that made a real difference. A friend who was working at AECOM at the time introduced me to the company. What stood out was the scale of the projects, the global footprint, and the opportunity to contribute to work with real-world impact, particularly in areas like infrastructure, security, and resilience. Project management felt like a natural transition from the armed forces, and AECOM offered the structure and opportunities to grow in that space. My role within the defence and government sectors allows me to contribute to meaningful projects in the UK and overseas. It’s rewarding to be part of efforts that help safeguard communities and protect national interests while supporting international efforts to foster resilience and enhance security.
Project management felt like a natural transition from the armed forces, and AECOM offered the structure and opportunities to grow in that space. My role within the defence and government sectors allows me to contribute to meaningful projects in the UK and overseas.
What is your favorite AECOM project that you’ve worked on and why?
One of my most fulfilling projects was delivering a resilience assessment of six emergency shelters in the Turks and Caicos Islands. These shelters are crucial during hurricane season, providing protection to local communities when extreme weather hits. I led the assessment on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), working closely with some outstanding specialist consultants, local government representatives, and community leaders.
Our team conducted on-the-ground inspections, assessing compliance of six key areas: structural integrity, fire safety, hygiene facilities, security, accessibility, and gender sensitivity. We also reviewed emergency plans and practices and spoke with key stakeholders and residents to understand local needs and context.
What I enjoyed most was the challenge of building trust quickly, navigating cultural differences, and shaping practical, community-led solutions. Based on our findings, we made clear, actionable recommendations, ranging from structural improvements to clearer roles, better coordination between agencies, and enhancements to better support women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
The project helped strengthen local preparedness by addressing key vulnerabilities ahead of the next hurricane season and empowering local teams to lead the changes. It was a project where the impact was clear, the collaboration was strong, and the work genuinely helped improve readiness on the ground. That made it a particularly rewarding experience for me.
One of my most fulfilling projects was delivering a resilience assessment of six emergency shelters in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The project helped strengthen local preparedness by addressing key vulnerabilities ahead of the next hurricane season and empowering local teams to lead the changes.
Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.
After being appointed Veterans Champion for AECOM, I have taken a leading role in organising the AECOM Armed Forces and Veteran Industry Insight Programme in the UK and Ireland. This initiative was developed to support individuals transitioning from military to industry careers by providing a platform to explore opportunities and access a dedicated support network.
The event highlighted diverse career pathways and demonstrated our ongoing commitment to veterans, service leavers, and reservists through targeted training, mentoring and advocacy. It underscored the wide range of roles available across the organisation and the broader industry — from project management to leadership positions — many of which align closely with the skills veterans bring from their military service.
The event also created a valuable space for attendees to connect with industry professionals, gain insights into civilian work environments, and explore new career possibilities. A key focus was on recognising and translating the transferable skills veterans possess — such as leadership, problem-solving, resilience and teamwork — into meaningful opportunities in the industry workforce.
The event’s success was reflected in the positive feedback we received and the stories of participants who left with renewed confidence, many now actively considering careers in project management. Looking ahead, we are committed to building on this momentum. I have begun developing an internal veterans’ network to foster a sense of community, provide peer support, and ensure that the voices and experiences of veterans are reflected across the organisation.
After being appointed Veterans Champion for AECOM, I have taken a leading role in organising the AECOM Armed Forces and Veteran Industry Insight Programme in the UK and Ireland. A key focus was on recognising and translating the transferable skills veterans possess — such as leadership, problem-solving, resilience and teamwork — into meaningful opportunities in the industry workforce.
Share a piece of career advice
Embrace transferable skills and be open to new opportunities. My transition from the British Army to project management wasn’t straightforward. No matter where you start or what your background is, the experiences you’ve gained and skills you have developed are often more transferable than you realise, trust in them and don’t hesitate to step outside your comfort zone.