This edition's Member Spotlight Q&A features Hazem Hanafy, Project Manager at Parsons in the United Arab Emirates.
When did you first know you wanted to be an engineer?
When I was in preparatory school. I was always excited about the engineering tools my elder brother used, and I loved maths more than all other subjects.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
I used to get annoyed when I received an unpleasant email and used to reply immediately. My response was in a loud tone! My manager said to me one day “When you receive a bad-tempered email, do not reply on the spot. It’s better to reply the next day. This will allow you time to think and respond in a professional manner. We are working in a professional firm, NOT a battlefield.” This was very useful and I’d advise every engineer to follow the same advice.
What are your top two career highlights?
The Chartership Award, 2011
Six Sigma Black Belt Course, 2015/2016
How does being Chartered assist in your career?
Self-confidence.
Being looked at as a trustworthy candidate and being honoured among colleagues and clients.
Recognition within the organisation, as few are chartered within engineering firms. (Some clients here in the Middle East require a chartered engineer to work on specific projects.)
Meeting CPD requirements is a motive that would push any candidate to learn more and extend their experience.
What advice do you have for graduate engineers?
Keep learning.
There is no harm in asking if you don’t know the answer! People normally appreciate the person who asks.
Share knowledge. (Positive thinkers share what they know; one day, they will be paid back.)
Be part of the team. (Remember, the team can rescue you one day.)
Healthy competition is a positive motivation.
If you intend to continue your career in design, it is always very useful to see how things are being done on the construction side.
How has the profession changed over your career?
I started my career in 2001. I spent the first six years of my career working as a contractor, consultant, and client in the water and infrastructure industry in three countries in the Middle East (Egypt, UAE, and Qatar). During this period, I participated in design work, site supervision, and quantity surveying.
In early 2007, I moved to Adelaide, Saudi Arabia through GHD. At GHD, I learned project management and started my career as a PM while working on designing water pipelines. I developed my PM skills while working for KBR from 2008 to 2010 and I was accredited with a new certification of Certified Practising Project Manager CPPM from AIPM in Australia. This was the result of a six-month management course provided by KBR, followed by an internal assessment and final assessment by an AIPM assessor. Working for AECOM during 2010 to 2012 exposed me to the mining industry, and I continued working on mining projects at WorleyParsons from 2012 to 2013. I was awarded chartership in 2011 after one year of working on my CERs. I still work as a PM on water and infrastructure projects with Parsons Corporation in the United Arab Emirates, and I recently finished a Six Sigma Black Belt course.
Who (living or dead) would you like to sit next to on a plane and why?
Willis Carrier. I’d like to thank him for the world's first modern air conditioning system invention. You can’t live without AC in the UAE!
What was the most recent thing you have done to promote the profession of engineering?
I promote the profession of engineering in the UAE through the work I do as a volunteer for EA. We assist graduates, professionals, and even school kids when we have the opportunity to do so.
What would you like to ask the next person who will be featured on Q&A?
If you were back in high school, would you still decide to follow the engineering pathway?