Please can you tell us a little bit about your professional background and career so far?

My career started in the U.K. back in the early nineties. After completing a degree at Nottingham Trent University and qualifying as Professional Quantity Surveyor in 1994, I moved to London and worked for Bruce Shaw Partnership, managing retail schemes for Marks and Spencer in the U.K. and Germany.

I then moved to Gardiner & Theobald in 1998, working on several large development projects like the Bull Ring Shopping Centre in Birmingham. I was fortunate to be sponsored to take a year out to complete an MBA at Cranfield Business School, U.K., and returned in 2001 to help with some new business initiatives.

In late 2003 I joined Davis Langdon as an Associate and in 2006, I was promoted to Partner. I went on to lead the retail business sector just after the company was acquired by AECOM. I delivered projects in the U.K. and Africa, leading a team involved in major mixed-use developments and infrastructure. In 2017, I became a member of the London Commercial Leadership board. After 28 years of working professionally in the U.K., I decided to explore new horizons and made the decision to transfer to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to head up the Program Cost Consultancy (PCC) practice for AECOM.

How do you think working in Saudi Arabia will contribute to your professional development and long-term career goals?

I think it will give me the opportunity to further broaden my professional career by working on some of the world’s most visionary development projects as part of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision. Meeting new clients and colleagues will widen my professional network and present new opportunities in developing my career. Having worked on projects in the U.K., Europe and Africa, my new role in Saudi Arabia will provide experience in the Middle East giving me great international exposure which I can draw on.

How do the projects compare to those you’ve worked on elsewhere?

I’m already working on some very exciting projects, of which the Saudi Vision 2030 has a raft. They are generally much larger scale and we tend to work across large new cities or developments, such as NEOM. There is the opportunity to work on some really cutting-edge projects that I wouldn’t necessarily have been able to back in the U.K. Obviously the climate in Saudi Arabia is hot, bright and can be harsh, providing different challenges in terms of building design and creating an internal environment comfortable for users.

What has surprised you most about the culture and working environment in Saudi Arabia so far?

The culture is obviously different to what I’m used to, however I’ve found it very friendly and welcoming so far. You just need to ensure that you respect their rules, religion and norms, which you need to do in any country that you work in.

I do admit that it is perhaps a little different for women, for example with clothing restrictions compared to the U.K. However, the AECOM office in Riyadh is mixed and there is no longer a requirement for separate working areas for men and women. I think engaging with the local community and culture has been great. I’ve been able to settle down very quickly and everyone’s been very helpful in giving guidance.

One thing that has taken a bit of getting used to is travelling in traffic, which can be challenging. There is no real public transport provision therefore you need to allow enough time to travel.

How did your perception of Saudi Arabia compare to reality?

I tried not to have any preconceived ideas or perceptions before coming here, even though I read a lot of books and articles about the cultural differences. I came with an open mind and I think that’s the best way to approach it.

It’s really not what people perceive it to be. Whilst you do have to observe local customs, it’s pretty relaxed and I haven’t found myself in any situations where I’ve felt uncomfortable.

What advice would you give someone looking to live and work in Saudi Arabia?

Working in Saudi Arabia presents an opportunity to fast track your career, and the financial rewards are certainly worth considering. The clients can be demanding as they want the very best, but they respect good professional advice. You need to approach it with an open mind and take the leap of faith – I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.