Colm is the Planning Director at MKO. Since joining MKO in 2017, Colm has progressed from Senior Planner to Director, where he leads our Planning and Project Management teams. After working in the UK for over nine years, Colm relocated back to Ireland, bringing a wealth of experience to MKO.
Can you share a little about your background and what brought you to MKO? ?
My background is in planning, with experience across both the public and private sectors. I began my career as a graduate planner with Laois County Council, where I worked for about a year and a half before moving into the private sector. Since then, my career has been predominantly in the private sector, spending over nine years in the UK working for a renewable energy developer based in London. The combination of public sector insight and extensive private sector experience, particularly in renewables, gave me the necessary skillset to apply for the Senior Planner role at MKO back in May 2017. It’s been a great fit ever since and of course the role presented me with an opportunity to return to Ireland and develop my skills further.
How did the experience of working abroad prepare you for your current role at MKO?
Working abroad, particularly in the UK renewables sector, gave me exposure to large-scale, fast-paced projects and a highly commercial planning environment. I developed strong experience in what the developer needs, learned how to navigate complex systems, and worked closely with multidisciplinary teams, all of which gave a very strong foundation for the demands of private consultancy work in Ireland. The decision to return home was driven by a mix of personal and professional factors. I was ready to move back to Ireland, but I also saw an opportunity to bring the experience I’d built abroad into a growing sector here, particularly in renewables and infrastructure planning. MKO stood out as a company that was ambitious, innovative, and making a real impact. The role felt like the right fit, and it’s proven to be a great move.
How has your career progressed since joining MKO?
My career has progressed significantly since joining MKO as a Senior Planner in 2017. I’ve had the opportunity to take on more responsibility year-on-year, from leading large-scale projects, to managing teams, and now taking on a more strategic leadership role as a Planning Director with responsibility for the Planning and Project Management division. MKO has been very supportive of my progression. There’s a real culture of backing people who show initiative and commitment. What’s been particularly valuable is the level of trust and autonomy, with the space to grow, but with the support there when you need it.
What kind of training, mentorship, or leadership development opportunities are available at MKO that have directly impacted your professional journey?
MKO has been really proactive in offering both formal and informal development opportunities. Leadership programmes such as the emerging managers course along with internal training on commercial awareness and team leadership. Just as important has been the informal support, particularly the mentoring and guidance from senior colleagues and peers. There’s a strong culture of collaboration at MKO, and I’ve benefitted from regular one-to-ones, performance feedback, and being given the chance to step into leadership roles.
For someone looking to build a long-term career at MKO, what opportunities for progression does MKO offer?
MKO offers real opportunities for long-term career progression, not just in terms of moving up the career ladder, but in taking on meaningful roles that grow with you. There’s a clear structure in place for professional development, from graduate through to senior leadership roles, and MKO is very good at recognising and rewarding initiative, performance, and ambition. This is evident recently by the number of promotions announced across the business.
If you’re an experienced planner or consultant ready for a fresh challenge, where you’ll have space to lead, influence strategy, and grow a team, we would like to hear from you. We back our people with trust, autonomy, and the support needed to succeed, whether that’s growing a service line, mentoring future leaders, or leading high-profile, nationally significant projects.