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 Simon Wright
I have been a member of ICE since 1975 and became a Fellow six months ago.
Who do you work for and what is your role?
I work for the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) as Director of Infrastructure and Utilities.
The ODA is a public body responsible for the design and delivery of the venues and infrastructure for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Its remit also covers the works to enable the long-term regeneration of the Olympic Park at Stratford.
I manage the delivery of the infrastructure including soil remediation, river and canal improvements, roads and bridges and all utilities to serve the Olympic Park and Olympic Village. I am also closely involved in a number of the main sustainability initiatives particularly around energy and water.
What is your greatest achievement to date?
The Olympics is clearly very large and complex and I am proud to be involved in it. As well as delivering a great Games and a lasting legacy for East London, we hope to demonstrate that the construction industry in this country can deliver successfully on time and on budget, and to change the approach to sustainable development.
What made you apply for your Fellowship status?
I had thought about it for some time and when I joined ODA in 2006, a colleague, who is on the Council of ICE, encouraged me to apply.
Why is being a Fellow of ICE important to you?
I was keen to become a Fellow as I have now spent more than 30 years in the civil engineering industry, and feel that having a body representing the profession and the interests of our industry is vitally important, and I wanted to share that experience as widely as possible.
In your own words, what does it take to become a Fellow?
In order to become a Fellow it requires experience in a position of some significant responsibility, the demonstration of leadership skills, an understanding of the wider social, economic, environmental and political pressures that affect the industry and good communication skills.
What advice would you give to a member who wants to become a Fellow?
Grab opportunities to take on leading roles in projects, challenge the so called `tried and tested´ methods, innovate and don´t be afraid to speak out about our industry.
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