People

My working life – Chris Lawler, principal engineer, Tony Gee and Partners

Chris Lawler has found his home in the rail sector after nine years with Tony Gee.

“At the moment I am mostly working on track drainage in the Rail Group.  It’s an interesting technical challenge for a designer,” says Chris Lawler. As anyone who understands engineering will know drainage cuts to the heart of infrastructure and in the field Chris is working, it is vital for the safety of the network and travelling public.  

“Network Rail and London Underground, for whom I am working, are looking to achieve the same thing,” he says, “which is to validate their infrastructure for rain events with an allowance for climate change. It is very interesting work with more far reaching consequences than you might imagine – if the drainage is not right, it can have a disproportionate effect on the infrastructure and structures around it.”

“My intention was to work in two or three groups to decide which area in Tony Gee I wanted to progress in. I thought I’d stay for six months in each one, but I found the projects interesting and ended up staying for much longer at each point than I’d anticipated."

When we spoke to him Lawler was in the middle of writing a sub-contract agreement for a platform extension project and was then off to a client meeting to present a range of solutions he has designed for a challenging drainage project.  “I’ve written a report for the client summarising the feasible options and made my recommendations.  I’m going to discuss the design with them and answer any questions before progressing to detailed design.  I find that regular engagement is key to keep the design process on programme”, he says.

Lawler, 38, has been with Tony Gee and Partners for nine years. “I had a career change in my mid 20’s.  I’d started down the mechanical engineering path but realized it wasn’t for me so I returned to university to study civil engineering and then started my new career at Tony Gee at the age of 29.” 

Tony Gee runs a renowned student sponsorship programme, but Chris is not from that route. “While I was studying I wasn’t sure if I wanted to work as a contractor or a consultant.  To help me make the decision, I found work placements over the summer holidays working for different companies to see which type of work I enjoyed.  As it turned out, my preference was to work as a consultant when I graduated.”

“I don’t think there are that many companies where the senior engineers are so on hand and involved with the technical engineering.”

“I arrived at Tony Gee by word of mouth. I knew people working here who spoke highly of them as an employer.  All of them emphasised the technical side of the job and the interesting challenges.  I have to say they were right - I’ve really enjoyed the work here. Since joining, I’ve worked in the geotechnics and structures groups, then spent two years in Abu Dhabi representing Tony Gee on the Saadiyat Island Expressway. When I returned, I settled in the rail group.”

His career path at the company has surprised him. “My intention was to work in two or three groups to decide which area in Tony Gee I wanted to progress in. I thought I’d stay for six months in each one, but I found the projects interesting and ended up staying for much longer at each point than I’d anticipated. Abu Dhabi was a case in point – I’d planned to go out there for 18 months but I enjoyed the work and ended up staying for the full two years.  I think it helped that I was given responsibility at an early stage and became fully invested in each of the projects I’ve worked on.”

He has been working in the rail group for five years for Tony Gee partner Nigel Yarwood who has built up a strong and productive relationship with Network Rail. And more recently he started helping Oliver Engleback who runs the London Underground side of the business in the Rail Group.

“I don’t think there are that many companies where the senior engineers are so on hand and involved with the technical engineering,” Chris says. “Nigel’s relationship with Network Rail has really borne fruit and that is a big part of our business now.  I am working mostly with Oliver at the moment who gives me enough space to run the jobs but is on hand providing support as and when needed.”

Chris finds it rewarding working for a company with a reputation for problem solving. “It’s nice to know that the name Tony Gee carries weight when contractors see it on a document,” he says.

“I have found my place at Tony Gee and Partners,” he says. “I like the people, I like the flat structure with its freedom from hierarchy and I like the open door approach from the senior management.” 

If you would like to contact Jackie Whitelaw about this, or any other story, please email jackie.whitelaw@infrastructure-intelligence.com.