Mo Kamara

We asked Mo…

I would recommend a career in civil engineering because…

It throws challenges at you by taking you outside of your comfort zone. The outcome is growth, confidence, fun, reward, and a sense of purpose.

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

Someone with a long list of hobbies that enables me to be challenged, learn, and grow in other areas.

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

Growing up I didn't really have access to Lego.

At the time, science was more my thing than engineering.

I'll admit that I may be slow in areas that require complete concentration and quality, like the tiny house I assembled for a friend years ago.

It took me about an hour to complete. That's mostly because I prefer to take my time and be efficient.

However, I recently received my first complicated Lego (a video camera) from a close friend, and I'm excited to see how long it takes.

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

The feeling of purpose that comes from knowing that every day is an opportunity for me to make a mark that will be there for years and generations.

And that this serves a great purpose for the public and the environment.

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

The laughs and humbleness you get from the site operatives and labourers.

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

I wish to work on housing projects in the future. I dream of one day building my own house.

Therefore, working on housing project should give me some key skills that’d be useful to me one day.

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

Not everyone that wears hi-vis and full personal protective equipment (PPE) on construction sites is a civil engineer.

Not all civil engineers are designers.

What are you doing to help address climate change?

With some guidance from our environmental sustainability advisors at Dyer and Butler, I volunteered to oversee the site management waste plan (SWMP) on some of the projects I worked on.

I supervised and recorded the quantity of waste taken from site, the European Waste Catalogue (EWC), where they’re taken, by whom, code and disposal method.

I went further and categorised our waste management into two elements namely:

1. energy and operational carbon
2. capital carbon

The former looks at the emissions from plants and equipment onsite and how they should be monitored.

The latter looks at the life span of the construction materials and the impact they’d have if we replace them frequently or within a short period of time after construction.

We want them to last longer if they’re not reusable or recyclable.

The production of these materials releases a very large number of emissions.

This applies one of the six steps of the ICE’s State of the Nation 2021 report on how engineers should tackle climate: ensuring we bring carbon into every conversation.

Also, considering recycling deconstructed materials and reusing existing materials or infrastructure.

Most importantly, the use and understanding of carbon tools and waste management links to UN Sustainable Development Goals: 9 (Industry, innovation & infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) and 13 (Climate action).

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

Yes, being open to travelling (voluntarily) wherever my job takes me has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone.

It gives me the open-mindedness to be vulnerable, network, meet and engage with different characters and personalities, and grow as a person.

What is motivating you to become professionally qualified? 

What motivates me the most is the prospect of collaborating with Incorporated Engineers (IEng) and Chartered Engineers (CEng) management at Dyer & Butler. 

I want to see firsthand how capable and driven they are to find answers to problems.

This enables me to reflect on my progress and apply the knowledge I've gained over the years to inspire, contribute, and impact the world for future generations.

It also instils in me a sense of growth and thankfulness.

Not to add, I don’t pay for my membership, and I have mentors assigned to me to guide me in becoming professionally qualified.

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

As I work towards my IEng qualification, I will be able to project a professional image throughout the globe as someone who’s committed to advancing the rapidly evolving field of civil engineering.

It's also a cause for pride to join a powerful, internationally recognised membership body with more than 200 years of experience.

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

The opportunity to participate and be up to date with online and in-person sessions/lectures with other industry professionals.

The chance to talk about present challenges, solutions and how we could contribute towards making the future environmentally friendly and sustainable.

How is the ICE and/or your employer supporting you to become professionally qualified? 

My employer assigns a senior civil engineer (SCE) and a delegated engineer (DE) to whom I’d present a written report of 1200 words on a quarterly basis.

Each report consists of the experience gathered by working on various projects which in turn would allow me to tick off the set attributes or targets set by the ICE for an IEng or CEng level.

My SCE and DE would discuss and provide feedback where necessary until all these targets are achieved before sitting in front of the ICE panel to undertake my professional review.

The ICE provides online webinars and reports on how to prepare for a professional review, which I do find very useful.

What do you value most about being an ICE member? 

I value the resources at my deposal such as webinars, face-to-face industry-related sessions, and networking.

How has being a member helped your career? 

It allows me to view the industry from a wider lens by opening doors to endless opportunities regarding career paths.

As a result, it’s enhanced my career vision to possibly navigating into other built environment channels and still be within the world of civil engineering.

Anything else?

Hobbies: photography, football, blogging, running, reading, gym, travelling, STEM ambassador, equity diversity and inclusion (EDI) champion.