Ellie Thomas
Assistant civil engineer, AtkinsRéalis
Expertise
Construction, DesignLocation
WalesMy highlights
ICE President’s Future Leader 2024/25
ICE STEM Ambassador of the Year 2023
ICE Wales Cymru Future Leader 2023/24
A day in my life
I’m currently working full time onsite as part of AtkinsRéalis’ designer’s site representative team on the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road scheme.
No two days are the same - sometimes I can spend almost all day out onsite. Others, it’s a mixture of onsite and in the site office, depending on how rainy it is!
Some of my daily tasks include:
- Doing inspections to ensure construction is in line with the design and the specifications.
- Meetings onsite to work collaboratively and overcome problems that come up.
- Responding to technical queries and liaising with the design team back in the office.
- Working with the contractor and subcontractors to ensure quality standards high, ensuring the project’s success.
I also spend time collaborating with colleagues within my organisation and the wider industry to plan and deliver STEM outreach and social value initiatives.
It’s inspiring seeing how passionate civil engineers are about their work and how willing people are to help others develop!
Which individual project or person inspired you to become a civil engineer?
I wouldn’t say a particular project or person inspired me to become a civil engineer. I wanted my work to be meaningful and to help improve lives.
Studying geography at school, I learned about how civil engineers help to connect communities, provide access to safe drinking water and contribute to a sustainable future.
This really inspired me to pursue a career in civil engineering.
We asked Ellie…
I would recommend a career in civil engineering because…
It’s such a varied career and the opportunities are endless!
A career in civil engineering could mean:
- travelling to different continents;
- leading the construction of complex major projects;
- becoming a technical expert;
- influencing policymakers to drive long term change; or
- all of the above!
Complete this phrase: I’m a civil engineer, but I’m also…
I’m a civil engineer but I’m also a fitness and travel lover.
I enjoy trying new sports, going to the gym and running. I’ll be running the London Marathon 2025 for the charity WaterAid. Currently, in my spare time I’m learning to play golf!
I also love travelling to new countries – this year I travelled to Vietnam and Cambodia.
What about being a civil engineer gets you out of bed each morning?
Knowing that the work I’m doing is having direct impacts on people and contributing to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring the planet and the people that live on it thrive.
No two days are the same and I never get bored!
What’s one great thing that you love about civil engineering that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?
How amazing all the people are that work in the industry.
It’s inspiring seeing how passionate civil engineers are about their work and how willing people are to help others develop!
I’ve had the opportunity to learn and get advice from lots of great engineers that will benefit my career.
Which civil engineering project (past or present) do you wish you’d worked on?
The Clifton Suspension Bridge!
Name one civil engineering myth you’d like to bust.
That civil engineering is a man’s career.
Civil engineering is a career for everyone. To ensure the industry is properly equipped for the challenges of the future, we need a diverse workforce so that our solutions help improve the lives of all.
What’s the biggest/most complex thing you’ve made out of Lego? How long did it take you?
At university I played a (small) part in creating a 2m x 2m Lego mosaic which recreated a photograph of a tunnel boring machine used on the Mont Cenis Base Tunnel project.
It was a big team effort and consisted of 65,536 pieces!
Anything else? i.e. personal causes, hobbies
I’m really passionate about promoting the civil engineering profession to future generations – particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.
I enjoy planning workshops and initiatives, and collaborating with other organisations to maximise the impacts we can have with STEM outreach.
I’ve recently started volunteering for the charity Engineering for Oversees Development where I will help with the ongoing design of Faith School in Mbale, Uganda.
Ellie's career path
For my A-levels, I studied maths, geography, biology and chemistry. My love of maths and geography is what really got me into civil engineering.
I then attended the University of Bristol where I completed my MEng Civil Engineering degree.
Between my third and fourth year, I undertook a summer placement with Walters, a contracting company in South Wales.
After graduating in 2022, I started working for AtkinsRéalis within their transportation division.
I’ve also been heavily involved with my regional ICE committee since graduating, which has allowed me to meet lots of great engineers from a range of companies!
