Fakhar Alam

We asked Fakhar…

I would recommend a career in civil engineering because…

I would recommend a career in civil engineering because it offers the opportunity to have a tangible effect on society.

Civil engineers design and build infrastructure that enhances daily life, from roads and bridges to water systems and buildings.

The field is challenging and rewarding, providing a diverse range of projects and the chance to solve complex problems.

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

I’m also a father, gamer, music fan and a technical geek!

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

I haven't had much experience with Lego in my life, but I've recently started building with my son. Our goal is to successfully construct a race car using Lego bricks.

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

The opportunity to make a real-world impact is significant. The decisions we make today will affect future generations, so being a civil engineer carries responsibility.

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

The profound sense of satisfaction about finding solutions to real-world problems.

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

The myth that civil engineering is only about construction.

There's a significant amount of planning and design that goes into a civil engineering project. The planning of a project takes longer than the execution of it!

What motivated you to become professionally qualified? 

Validating my skills and knowledge, the opportunity to make my dad proud and having a wonderful mentor.

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

It recognises my knowledge and expertise and significantly improves my career advancement.

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

The confidence of being professionally recognised by the ICE.

The respect of peers for achieving this significant milestone.

Being put in a better position for career advancement.

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

I was provided a training agreement by my employer AECOM to help with my Chartered Engineer (CEng) qualification.

This included paying all the necessary yearly subscriptions as well as the exam fee.

I was also given a day off by AECOM on my review day. A number of my colleagues helped me prepare by undertaking mock exercises.

The ICE helped through regular communication to keep us updated on the next steps.

Furthermore, being able to reach out to the ICE member development officer (MDO) for support was very useful.

What do you value most about being an ICE member? 

The platform the ICE provides in making your voice heard.

The prestige of being a part of such a respected institution.

The networking that ICE provides due to its wide network of professionals.

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

It has helped me gain recognition internally within the company. This has put me in a better position to work on different schemes.

There are monetary benefits as well.

Anything else? i.e. personal causes, hobbies

I like to get involved with charities in Pakistan. I love gaming and still play regularly to this day!

Other hobbies include: watching and playing cricket, TV shows, listening to music and fixing computers.