Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED

Digital advances, from 3D models in public planning to patients living with pacemakers, are pushing sectors into new spaces which present unique opportunities but not without challenges.In the final part of our mini-series, we discover how digitalisation has shaped the automation, manufacturing and aviation industries here in Ireland. Our guests share real-world examples of phrases we hear bandied about daily from circularity to 360 and industry 4.0.Lots of sparks fly in this discussion with John O'Sullivan MD of Douglas Control and Automation, Lufthansa Technik’s Engineering Manager Barry Lowe and Chief Innovation Officer at IMR Andrew Lynch. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE Why future generations will look back on this time and consider us ‘quaint’Can paper and digital systems co-existLufthansa’s LEAN journeyThings you must consider when investing in plantA brilliant explanation and example of circularity & 360When is AI not AIHow Digital Twin worksReal examples of how CPD drives successGUEST DETAILSBarry Lowe: Engineering Manager at Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon. Barry is a native of Athlone, graduate of Mechanical Engineering. Commenced a career as Product Development Engineer with Hyster Automated Handling in Dublin. Gained international experience working in the USA & Germany in a variety of technical roles. He joined Lufthansa Technik as Marketing & Sales Manager and transferred to his current role as Engineering Manager with responsibility for product engineering, process engineering and new product introductions. Promoted to Head of Mobile Engine Services Dublin with Lufthansa Technik, effective January 2023.https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-lowe-58403877/John O’Sullivan: Managing Director at Douglas Control and AutomationJohn has an engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from University College Cork, a science degree in Astronomy and Planetary Science from the Open University and a Diploma in Project Management from the Cork Institute of Technology. He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland and a Project Management Professional with the Project Management Institute. He is a Functional Safety Professional and Certified Machine Safety Expert, both certified by TÜV. He has completed a Masters in management at the Smurfit Business School at University College Dublin and is currently conducting doctoral research in Management Information Systems at UCC's Cork University Business School. His area of research is automation projects in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnosullivanie/Andrew Lynch: Chief Innovation officer Irish Manufacturing ResearchAndrew is also the international Vice President of the EUREKA SMART Manufacturing Board of Directors, he chairs the ManuFuture ETP Working Group (State Aid Strategies- Research & Innovation) and is the national delegate to the European manufacturing policy platform, ManuFuture High-Level Group (HLG). Andrew has recently been nominated by the EFFRA Board to the Made in Europe Partnership Board, an expert board which meets regularly with the European Commission to discuss the scope and modalities of the Partnership and future call topics.https://www.linkedin.com/company/irish-manufacturing-research/ MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer.https://www.engineersireland.ie/QUOTESAndrew LynchIn a hundred years’ time, people are going to look back at these five or six years and say that is when everything changed. They’ll say we used to manufacture goods which we drove on trucks to put into shops and people bought stuff using a credit card. And they're going to say you guys were the ones who burnt the planet. It’s a wonderful time to be alive in this space.

Discover how digitalisation has been woven into the fabrics of business and society, and how Irish engineers have risen to the challenge.In episode two we explore how technology continues to redefine sectors of the engineering world and how these strides in digitalisation are increasing speed, accuracy and efficiency in business. We are joined by Michael O'Shaughnessy Digital Lead for Construction at PM Group, Ed Arnott Electrical Engineer at MMA Consulting and Darragh Ryan, a Design Manager at Horizon Offsite LtdTOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDEOffsite engineering and its benefits (01.49)How digitalisation has changed how we approach project management (04.47)The benefits of moving away from manual work to software systems (08.21)Trimble and the role it plays in electrical engineering (09.29)The biggest challenges of working in a post covid world (16.08) GUEST DETAILS Michael O Shaughnessy is Digital Lead for Construction at PM Group with responsibility for delivering PM Groups Strategic Digital Plan for Construction 2025.Darragh Ryan is a Design Manager at Horizon Offsite Ltd. Darragh’s work focuses on the design and management of light gauge structural steel frame projects across both Ireland and the UK.Ed Arnott, Ed is an electrical engineer at MMA Consulting. Ed’s background is in the industrial gas and petrochemical industries and specialises in hazardous-area electrical design.CONTACT DETAILSEd Arnott Electrical Engineer at MMA Consulting Engineersuk.linkedin.com/in/edward-arnottDarragh Ryanwww.linkedin.com/in/darraghryan1Micheal O Shaughnessylinkedin.com/in/michael-o-shaughnessy-92a5241bMORE INFORMATION Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer.https://www.engineersireland.ie/ QUOTESThe cloud has probably been the biggest transformation. We've got people spread across the world working in the same environment in the same space and they're getting instant updates. Michael O’Shaughnessy Offsite construction is a relatively new industry and born out of digitalization. It's something that's becoming more and more possible as digitalization progresses.Darragh Ryan The great advantage of the program I use, Trimble, is that it's actually designed around the regulations. So I know not only the capability of the equipment but I also know what is considered safe and legal.Ed Arnott

When you take a pill such as Anadin, you want to be very sure that what's going into your body is manufactured in the correct way. This is the precision required for pharmaceutical projects and an expert in that area joins our Amplified podcast today.In 25 years since first joining the PM Group, Peter Farrelly has had immeasurable multi-national experience working across the full life-cycle of projects; from inception and funding through to design, procurement, construction, commissioning and qualification. PM Group itself is known for its work with leading pharma, food and medical technology companies, with 3,500 employees working in Ireland, the UK, Asia and the US.Our chat covers everything from the challenges of constructing medical facilities to handling brownfield sites during Covid, right through to the incredible levels of sustainability PM managed at Bio Cork 2 and their award-winning work on an Irish facility which generates power using the sun. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDESpecial considerations for pharma building projectsDo glass panelled walls work for clean roomsHuge impact of constant medical change on building designAre multifunctional facilities possibleThe biggest impact of digital on engineeringHow digitally enabled lean transformation is revolutionising their businessWhat is the holy grail of electric vehiclesHow Peter would tackle the EV challengeWays new graduates are innovating business QUOTESWhen you take a pill you want to be sure what's going into your body is manufactured in the correct way.Regulations will change but base skills stay the same no matter where you goThe biggest challenge we've had over the last while is speed and COVID was a driver of that.You can only imagine the challenges of building a vaccine facility on a brownfield site with 450 people during COVID restrictions.GUEST DETAILSPeter Farrelly is a chartered engineer who is skilled in A&E Design, Project, Construction & Operations Management and Business Development. He is the Regional Development Director for PM Group, which is known for its work with some of the world's leading pharma, food and medical technology companies. It was founded in Ireland in 1973 and today has 3,500 employees working in Ireland, the UK, Asia and the US.CONTACT DETAILSwww.pmgroup-global.comwww.linkedin.com/in/peter-farrelly-3a75397MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer.https://www.engineersireland.ie/

Data centres are a fast-growing sector in engineering but can also be incredibly fast projects with timelines as short as a year. How do you work at that speed and still deliver quality and innovation?Winthrop Engineering has grown from being an MEP business in the nineties to delivering turnkey data centres all across Europe today, with a turnover expected to exceed €1bn in 2022.What is it like to lead a company working at this scale and pace? CEO Anne Dooley has been a director with the firm since 1997. She shares some of the progress they have made and factors that helped them grow. You’ll hear about problems in setting up data centres, the timelines demanded by clients, and what to do when problems arise. Anne also reflects on the importance of teams and how Winthrop lay out a path for progression, career development and hands-on mentoring. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDEHow engineering is a portable careerThe challenges of working across an entire projectDealing with timelines and demanding clientsThe role of 3D modelling and prefabricationHow seasoned experience and youthful drive works for themDescribes the flat structure and Winthrop and the reasoning behind itWays you can stay on top of your gameHow to incorporate sustainability into high-performance building designAnne’s view on the biggest challenge facing engineering QUOTESWe deliver everything, the building structure, architecture, the MEP so we can move all the pieces around and be a good deal more nimble.If the client has an issue, our first reaction is to not to sit down and write a letter. Our first reaction is to say, okay this has happened, we have to deliver it together. Let’s figure out how to make it better.The ethos of our success, is partnership with our clients in partnership with our team, all delivering togetherI love my job, I love my career, I love the delivery of itData centres are the next utility. We're not going to put our phones in the bin. We're not going to drive without Google Maps, or drop office software. The cloud requires a utility and that's why data centres existPower utilization and efficiency is hugely important and because they're very focused on that, data-centres are designed to be as energy efficient as possible GUEST DETAILSAnne Dooley has been a director with Winthrop Engineering since 1997 and has helped the company grow from its MEP heritage to its current status as a leading provider of data centres in Ireland and across Europe. Anne leads 750 staff by example and is a huge believer in mentoring and career progression. This is a key demonstrable part of her company ethos. She has also been credited with the Businesswoman of the Year Award and recently was appointed CEO at Winthrop. CONTACT DETAILShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-dooley-63248a12/https://winthrop.ie/ MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer.https://www.engineersireland.ie/

On this episode, we hear from an engineer at the top of his game. Ciaran McGovern, gives us an inside look at how Tobin’s long-established civil and structural engineering practice delivers for clients. You’ll hear about some of the firm’s most cutting-edge projects – including the world’s largest sports air dome – and what’s ahead for the engineering sector in terms of Ireland’s climate action plan. The conversation also touches on the long-term impacts of Covid19 both on workplace culture and regional demands on transportation patterns, the power grid and internet connectivity. Ciaran also reflects on how Engineers Ireland’s professional development programmes have kept him engaged and why being unafraid to speak up and ask questions is so important to career advancement – and enjoyment! TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDEThe Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin: A facility whose design and infrastructure supports everything from beginning gymnastics to elite rugby.The NUI Galway Connacht GAA Sports Air Dome: The world’s largest such facility, housing a full-size field, track and stands, also convertible within 72 hours to a fully functional conference arena unique on the island of Ireland.How aspirational mentors can inspire through their example, guidance and support.Why retention of talented staff is paramount and how there is a workplace emphasis on providing opportunities for growth and professional enrichment.Tobin’s DECOM (Direction, Competence, Opportunity, Motivation) framework provides a structured approach to securing the right mix of technical and interpersonal/ communications to best serve client needs.The ways Covid19 precipitated changes that were long in coming for Ireland’s traditional, centralized hub-and-spoke economy. Long-term adoption of remote work, demand for ever-better broadband, commute patterns and infrastructure to support electric cars. About Tobin’s direct involvement with Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, substantial improvements to power grid infrastructure and civic engagement.Finding ways to keep projects on track, maintain collaboration and provide necessary feedback to people “putting their heads down” remotely.Why Ciaran is especially appreciative of how professional development services have invited him to challenge himself to continue growing and acquiring new skills.GUEST DETAILSCiaran has over 25 years of experience in building and civil engineering project delivery within the Irish consultancy sector and was appointed as Managing Director in 2020. He has previously held the position of Operations Director and that of Commercial Director within TOBIN. Ciaran continues to advise a broad range of Clients on procurement and risk strategies in the management of works contracts for both traditional (employer) and design build (DB) forms. He works closely with internal and Client multidisciplinary teams to deliver projects in the sports capital, transportation, environment, civil engineering, building and infrastructure sectors.CONTACT DETAILShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cmcgoverntobin/https://www.tobinconsultingengineers.com/ Irelands Climate Action Plan 2021https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/6223e-climate-action-plan-2021/ Video highlights about the story of Tobin’s NUI Galway Connachthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDXzIKc0L54 MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer.https://www.engineersireland.ie/

Odran shares highlights of his career at the premier family-owned Coffey Group. He reflects on his trajectory with the firm, favourite projects and most interesting challenges. The episode also looks ahead at the sustainability landscape, including a growing pressure to broaden the options available in terms of construction processes, materials and deployment. You’ll hear about some fascinating new technologies (like those behind Coffey’s mobile emergency waste treatment plant design) and why it’s so critical that students in Ireland receive plenty of exposure to the many upsides of a career in engineering. Odran also shares thoughts about the benefits of Continuing Professional Development programmes and the critical role EI plays in upholding a consistent gold standard across the engineering industry.TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDEThe M7 Motorway Project’s specific challenges and the creative solutions Coffey engineers found to make it all work.How Coffey culture emphasizes CPS and why it promotes growth and advancement through ongoing professional training and accreditation. Lough Talt Water Treatment PlantHow and why Coffey engineers designed a mobile emergency water treatment plant housed within a single 40-foot containerThe advantage of plug-and-play installations as a time- and labour-saver and China’s lightning-quick ability to design and build fully equipped hospitals using this modular construction.How “pilot” customers are deterred by perceived risk. Can you counter that anxiety with reassuring examples of successful work?About Coffey’s most pressing challenges from labour to finite opportunity.Odran’s predictions on the civil engineering sector, investment in housing, transport and energy and infrastructure improvements needed to support population growth and social demands.GUEST DETAILSOdran Madden is a Chartered Engineer with over 20 years experience in the construction industry and over 15 years’ experience at management level undertaking civil engineering and building construction projects of varying scales, values and complexities. Odran has gained extensive knowledge and experience in water, wastewater, road, rail, energy and specialist engineering projects. His role is to ensure that all projects are completed safely, to a high standard, to our clients’ satisfaction and that the project teams are provided with the necessary technical support and resources. Odran holds BEng and LLB degrees, is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Institute of Engineers of Ireland and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.QUOTES“I quite enjoy working with water. It's very technically challenging, when you can take wastewater treatment to a safe and clean standard and give that water out to customers to drink, it’s very rewarding.” “I've certainly come across resistance in Ireland to things like pre-cast concrete over in-situ concrete. Some people do have resistance but it's changing and becoming more and more the norm.” “We don't really like change … (but) we need to allow the new innovative ways to advance.” “If you're meeting strangers, they're less likely to accept something that's going to be a little bit different. So you do need to have strong relationships with people. That's why I think having that repeat business is so important to help you get stuff over the line.”CONTACT DETAILShttps://www.coffeygroup.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/odran-madden-226bb144/ MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer.https://www.engineersireland.ie/

With his long and varied history at JB Barry, Liam Prendiville has tremendous perspective to offer.Liam shares thoughts on some of his most captivating projects – ranging from decade-long roadway efforts to public transit extensions and cutting-edge wastewater treatment facilities. He also looks at the growing demand for environmental sustainability, a trend Liam believes will profoundly impact every sector and offer a wealth of opportunities for engineers to chase creative, innovative solutions! Looking back on his years with JB Barry elicits understandable pride and Liam is equally excited for the horizon ahead, which includes all manner of civil, environmental, structural and transportation challenges. We wrap up with a wish list for Dublin infrastructure and a shout-out to Engineers Ireland for sponsoring a paper Liam co-authored about the exciting possibilities open to engineers interested in pursuing the international market, as he did in the 1990s with tremendous results.TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDEExperiences navigating projects in Bosnia, Latvia, the Gaza Strip and elsewhere.The Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project.How the M8 Cashel to Mitchelstown roadway project offered new ways of managing the project process, engaging in the pre-planning stage with contractors, maximising contract negotiation and optimising communications in a way that has since been replicated.Why centralised, Dublin-centric transportation planning has to be expanded to include more byways that support regional travel and economies.The current and primary focus of JB Barry's design and project managementThe journey from a senior engineer into the executive ranksOpportunities for engineers to provide solutions to a number of large political, economic, environmental and social impacts.Why Liam believes Ireland’s fortunes are very bright, with a strong economy at the tip of the spear and exciting new ways of conceiving things like housing.GUEST DETAILSLiam is a Chartered Engineer with over 35 years of experience. He specialises in Transportation and Traffic Engineering. For almost two decades, he has been at the helm of JB Barry and Partners, one of Ireland’s leading Consulting Engineers. They offer a wide variety of services in the Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Safety & Health sectors and have completed numerous successful projects in each area.QUOTES “The construction of motorways is a very small element of the carbon impact. The real impact is on yourself and myself driving around in diesel or petrol cars. You can see that the move towards electric cars has taken hold. It's certainly there.” “Using the same footprint and the same size of site, we can treat a 60% or 70% greater volume of wastewater. Now that's using innovation to drive great results!” “The environmental issues and climate action demand is really going to create a very exciting opportunity for engineers. It's all going to have to be engineered!” CONTACT DETAILShttps://www.jbbarry.ie/wp/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-prendiville-073b3a37/ MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer.https://www.engineersireland.ie/

The promise of renewables is exploding globally and engineering entrepreneurs like our guest on this episode of Amplify are right at the heart of the action! Recently named an EY International Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, Jamie O’Rourke is sharing his perspective as CEO of Mainline Group, the leading utility solutions provider at the centre of the boom in solar, wind and other burgeoning green technologies. He’s touting the benefits of ongoing professional development, networking organizations and global partnerships to innovate and integrate transformational change.Learn about Mainline’s latest projects in Ireland as well as exciting ventures based in Sweden, the UK and other countries at the forefront of innovation. Jamie also shares thoughts about the role of project management in large, complicated infrastructure schemes (such as the one Mainline has undertaken at Dublin Airport) as well as the hurdles engineering teams inevitably face in the field. The work can be challenging and the pace of change swift, but Jamie sees renewables as a huge opportunity for engineers to be part of the solution to environmental sustainability. “If we want to go to the extreme,” he says, “engineers will save the world, one wind turbine at a time!”TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDEThe path less travelled: How Jamie’s early experience working in newly post-apartheid South Africa thrust him into positions of responsibility and a steep learning curve.Why Mainline identified renewables early on as a sector that offered tremendous upside growth and a positive way to contribute.Colourful challenges faced on a massive drainage project in Cork that involved large-scale upgrades to water and sewer infrastructure and engineering solutions to accommodate multiple site challenges.Encounters on projects such as an enormous 73-turbine wind farm – the materials, the logistics, weather impacts, design, technical, installation and other specialized expertise required.Growth in solar panels, green hydrogen production and other cutting-edge technologies in Ireland, whose viability and accessibility are growing “by leaps and bounds” here.The complex cabling and electrical infrastructure that Mainline has engineered for the North Runway project at Dublin Airport – and other large public efforts.Why project management skills, a CDP credential and the constant professional development fostered at Engineers Ireland are critical components of the successful engineer’s tool kit.Jamie shares his networking strategy, which starts with looking for ways to bring value to others and a willingness to be vulnerable, reach out and ask for help. GUEST DETAILSAs Chief Executive Officer, Jamie has overseen the growth of Mainline into a key industry provider in the renewable energy and engineering sectors. Jamie’s focus is on delivering quality projects that matter, via the safest means, in support of Mainline customers across various geographies. He is also responsible for Business Development and delivery of Mainline’s ambitious growth strategy. Jamie was appointed CEO in 2020, after nine years as Managing Director. Having started with Mainline in 2002 as Commercial Manager, on the Cork Main Drainage Project, Jamie progressed to National Operations Manager. He previously worked with Pearse Construction, and Bord Gáis, as well as spending four years with Insitu-Pipelines in South Africa as Operations Manager. Jamie holds Bachelor's Degrees in Mathematics and Civil Engineering from Trinity College Dublin and is a Member of Engineers Ireland, as well as a Deloitte Best Managed Company CEO, and an EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist.Operating in Ireland, the UK and Scandinavia, Mainline provides a wide range of services from the Design & Build of Sub-stations, to construction of Airside Aviation Infrastructure, to Turn-key Wind & Solar Energy Solutions. Mainline has a robust corporate management structure, underpinned by ISO 45001, 14001, 9001 and cyber essentials accreditations as well as the Platinum Member Deloitte Best Managed Company status. CONTACT DETAILShttps://mainline.ie/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-o-rourke-4298301/ MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/

Greg Hayden is a dynamic innovator who is all about reinvention and the power of keeping things fresh. Over the course of the past 17 years Greg and his team at Ethos Engineering have ridden one wave after another in the constantly evolving tech space. On this episode of the Amplify podcast, he gives us a front-row view into what it looks like to go from boom to bust, pivot quickly and pioneer frontiers such as data centre transformation, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and blockchain. He also shares what he believes should be our global current priorities (particularly around climate change) and the logic behind basing his company culture on outcomes rather than hours logged.Whether it’s developing energy-efficient next-gen data centres, creating exciting new points of entry for smart buildings or reconceiving the ways in which we share global resources, Ethos’s … well, ethos … is all about vision, innovation and agility. Greg sees technology and its interplay socially and economically as a fascinating “jigsaw” – with diverse points of view, constant learning and openness to surprise as the central drivers. “The world has changed so, so fast. We need to not only keep up with it, but surpass ourselves by bringing something new and fresh,” he says. “And the only way you can do that is through innovation!” TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDEHow repetitive tasks represent an area rich with opportunity for digitization through machine learning. What smart buildings have to offer in terms of real-time data customized to our individual live/work environments and needs, including things like air quality, energy efficiency, meal planning and other elements of a living lab. Greg shares the smart culture at Ethos’s offices, from scheduling conference space for collaborations to controlling room temperature in real time to reserving a parking space.Why data centres don’t deserve vilification Why Ireland’s future lies in building out future-facing, ambitious energy infrastructure. Should CPDs reflect bleeding-edge technologies? Greg says, Yes! Without a doubt, engineers need to be at the forefront of development and scalability. Work-life balance, it’s practical implementation at Ethos and how scheduling non-negotiable pockets of quality time will change your life.GUEST DETAILSGreg Hayden’s role at Ethos is to attract, grow, and enable the best talent in the industry to support clients in the delivery of best-in-class projects. He works with some of the most significant clients in the Data Centre, Smart Buildings, Sustainability, and Commercial Sectors. He enjoys continually learning and developing, from his Honours Degree in Energy Engineering to his International MBA, and recently AI, Blockchain, and current IoT business strategy training at MIT.Ethos Engineering has has designed, delivered and provided master planning services for 45 data centres, including 23 in Ireland. The firm has also completed 9.6 million sq. ft. of office space (including shell & core and fit outs), 4 million sq. ft. of mixed-use developments, 14 Linac Accelerators, 8,562 residential units, 7,200 student beds, 2,000 dwellings, 1,700 hotel beds, 1,100 prison cells, 3,000 healthcare beds and 30 operating theatres - in Ireland and internationally. CONTACT DETAILShttps://www.ethoseng.ie/https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-hayden-mba-chartered-engineer-7339b514/ MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/

What misperceptions are young people harbouring about the field of engineering? Do they know about the exciting diversity of opportunities available out in the field? Damien Owens believes that Ireland would benefit from broader education and apprenticeships to spread the word! “Engineering is a difficult subject to study but one of the best,” he says. “It opens up a whole variety of careers – and not just in engineering.”A Fellow of Engineers Ireland, Damien also highlights another hidden truth about engineering careers: Very often the most compelling work and greatest achievements never make it into the public consciousness. That’s because it’s very often the disasters averted, the challenges met behind the scenes, that reveal the engineer’s true superpowers. Learn about the role STEM education has to play in supporting the development of future engineers and find out about exciting opportunities across a huge spectrum of disciplines, from biomedical to industrial, computer science to green technology. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDEWhy engineers are constantly innovating strategic tools in response to the most pressing social, commercial and environmental challenges of our timesHow heightened visibility, improved communications and easy online access to tools have cracked open the field of engineering globally. How Engineering Ireland supports international standards and best practices, generating a vital, multinational flow of job opportunities and education at home and abroad. Why it’s critically important that parents and mentors emphasize the variety of career paths (beyond construction) that STEM studies open up for young people across a number of disciplines, from biomedical to environmental to industrial. Redefining the concept of apprenticeship: About the benefits of providing blended “learning while earning” opportunities through professional training. Damien assesses the landscape in terms of engineering opportunities, especially in the realm of wind farming and other green technologies.GUEST DETAILSDamien Owens is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland. He has served as Registrar for Engineers Ireland and Chief Risk Officer, helping to create and maintain academic and professional standards for the engineering profession. Key aspects of his role include implementing an active accreditation process for engineering programmes delivered in Ireland to ensure they meet the best international standards. He also represents the interests of engineering professionals at national and international forums and speaks on related topics in national and international media. Damien has served as President of the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE) and Chair of the International Engineering Alliance – both organisations that set standards for engineering education and mobility across the globe. He is also a member of the Accreditation Board of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. Previously, as a member of Engineers Ireland, he was chairman of the ICT Division, a member of the Executive Committee and was elected to the Council of Engineers Ireland. Prior to joining Engineers Ireland, Damien worked in the telecommunications sector, focusing on product development and strategic alliances. He has been active on a number of national and international standards bodies including EU, ITUTS and the National Standards Authority of Ireland ETCI. He also participates in a number of national consultative groups. CONTACT DETAILShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/damienowens/ MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/