My Â鶹ÊÓƵ Story: Becoming a flood and coastal management engineer with Roberta Rogers
September 02, 2025
Roberta shares what drew her to pursue a career in flood and coastal management at Â鶹ÊÓƵ
In the My Â鶹ÊÓƵ Story series, our designers, engineers, marketers, project managers, and leaders come together to share how their career journeys at Â鶹ÊÓƵ have shaped their lives and moved them closer to their goals.
Tell us about your role¡
As an engineer with Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s Flood and Coastal Management team, my role is to manage the impacts of a new development on the surrounding water environment. I work on projects across the UK, ranging from small land development projects with private developers to catchment scale schemes with water companies.
I collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative solutions to flood risk and nutrient environmental issues, with a nature-based solutions focus. My responsibilities range from conducting feasibility studies and developing concept designs for wetlands to liaising with clients and mentoring junior team members.
What attracted you to a career at Â鶹ÊÓƵ?
Â鶹ÊÓƵ stood out to me as a company that genuinely cares about doing the right thing. This impression was reinforced during my interview, where it was clear that the team I was joining shared my values, particularly a commitment to nature-positive, sustainable solutions. I could see that creativity and innovation were actively encouraged, with a drive to find new and exciting projects for the team to work on. I¡¯m happy to say my initial impressions were absolutely right!
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What do you enjoy most about your role?
What I enjoy most about my role is the fast-paced and varied nature of the work. No two days are the same, and I thrive on the challenge of switching between different projects, tasks, and problem-solving opportunities. I also feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a supportive and collaborative team. There¡¯s a strong culture of knowledge-sharing, encouragement, and mutual respect that makes even the busiest days fun and rewarding.
How has your personal and professional development been supported at Â鶹ÊÓƵ?
I joined Â鶹ÊÓƵ as a graduate shortly after completing my degree. Starting my first professional role during lockdown was an unusual experience. But I received incredible support from my team and local offices, which made the transition much smoother.
In my first few years I was part of the Graduate Programme. This was a fantastic opportunity to connect with peers in similar roles and gain valuable training. The programme placed a strong emphasis on developing ¡®softer¡¯ consultancy skills, which have been invaluable in helping me develop strong relationships and productive working practices.
What has been the standout project for you during your time at Â鶹ÊÓƵ?
A standout project for me was working on the design of an integrated constructed wetland. The aim of the wetland was to enhance the water quality of a local river by replicating natural processes, with a particular focus on removing phosphorus and nitrogen.
It was incredibly rewarding to be involved from the project¡¯s inception through to the detailed design for construction, witnessing how the concept evolved at each stage. Given the innovative nature of the project, we were essentially starting from a blank slate. I led the development of tools and design standards to guide our approach, resources that have since been adopted for use in subsequent wetland projects.
What are your ambitions for your future at Â鶹ÊÓƵ?
Looking ahead, I¡¯m excited to continue expanding my knowledge base and deepening my technical expertise, particularly in the field of nature-based solutions. One of my key ambitions is to help engage a wider audience¡ªclients, communities, and collaborators¡ªin the value and potential of sustainable, nature-led design. I see this as a powerful way to drive positive environmental outcomes while also growing as a well-rounded and impactful consultant.
One of my key ambitions is to help engage a wider audience¡ªclients, communities, and collaborators¡ªin the value and potential of sustainable, nature-led design.
What are your passions outside of work?
When I¡¯m not unwinding with a bit of reality TV, I love getting outdoors, especially hiking and wild swimming. Last year I solo-hiked part of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago, which is a 270-kilometre long pilgrimage route across Portugal and Spain. I completed 80 kilometres on that trip, and it was a real personal milestone. It pushed me both physically and mentally, and along the way I met some incredible people and had time to reflect and recharge in nature.
Why should others join the Â鶹ÊÓƵ team?
If you're looking for a place where you can grow quickly, collaborate with passionate people, and contribute to projects that make a real difference, Â鶹ÊÓƵ is an excellent choice.
At Â鶹ÊÓƵ, we put people first. For Roberta, that means a supportive, team-oriented culture, where everyone is encouraged to share ideas, challenge themselves, and play an active role in shaping sustainable, forward-thinking solutions.?
