How did you get to where you are now?
I did my undergraduate degree majoring in Physical Geography and Master of Philosophy in Slope Geomorphology in the Department of Geography at the University of Hong Kong, and completed my PhD on Landslide Hazard Assessment in the Geography Department at Durham University.
Since 2007 I have been working in the Arup Hong Kong Office as a Geomorphologist / Geologist. I progressed with my consultancy career and became a Chartered Geographer (specialising in geomorphology) in 2011 and a Chartered Geologist in 2012. I was also appointed as a part-time Lecturer at the University of Hong Kong teaching Physical Geography and Geomorphology courses in addition to my full-time work.
Since August 2017 I have been based in the Arup London Office as a Senior Geomorphologist / Geologist, providing input for a number of international projects.
Was there anything particularly useful that helped you get into this role?
Passion and genuine interest in what you do is important. Keeping a learning on-the-job attitude and being proactive in continuing professional development activities is also essential. In consultancy firms, getting chartered is a benchmark for further career development.
What do you do as part of your job?
I provide specialist geomorphological and geological assessment in a variety of site-specific and large regional scale development and infrastructure projects including geohazard mitigation strategies.
I have played a number of roles throughout my career. I was a Team Leader in the engineering geology team of Arup in Hong Kong and was also a Mentor / Supervisor for junior staff providing guidance on their career development towards Chartership, as well as being responsible for checking project deliverables.
Technically I have been the project lead Geomorphologist / Geologist for a number of natural terrain hazard assessment projects, especially on landslides. Work duties include review and preparation of technical reports for feasibility and site development planning studies, aerial photo interpretation and field work.
What skills and characteristics do you need for this role, apart from geographical knowledge?
Geological knowledge and GIS skills are essential to support my role in assessing geohazards. In consultancy, getting good quality work done on time and within budget is important and technical competence develops through practice and learning from experience. When looking at getting into a more senior role, additional ‘soft skills’ such as leadership, management and communication become more essential, especially when there is a need to deliver project outcomes through teamwork.
How does geography feature in your work/what difference does it make?
I think geography is a broad subject that allows us to see the world in a more holistic way as it interacts with other disciplines. It trains our mind to analyse our environment in various spatial and time scales – a sense of ‘space’ through time. GIS is a useful tool that allows better understanding of a geographical location through analysing the various ‘different’ elements together. Geography is like a ‘hub’ that welcomes interactions with different disciplines that work well together.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy being able to apply what I learned in projects. I utilise my knowledge in physical geography and geomorphology to identify potential geohazards for development projects from various geographical locations which make work more interesting, especially when there is a chance to do a site visit or fieldwork.