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

My career has been very fulfilling. I started out as a chemical engineer, managing and working on plant operations and construction projects, while also going to Law School at night. Once I completed my legal studies, I became a patent attorney and a trial litigator then moved in to Research and Development for the Walt Disney Company. During this period, I gained my MBA, got married then moved to Chicago to work on a special project. I also went back to school to study for a Master’s degree in Computer Science. Before graduation, however, my family decided to move back to California, and I returned to private practice – becoming a senior partner at a national law firm.

I also became an adjunct professor at UCLA Law School, and taught a class with one of the deans of the UCLA Anderson School of Management – teaching MBA, Master’s Degree and law students about innovation, new technologies and start-ups. I was then approached to work in AECOM’s legal group focusing on innovation and technology, and helping set up systems at the corporate level. From there, I moved to a leadership role in AECOM Ventures and started working on new initiatives and projects again – drawing on my business, engineering and legal knowledge.

With some really interesting projects coming up on the horizon in Saudi Arabia that dealt with smart cities and other innovations, I made the decision to transfer into the EMEA geography at the end of last year. The rest is history and my role now is drawing on all of the elements from my career so far.

What was it about Saudi Arabia and the particular projects that you’re working on that inspired you to make the move?

As part of Saudi Vision 2030, the country is committed to build four new smart cities, each with a different focus, as well as to digitize and upgrade existing communities across Saudi Arabia to ‘smart-city ecosystems’. This work includes assessing and implementing digital systems and digital infrastructure, and optimization to improve the technologies, environment and livability of cities, old and new.

I wanted to be part of it. When I arrived in Saudi Arabia, I was asked to work on the Makkah City programme. Thousands of years old, Masjid al-Haram – the Holy Mosque is located in Makkah. As a site of pilgrimage for the Hajj, it is an incredibly important city nationally and globally.

The purpose of our work is to make Makkah a showcase for Saudi Arabia, including helping to make Makkah a livable city and grow its economy. Since early this year, our global team has been helping to put together an overall plan and vision for the city, addressing areas such as mobility and transportation, water systems, solid waste, safety, security, education and health. We now have people being deployed from the U.S. and U.K. to work with us. It’s really exciting, because we’re touching on each area that a livable city needs to optimize and harmonize.

What was the process like of getting ready to live in Saudi Arabia?

It was interesting. I have traveled extensively, working on projects across the U.S., and in China, Poland and India. But I’ve never lived abroad before and I think my colleagues were concerned about whether I would be able to adapt. But I’m pretty adaptable and it’s an adventure! I’m very happy with my decision. I’m enjoying learning about the culture and traveling quite a bit.

In terms of the process itself, I think there are enough expats that are working in Saudi Arabia and UAE within AECOM to help, and everyone has been very friendly and supportive. There is always someone to answer my questions and help navigate the unknown.

Living in Saudi Arabia is comfortable. I live on a compound with other expats and it has all modern conveniences – including a gym, tennis courts and swimming pools. I chose not to drive in Saudi Arabia – although women can drive here now. The laws are a little bit different, and navigating the road system is an art in and of itself. So I have a driver. There’s also Uber/taxis available, and it’s always easy to arrange transport.

I’ve also done a lot of traveling, and I’m seeing a part of the world that I have never visited. I had the opportunity to visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi, spent a couple of weeks in Riyadh and have been out and about in Jeddah, where I stay. Old Town in Jeddah is a restored historic area and is wonderful to visit and see the sights. As well, my family visited and we went to Egypt, saw the pyramids, rode camels, and headed out to scuba dive in the Red Sea. And, I recently went back to Egypt, to Luxor to see the Valley of the Kings.

What’s been your most rewarding professional experience in Saudi Arabia so far?

We have some really talented city planners, architects and engineers in AECOM. For the Makkah project, I am quite fortunate as there’s a specialist, Dr Amr Attia – who was an Eisenhower fellow in the United States previously. He is probably one of the most experienced and visionary architects and city planners that I’ve ever known. He brought me in to work on the technical/digital side of the Makkah project, and having the opportunity to work with him is a great experience.

We also have a great Project Director, Mohamed Ibrahim. Amr, Mohamed and I make up the executive team for the Makkah project, alongside our talented team members. I think that working in Saudi Arabia on projects with AECOM experts is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I consider myself fortunate.

When you’re not working, what’s your favourite thing to do in Saudi Arabia?

It’s a combination of things. I like to travel. I’m probably a closet architect, and I’m also a history buff. I like to take in the culture, and the people I have met in the region are all friendly and helpful. Going into Jeddah to explore the restored Old Town area is amazing. I’ve also made friends with other expats in my compound. We play tennis and squash or have a bite to eat. So, it’s very nice.

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

This represents a different chapter in my career. Collaborating with the Makkah team, and wider professional team to develop integrated strategies for smart cities is a new path for me. And, combining the old with the new into a cohesive ecosystem is an interesting challenge. One of the great things about working with Dr Attia is that he is a firm believer in aligning the old with the new, implementing new digital systems while also retaining the culture and architecture of the ancient sites. So nothing is lost, only revitalised.

In the years ahead, these kinds of skills and experience are going to be more and more in demand because almost every city is looking to go ‘digital’ to optimize their core functions and improve livability for their citizens. So, I expect my experiences and expertise will be very valuable.