Evita Widjaja
Engineer, AtkinsRéalis
Expertise
Project Management, Design, WaterLocation
United KingdomMy highlights
ICE President’s Future Leader 2023/24
Leading a charity project to help bring water to communities currently without piped water
Designing sustainable drainage and improving water networks
A day in my life
My typical day as a water engineering consultant is a mix of problem solving, collaborating, and innovating.
Mornings often start with reviewing project progress with colleagues to ensure everyone is aligned.
I then work on hydraulic models, geographic information system (GIS) platforms, and digital tools to better design and operate our water, wastewater, and surface water systems.
After catching up with colleagues over lunch (and maybe a quick game of table tennis), I make time to engage in cross-sectoral meetings, webinars, and conferences.
It’s important that water engineers collaborate with other experts like environmentalists and landscape architects to explore ‘out of the box’ ideas to address complex challenges.
I like how multi-faceted infrastructure projects are, and as civil engineers, we get to collaborate with many different professionals.
I would recommend a career in civil engineering because …
We have the opportunity to progress infrastructure towards important goals like net zero and the UN SDGs, shaping our future.
Also, the many specialisms under the umbrella of civil engineering and how innovative the work is will offer a fulfilling and dynamic career.
We asked Evita…
What about being a civil engineer gets you out of bed each morning?
Our water supply faces many challenges, and every day, I use hydraulic modelling and engineering design to minimise impacts to and/or enhance our access to clean water and sanitation.
What’s one great thing that you love about civil engineering that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?
I like how multi-faceted infrastructure projects are, and as civil engineers, we get to collaborate with many different professionals.
Which individual project or person inspired you to become a civil engineer?
After experiencing floods and earthquakes as a young child in Indonesia, I realised how important infrastructure is for society.
I was inspired to be part of those shaping the future infrastructure landscape.
Which civil engineering project (past or present) do you wish you’d worked on?
Amsterdam Rainproof
Singapore NEWater
The Svart Hotel
Name one civil engineering myth you’d like to bust.
Civil engineering is all about skyscrapers and bridges.
What’s the biggest/most complex thing you’ve made out of Lego? How long did it take you?
My first Lego building was at university, where I made a scale helicopter (under 1m-length) in a week.
Complete this phrase: I’m a civil engineer, but I’m also …
A travel enthusiast.
Anything else? i.e. personal causes, hobbies
I’m passionate about digital solutions and sustainability.
Evita's career path
- International Baccalaureate, including higher level maths and physics
- Integrated master’s degree in civil engineering
- On-the-job training on hydraulic modelling, GIS
Major projects
- The Beacon Project
- NEOM Oxagon
- South East Water (SEW) AMP7 Framework
- Sutton and East Surrey Water (SESW) DMA Asset Health Assessment
