Kesavan Jaganathan FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus)is currently an Executive Director and Business Line Leader at AECOM. He has over 20 years’ experience in the field of Project Management and has had previous projects in numerous sectors, some of which are Commercial, Residential, Retail, Leisure, Education, Medical and Hospitality.
When did you first know you wanted to be an engineer?
I have this habit of finding out how things work and always enjoyed helping others solve problems. My passion was always there but it was only during my secondary school education that I thought being an engineer would best serve this interest.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
You have the power to design your own destiny.
What are your top two career highlights?
First highlight is moving to the Middle East from South East Asia and the exposure to international engineering firms over there and mastering their way of working.
Second highlight was returning back to Malaysia and managing an engineering department for a large multinational company like AECOM.
How does being Chartered assist in your career?
Being Chartered provides me with recognition from industry and many networking opportunities.
What advice do you have for graduate engineers?
Work on something you enjoy doing and take the initiative to learn more than what you are expected to do.
How has your career changed since graduation?
From handling pure technical matters to handling people and finance.
Who (living or dead) would you like to sit next to on a plane and why?
My brief career exposure in Qatar introduced me to Mr Sivasubramanian from Qatar Design Consortium. I worked under him and he showed me how work-life balance and integrity in your work affect our outcomes and result in significant changes within you and your organisation.
What was the most recent thing you have done to promote the profession of engineering?
I actively participate and represent the local engineering bodies on various new engineering initiatives within the government and private sector. The most recent role I undertook was to represent the Institution of Engineers Malaysia on matters related to Building Information Modelling with the Royal Institution of Surveyors and Malaysia Architectural Association.
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