What are you specifically responsible for at WT?
I recently joined the Secondary Structures department here at WT to help build out their capability in concrete structures. Typically, the secondary structures for the monopiles are fabricated in steel but some projects have requested concrete platforms, and that’s where I come in!
I am able to harness my knowledge from previous experiences working across bridges requiring reinforced concrete structures.
What do you think you will find most motivating about your role?
Without being here very long, I immediately understand that Wood Thilsted is an openminded company that respects creativity, which is very rare to come across as an engineer.
Although I may be the ‘expert’, I look forward to tackling new challenges and situations I haven’t come across before. It’s highly motivated to work on something new, challenging and exciting.
What made you pursue a career in offshore wind?
It’s something you rarely heard about here in the US until quite recently and it didn’t even occur to me that it would be something I could transfer across to.
I always felt I’d be pigeonholed into bridge engineering so I thought I’d be doing that forever. It’s exciting to now be able to utilise my structural engineering degree but applying to a completely new industry, and it’s great to have this door opened to me so early on before the industry properly takes off over here.
I could see this becoming a pattern now with many younger engineers making the move to offshore wind.
What do you think is most exciting about the offshore wind industry in the US?
There is much more of a focus on the industry now, with a much higher media focus. It’s so great to see all these various projects coming into fruition and to finally see the US make the move to green energy.
Do you foresee any challenges for the industry?
It’s difficult to foresee what may happen with a different administration. If the administration were to change, you never know what could happen! It’s great to see that the Biden administration has made such a difference so we’re seeing such a shift towards renewable energy, so you’d like to hope this is the start of a much brighter future.
Can you pick out any key highlights from your career so far?
I think the main one would be a bridge project I worked on that was extremely challenging at the time, but looking back I learned so much throughout the process and now I can look back in admiration and pride
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