Dr Paul Mckeown

We asked Dr Mckeown

I would recommend a career in civil engineering because…

Civil engineering gives you the chance to make a real difference.

You help design and deliver the systems people depend on every day – roads, water, buildings, and cities.

It’s a career that challenges you to think creatively, work as part of a team, and take responsibility.

You can look at a finished project and know you played a part in improving people’s lives.

Complete this phrase: I’m a civil engineer, but I’m also…

I’m a civil engineer, but I’m also a leader, a mentor, a lifelong learner, and someone who believes engineering should always serve people and communities.

What about being a civil engineer gets you out of bed each morning?

The knowledge that the decisions I make today can positively impact people’s lives for years to come.

I’m motivated by challenge, responsibility, and helping teams succeed on meaningful work.

What’s one great thing that you love about civil engineering that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?

Its lasting impact. Long after a project is finished, it continues to serve communities and future generations, and being part of that is incredibly rewarding.

Which civil engineering project (past or present) do you wish you’d worked on?

Large, multi-disciplinary programmes that reshape entire cities, projects where engineering, governance, finance, and public interest intersect.

Developments involving transport, housing, public realm, healthcare, and education at scale.

In my career, I’ve worked close to projects of this nature in the Middle East, where engineering decisions directly influence national development goals.

The projects I’m most drawn to are those where engineers are involved early, shaping strategy, managing risk, and ensuring long-term value rather than simply delivering a fixed scope.

Name one civil engineering myth you’d like to bust.

That civil engineering is a purely technical profession.

In senior roles, the real challenge lies in leadership, aligning stakeholders, making judgement calls with incomplete information, managing risk, and taking responsibility for outcomes that affect communities and economies.

Technical excellence is essential, but it’s leadership and integrity that define impact.

Has civil engineering helped you overcome any personal hurdles/difficulties?

Yes,without question.

Engineering has taught me discipline, resilience, and accountability.

Working across different cultures, under pressure, and at executive level forces you to remain calm, fair, and solution-focused.

Those skills carry directly into life outside work, particularly when navigating personal challenges and responsibility for others.

What motivated you to become professionally qualified? 

Professional qualification represents trust.

As my responsibilities increased, from managing teams to advising city leaders and government entities, I wanted my decisions to be backed by recognised professional accountability.

ICE qualification was about credibility, integrity, and standing behind my judgement.

What does being professionally qualified with the ICE mean for your career?  

It provides a recognised benchmark of competence and ethics, particularly when working internationally.

In the Middle East, ICE professional qualification carries significant weight with clients, government stakeholders, and partners. It demonstrates leadership, independence of thought, and adherence to global standards.

What’s the best thing about being professionally qualified with the ICE? 

The confidence it gives, to yourself and others. It signals that you are trusted to lead, to make difficult decisions, and to uphold the values of the profession even under pressure.

How did the ICE and your employer support you to become professionally qualified? 

Through structured development, mentoring, sponsorship, and exposure to increasing responsibility.

The ICE framework helped me reflect on experience, not just accumulate it, while supportive employers provided the opportunities needed to grow.

What do you value most about being an ICE member? 

The professional community. Being part of a global institution that values standards, learning, and public good, and having the opportunity to give back through mentoring, leadership, and outreach.

How has being a member helped your career?

ICE membership has strengthened trust, opened senior-level conversations, and supported my transition into executive leadership.

It provides a common professional language when working across cultures and jurisdictions.

What’s the biggest/most complex thing you’ve made out of Lego? How long did it take you?

As a child, I built entire Lego cities, roads, bridges, buildings, and transport links – all connected.

I’d keep improving them over weeks, taking parts apart and rebuilding them better.

Looking back, it was early engineering thinking: planning systems, solving problems, and learning through trial and error.

Anything else? i.e. personal causes, hobbies

I’m deeply committed to mentoring young engineers and supporting professional development pathways.

As chair of the ICE in Saudi Arabia, I actively promote collaboration between institutions, industry, and government.

Outside work, I’m involved in creative projects, charity initiatives, and family life, all of which keep perspective and balance.