Samuel Jones
Senior policy and strategy advisor, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority
Expertise
Systems thinkingLocation
United KingdomMy highlights
ICE President’s Future Leader 2024/25
Design and delivery of the zero emissions vehicle mandate
Working on the Transforming Infrastructure Performance (TIP) programme with the ICE
A day in my life
Every day as a policy professional in government is different, bringing fresh challenges to solve.
A typical day might look like:
- Drafting briefings and providing professional advice for senior civil servants and ministers.
- Collaborating with project experts, other departments and key industry stakeholders to shape strategies and policy.
- Carrying out analysis and drawing out insights to help shape policy.
I’m currently on secondment to HM Treasury with a focus on infrastructure.
Civil engineering isn't just about building things - there's a lot that happens before and after that's often overlooked.
Which individual project or person inspired you to become a civil engineer?
Isambard Kingdom Brunel was probably the first civil engineer I came across.
I remember marvelling at Paddington Station the first time I travelled to London from my hometown of Swansea on the Great Western Railway and the Clifton Suspension Bridge the first time I visited Bristol.
This demonstrated to me at a young age the impact and legacy you can have as a civil engineer.
We asked Samuel…
I would recommend a career in civil engineering because…
As a civil engineer you have the opportunity to develop a range of skills, pick from a range of career paths and most importantly, make a significant impact on society.
Complete this phrase: I’m a civil engineer, but I’m also…
Dyslexic, which is one of the main reasons I ended up doing civil engineering, as numbers, problem solving and creative design were my natural strengths.
What about being a civil engineer gets you out of bed each morning?
How fundamental civil engineering is to creating a prosperous and functional society and as such, the difference we as engineers can make.
What’s one great thing that you love about civil engineering that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?
How vast it is - in the breadth of types of infrastructure (such as digital) and the range of career paths within the industry.
Which civil engineering project (past or present) do you wish you’d worked on?
I've always been particularly interested in tunnelling so it would have to be Crossrail and the Channel Tunnel - two marvels of engineering.
What’s the biggest/most complex thing you’ve made out of Lego? How long did it take you?
I remember making a Lego pirate ship when I was around five. I filled it with Smarties and tried ‘floating’ it in the bath…
Anything else? i.e. personal causes, hobbies
I’m a big runner, and last year achieved a big goal of mine, running the London Marathon.
I also enjoy exploring different parts of London which is often done by running to different bakeries.
Samuel's career path
- Maths and sciences at school MEng Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London
- Summer internships at Atkins and Metis Consultants, an environmental consultancy
- Civil Service Fast Stream, specialising in policy. Placements included Net Zero Strategy at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), zero emission vehicle (ZEV) regulation at the Department for Transport (DfT), and a secondment to PA Consulting
- Currently at the Cabinet Office, Infrastructure and Projects Authority and HM Treasury working on major projects policy and strategy
Major projects
- High Speed 2 - climate and weather resilience
- Design and delivery of ZEV mandate
