Karuppiah Senthilnathan

We asked Karuppiah…

A day in my life

Every day begins quietly at 4:30am, setting the tone of discipline.

I follow this with a 90-minute brisk morning walk to care for my health and make the most of nature’s way of energising the soul.

I spend some quality time on spirituality and divine intervention.

By 6am, I'm diving into the newspaper to keep up with current affairs.

At 7am, breakfast fuels me with energy to start strong.

At 8:15am, I reach the office early, not just to avoid traffic but also to promote less carbon emissions.

The first task is to prepare a daily planner to keep things organised.

Lunch is at 1pm, which I keep light and healthy to fuel without the crash.

By 6:30pm, I wrap up and head home for family time and dinner until 8pm.

After 8:30pm, I unwind myself from my phone and dose off around 9pm.

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

A problem solver/troubleshooter/crises manager who thrives on turning complex site challenges into smart, practical solutions.

A team player who brings clarity, coordination and calmness to fast paced project environments. 

A lifelong learner, always evolving with new technologies, materials and methods to build a smarter world.

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

Civil and infrastructure engineering is not only about cement, bricks, mortar and concrete.

It solves real-world problems through engineering concepts, construction and planning.

We also lend our knowledge to almost every critical sector of the economy.

We are doing more than our bit to build a bright future for all.

How does your role contribute to addressing climate change?

I'm an advisory board member of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Technologies for Low Carbon and Lean Construction (TLC2) at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.

I critically review TLC2 projects, which aim to develop innovative technologies for minimising waste throughout the construction value-chain.

I also lead on implementing new solutions across organisations and policy.

How does your role contribute to making the industry more diverse and inclusive?

By fostering collaboration across disciplines and creating an environment where people feel comfortable speaking out their ideas and sharing their problems.

What role does digital technology play in your job?

Building information modelling (BIM) plays a big part.

I was instrumental in developing a state-of-the-art BIM studio named ATELIER VR.

This facility is being extensively used for BIM project reviews, site collaboration, internal training, knowledge sharing, BIM vendor engagement, and more.

What motivated you to become professionally qualified? 

It's a good learning opportunity and a chance to grow and be recognised as a true professional in civil engineering.

Meeting global standards opens doors to bigger opportunities.

It also feels good to be part of a community that’s shaping the future of infrastructure.

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

It’s not just a badge.

It shows that I meet international benchmarks and can take on complex projects confidently.

It opens doors to leadership roles, global opportunities and a strong professional network.

More than that, it gives me credibility and helps me stand out in a competitive industry.

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

The ICE gave me clear guidance on the steps to take and provided resources that made the process less overwhelming. This helped me gain the experience I needed.

My employer encouraged me to pursue this qualification and made time for mentoring and advice whenever I needed it.