Monica Chandran

Site engineer, Jackson Civil Engineering

Expertise

Construction, Structural, Project Management

Location

London

My highlights

Winning the Kingston Gold Award for my academic involvement

Winning the Jackson Public Relationship Award for my STEM community volunteering

Being recognised as one of the top 100 most influential women in construction by the Construction Industry Training Board

What motivated you to become professionally qualified? 

Obtaining my Engineering Technician (EngTech) professional qualification helped me learn more, and gain respect in the field.

It’s also given me the chance to work on complex projects that make a real difference in the world.

It means achieving recognition for my skills and engineering knowledge.

This proves that I met high standards in the industry which also open doors for more job opportunities worldwide.

It’s great to be a part of shaping the future of infrastructure.

Which individual project or person inspired you to become a civil engineer?

My father!

We asked Monica…

A day in your life

A day in my life is filled with problem solving and working on projects. I get to see my ideas come to life and help maintain and build important things like roads, bridges and tunnels.

I would recommend a career in civil engineering because…

Every day is different, with new challenges. There are lots of chances to learn and see your work come together in real life.

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

A STEM ambassador!

What’s the biggest/most complex thing you’ve made out of Lego?

Recently, I used Lego Education SPIKE to build a fully functional robot with sensors and motors that could navigate on a mat.

It took me about three hours to assemble and program the robot to complete the challenge successfully.

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

The ability to make a real difference in the world. Every day is a new challenge, and I love seeing my work help maintain roads, bridges and tunnels that people use every day.

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

That you get to travel to different locations while working on various projects. I never knew how exciting it would be to see new places and work on projects in different areas.

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

The embankment sheet piling scheme.

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

That skyscrapers are too tall to be safe in strong winds. In reality, modern skyscrapers are designed to sway slightly in high winds.

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

The ICE supported me by offering virtual and in-person webinars to help with my continuous professional development.

My employer played a key role by involving me in various projects to gain valuable experience, and my mentor provided ongoing support and encouragement throughout the process.

What do you value most about being an ICE member?

It provides access to resources, networking opportunities with experienced engineers and the ability to take part in STEM community activities.

Monica's career path

My civil engineering career has been shaped by several key milestones.

After moving from India to the UK to study, I successfully secured a placement with Jackson, where I gained valuable hands-on industry experience.

During my MSc in Structural Design and Construction Management at Kingston University, I was honoured with Kingston Gold Award for my academic involvement. I also received an Academic Impact Award for an outstanding student contribution.

At the end of my 12-months placement I was recognised with the Jackson Highways Award, and for my continuous STEM community volunteering, I received the Jackson Public Relationship Award.

Most recently I was recognised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) as one of the Top 100 most influential women in construction.