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Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED

Written by: Engineers Journal Ireland
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 Keep pace with the engineering industry in Ireland and abroad with Engineers Journal, the voice of the engineering community in Ireland and beyond. Each episode brings you thought-provoking one-on-one discussions with industry leaders who share stories on favourite projects and greatest challenges, what the future may hold for the industry and advice on how to progress your career.© 2026 Engineers Journal Ireland Careers Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Success
Episodes
  • Susan McGarry: Low Carbon Cement Decarbonising Construction

    Susan McGarry: Low Carbon Cement Decarbonising Construction
    Jan 5 2026
    Construction sector faces urgent decarbonisation challenge whilst Ireland maintains only 11% women in engineering unchanged since 2011 despite ambitious housing and infrastructure targets requiring diverse workforce expansion.Susan McGarry, Managing Director for Ireland at Ecocem pioneering low carbon concrete company, explains journey from Greenpeace member receiving Rainbow Warrior dolphin pictures to becoming youngest MD at 30 years old, how ACT advanced cement technology reduces clinker from 85% to under 30% achieving 600 kilos CO2 savings per tonne, why Irish regulatory system lacks assessment route for new low carbon materials despite ambitious National Development Plan targets, and how cancer diagnosis at 34 prompted reflection on policy passion over operational leadership.With expertise spanning technical concrete troubleshooting through European policy advocacy and member of Engineers Ireland Women in Engineering Group, Susan shares practical advice on visibility without egotism, why nice girls who don't ask get nothing, and how senior management diversity influences maternity leave, IVF cover and bereavement policies attracting retaining women throughout career pipeline. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTLow carbon cement ACT reduces clinker eighty five percentIrish regulatory system lacks assessment route new materialsWomen engineering eleven percent unchanged since two thousand elevenVisibility senior management influences hiring maternity IVF policiesCancer diagnosis thirty four prompted policy passion reflectionGUEST DETAILSSusan McGarry is Managing Director for Ireland at Ecocem, pioneering company developing low carbon concrete, expertly handling concrete procurement rules and public affairs guiding construction industry toward ambitious climate targets whilst scaling sustainable building solutions across Ireland. Passionate advocate for diversity as prominent woman in structures and construction sector historically low on female engineers, she uses platform driving inclusion highlighting systemic barriers women face from cultural challenges to logistical issues like accessible female bathrooms on construction sites. Member of Engineers Ireland Women in Engineering Group, she joined Ecocem as environmental services intern in 2011 becoming youngest MD at 30 years old in 2020, now serving as Director of Public Affairs and Sustainability for Ecocem Global after cancer diagnosis prompted career reflection focusing on policy passion over operational leadership spanning European officials and global partnerships.Connect with Susan McGarry:Website: https://www.ecocemglobal.com/en-ie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-mcgarry-73582542/?originalSubdomain=ieEcocem GlobalMORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/ Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTESThere's still not enough women to see it on mass as a career choice. I think visually, it still looks quite male dominated, and that is off putting. My personal kind of goal would have always been to like help increase the visibility at senior management level for women in engineering, women in construction. - Susan McGarryThe state is the biggest consumer of concrete in this country. We do have procurement rules now where 30% clinker substitution is required. That's not super ambitious but we've gone from nothing to something. - Susan McGarryI had a decision to be a generalist or specialist at about 26. The Chairman of Ecocem said I did this course in UCD in industrial engineering in 1965, it turned engineers into CEOs. You should have a look at that. - Susan McGarryYou get nothing if you don't ask, and if you don't have confidence, you kind of fake it. By being an open person to opportunities and being a helpful person that you'll take on workload. - Susan McGarryWhen I graduated as an engineer in 2011, 11% of the engineering population was made up of women. In 2025 it's still only 11%. It has not changed. That's a very small percentage. When you want a network, you do need a network. You need somebody that you can pick up a phone to that's kind of like minded. Women in Engineering Group created that network.KEYWORDSLowCarbonCement #WomenInEngineering #SustainableConstruction #PolicyAdvocacy #CareerProgression
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    42 mins
  • An Engineer Like Me: Hearing From Engineering Graduate Employers

    An Engineer Like Me: Hearing From Engineering Graduate Employers
    Dec 15 2025

    Successfully transitioning from university to a professional engineering career is a critical moment for any graduate, and the application process requires strategic preparation beyond just academic competence.

    Many students struggle to understand what employers truly seek in a new engineer and how to showcase their potential effectively.

    This episode unlocks the secrets to a standout graduate application, sharing direct insights on core soft skills like communication and teamwork, the role of mentorship, and the career growth trajectory within leading firms.

    Learn about the value of different-sized companies, from large-scale multi-office execution to a hands-on, personal approach, and the importance of professional development and diversity initiatives. Host Dusty Rhodes is joined by two exceptional industry leaders: Michelle O'Hagan, Group Graduate Recruitment Manager at PM Group, and Bill Bates, Director at DBFL.

    THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

    Why graduate programs are essential
    Big vs small company advantages
    Soft skills employers demand now
    Successful career progression examples
    How to make your application stand out

    GUEST DETAILS

    Michelle O’Hagan is the Group Graduate Recruitment Manager at PM Group, a leading global project management and engineering company known for delivering complex capital projects worldwide. She manages the full graduate recruitment lifecycle across PM Group’s international offices, ensuring the company attracts top emerging talent. Michelle's extensive experience, including prior roles at Deloitte UK and Citi Bank, makes her an expert in understanding what drives success in early engineering careers.

    Bill Bates is a Director at DBFL Consulting Engineers, one of Ireland's leading civil, structural, and transportation consultancies. Bill is responsible for overseeing the Civil Engineering team and has extensive experience in the design and delivery of major infrastructure and development projects across the country. As a Director, Bill is deeply involved in DBFL's Graduate Development Programme and the career progression of their staff, making him a key resource for understanding the pathways to Chartered Engineer status and professional success within the Irish engineering sector.


    Connect with AMPLIFIED

    Website: engineersireland.ie
    Search podcast player: "AMPLIFIED" or "Engineers Ireland"
    Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and wherever you get podcasts

    MORE INFORMATION

    Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/

    Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

    QUOTES

    Confidence, talking about themselves, talking about their other aspects, their engineering career is only at the start, so they have very little to talk about in that. But I want to know what they've done to date. Tell me about themselves. - Bill Bates

    The actual programme itself is a two year programme, but it runs in parallel with your job. So you're permanent from day one, you don't have to re-interview for a role on completion of the programme, which a lot of graduate programmes in our industry does. - Michelle O'Hagan

    Be confident in your own ability, but be able to show humility and be able to listen to all others perspectives. - Bill Bates

    Communication going into project management, being a strong and effective communicator is essential. Being clear, concise and well structured - Ena O'Driscoll

    KEYWORDS

    #EngineeringGraduates #GraduateProgramme #CareerDevelopment #SoftSkills #StandoutCV
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    35 mins
  • An Engineer Like Me: Making An Impact During Your Studies

    An Engineer Like Me: Making An Impact During Your Studies
    Dec 8 2025

    Leaving Certificate students have an exciting opportunity to explore the diverse realities of an engineering career and discover practical strategies for success as they fill out their upcoming CAO forms.

    Ena O'Driscoll, Mechanical Engineering student at MTU Cork and Student Ambassador at PM Group, alongside Sean Ryan, Automation Engineering student at SETU and Student Engineer at Jabil, share their university experiences with host Dusty Rhodes. Early STEM encouragement, fostered through school programs and family ties, significantly influences career choices.

    The discussion highlights the importance of paid internships for developing real-world problem-solving skills and building an invaluable CV. Finally, it offers practical advice for creating standout applications by emphasizing leadership roles, volunteering, and project work, while also stressing the need to balance academic demands with societal involvement through networking and mentorship via groups like the Engineers Ireland Young Engineers Society.

    THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

    Engineering career choice STEM encouragement
    Paid internships practical experience benefits
    CV building leadership & volunteering standout
    Time management balancing studies & activities
    CAO strategy Level 7 & Level 8 options

    GUEST DETAILS

    Ena O'Driscoll is a Mechanical Engineering Student at Munster Technological University (MTU) Cork. Ena is an excellent example of maximising university studies by actively engaging with industry. She gained valuable professional experience through an internship and placement with PM Group, a leading international project delivery firm. Following her successful placement, Ena has continued her association with the company and the wider engineering community by serving as a Student Ambassador at PM Group, demonstrating a strong commitment to promoting engineering and bridging the gap between academia and professional life.

    Sean Ryan is an Automation Engineering Student at South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford. Sean is currently applying his technical expertise as a Student Engineer at Jabil, a global manufacturing services company. He possesses a strong academic background complemented by valuable practical experience, including previous work as a controls engineer at Integer. Sean is highly engaged within his university community, having served as a peer-to-peer mentor and senior mentor to support first-year engineering students. Sean is also Chairperson of the Young engineer society south east. Hailing from a farming background, Sean brings a unique perspective to problem-solving and engineering challenges. Outside of his studies and work, Sean is an active rugby player for both his college team and a local club.

    Connect with AMPLIFIED

    Website: engineersireland.ie
    Search podcast player: "AMPLIFIED" or "Engineers Ireland"
    Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and wherever you get podcasts

    MORE INFORMATION

    Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering?
    Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/
    Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

    QUOTES

    My secondary school was actually really good in terms of promoting STEM. Every couple of weeks we'd have different people come in and talk about different areas - Ena O'Driscoll

    I'm on currently working as a controls and automation engineer student for Jabil healthcare, which is ideal because it's only two minutes walk from my college and I'm able to go in there part time and the hours are flexible which is amazing - Sean Ryan

    We were given real work to work on from day one. It started with helping other engineers, carried out a study. We were able to find that quadrant that was the problem and implement that change.- Sean Ryan

    I've always enjoyed Maths, Physics, anything problem solving wise. I've always wanted to be an engineer since probably around 14. I interviewed one of my dad's best friends who's a civil engineer. I got into the mechanical side because of my godfather. - Ena O'Driscoll

    KEYWORDS

    Engineering studies, STEM promotion, student engineers, automation engineering, mechanical engineering, industry experience, internships
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    48 mins
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