Sarah Budd, 34
Business Group Director BSc Geography, MSc(Eng) Water Resources Technology & Management

When and why did you join Royal Haskoning?
I joined in 1994 after spending 3 months here doing my thesis for MSc. I’d had other job offers but really liked the culture here where I was treated equally by senior staff – in addition Royal Haskoning was about to add Rivers to their Coastal Division which was a really exciting and challenging time, there was a real buzz and the Projects were really interesting.

What’s a typical day?
There is no typical day! My role brings new challenges, excitements and opportunities every day from staff or technical issues to vision planning and business development. I have management responsibility for staff in 4 offices.

What sort of projects have you been involved in?
Many and varied such as: Flood risk assessments; detailed appraisals for flood and coastal defence; flood warning; feasibility and strategy studies; R&D projects to name but a few on either a technical or supervisory level. In addition, my role involves business planning for my area which is all coastal and river work north of the river Thames which incorporates marketing, supervision of projects, budgets, strategy and growth. At a company level I am managing the acquisition project for the UK.

What about career development?
In 1998 I became team leader of Hydrology/Hydraulic modelling team of 8, in 2001 I became Advice Group Director responsible for 24 staff, in 2003 I became Advice Group Director responsible for 60 staff and in 2005 I became Business Group Director which in addition to staff responsibility has wider remit for growth of the C&R division. I do not believe I would have had this career development with another employer, at Royal Haskoning you are rewarded on the basis of competence not your age! I also like the fact that as manager I can assist my staff in their own career development by providing rewarding and interesting work to expand their skills and experience.

What’s the best thing about the company?
For me it has always provided new and exciting challenges which have kept me stimulated.