Ellen is a Senior Environmental Scientist on our Renewables team. Since joining MKO in 2019, Ellen has progressed from an Administrator to her current role as Senior Environmental Scientist. Ellen discusses her career progression and the support and training opportunities at MKO.
Can you share a little about your background and what brought you to MKO?
From an early age, I was passionate about the environment and knew I wanted to build a career in the sector. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Earth Science at Trinity College and then pursued a Master’s in Climate Change in Denmark. It was during my Master’s that my focus narrowed to the development of renewable energy in Ireland. My thesis examined the deployment of offshore wind energy off the west coast of Ireland, and through my research into the life-cycle of these projects, one company consistently stood out: MKO. As a leading environmental consultancy with a role across the entire project lifecycle, from site feasibility to planning submissions and beyond, I knew that MKO was somewhere I wanted to work. I knew I wanted to approach renewable energy from an environmental perspective, rather than an engineering one, and MKO was the perfect fit. After moving from Copenhagen to Galway, I applied to MKO. Although the environmental team wasn’t hiring at the time, a temporary administrative role became available. In my interview with Regina and Brian, I was direct about my long-term goals. I explained my environmental background and expressed my interest in a future position on the environment team. Four months later, my persistence paid off, and I joined MKO as an Environmental Scientist.
How has your career progressed since joining MKO?
I started my professional career in the environmental sector at MKO, and the company has been instrumental in my professional growth. I’ve progressed from an Environmental Scientist to a Project-level role and am now a Senior member of the team. Throughout this journey, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, learn from experienced colleagues and consultants, and work with various clients. This has prepared me to take on the responsibility of leading my own projects, building a team, and mentoring them as they develop their own leadership skills.
Ellen’s career progression
What opportunities have you had to deepen your expertise within MKO?
I have gained significant experience through continued exposure to large-scale, complex projects. This has involved regular collaboration with internal and external experts and consultants. Additionally, I’ve worked with experienced clients who have successfully delivered large-scale renewable energy projects to the national grid. My role has also provided consistent exposure to key decision-makers within various national bodies, as well as the ever-evolving planning and environmental landscape.
How has MKO supported your progression and development?
MKO has played a key role in supporting my professional growth by providing consistent opportunities to expand my skill set and take on increasing responsibility. Through a combination of structured training and mentorship, exposure to diverse and complex projects, and support in professional memberships and courses, I’ve been able to progress confidently in my role. For example, my first wind farm project that I acted as lead project manager on, directly engaging with the client and the EIAR project team to successfully see the project through to planning submission. I had the guiding hand that was needed, but with the level of trust to allow me some autonomy to grow.
What kind of training and leadership development opportunities are available at MKO that have directly impacted your professional journey?
MKO has fostered a culture of continuous learning at every level in the company. MKO has been instrumental in my professional growth, providing me with the tools and support needed to advance my career. The company’s investment in my development has come through structured training, mentorship from senior team members, and exposure to a wide range of challenging projects. From day one, I had access to colleagues at all levels, including the Managing Director, who were generous with their time and insights, and helped me gain confidence in decision-making and refine my approach to complex challenges. Their real-world experience offered practical guidance that isn’t always covered in formal training. This was especially true on my first wind farm project, where I was given the opportunity to act as the lead project manager. I took charge of client relations and managed the EIAR project team. MKO provided the guidance I needed, but more importantly, gave me the trust and autonomy to successfully navigate the project through to planning submission.
MKO’s support for my growth extends beyond projects. Early in my career as a line manager, the company invested in my development by providing accredited external leadership training. This commitment, along with continued support for professional memberships, has been invaluable.
For someone looking to build a long-term career at MKO, what opportunities does MKO offer?
MKO has a structured and transparent career development framework that helps you take your career as far as you want it to go. You’ll constantly get exposure to diverse, complex, and sometimes head-scratching projects. This provides the opportunity to work with and learn from highly experienced colleagues, who you can learn from and grow with, all while building and guiding your own team. On top of that, MKO offers real flexibility, whether you prefer to work from our Galway or Dublin offices or remotely when you need to, all while enjoying a friendly work environment.
How does cross-team collaboration with our in-house multidisciplinary teams enhance your work?
As members of the Renewables team, we are in a unique position to act as the interface between various multidisciplinary project teams. The ability to collaborate directly with a project ecologist and a landscape specialist and pop over to their desk, for example, tease out enhancement proposals for a wind farm, and ways treeline and hedgerow replanting can also visually screen the substation from residential receptors, is the kind of cross-team collaboration that enhances project quality. This approach highlights the interconnected nature of environmental work and is the type of multidisciplinary thinking required to tackle the environmental and societal challenges of our time.
Describe a typical project you lead at MKO. What level of autonomy do you have in shaping its direction, and how do you ensure its successful delivery?
In my role as a Senior Project Manager, I lead my team on large-scale wind energy development projects. While my team handles the day-to-day project management, my role is more strategic and advisory. I provide senior level reviews on design, scope, EIAR chapters, and I work directly with my Associate Director, reviewing budget and acting as client lead on a more strategic level. Despite this strategic focus, I still enjoy drafting technical documents, conducting site visits, and participating in public consultation events. What I value most about my role is the opportunity to collaborate with diverse teams and specialists, engage in complex technical problem-solving, and view projects from a broader, more strategic perspective.
As a senior team member, how do you contribute to the growth and development of more junior team members at MKO?
A significant part of my contribution to my team’s growth is through daily mentorship. Most days I sit beside my team, where they members can approach me with queries at any time, and I am available for advisory support during meetings. On a more structured basis, I conduct chapter review workshops and training sessions on topics such as budget management and the implications of recent legal judgments. We hold weekly team meetings, and I have monthly one-on-one check-ins with each member to discuss their progress, successes, and areas for improvement. This day-to-day support is reinforced by our company’s well-established career development framework, which helps frame each junior member’s progress on a career level. It helps us define where they are, where they want to go, and how they can get there.
Outside of project work, how does MKO contribute to a positive and supportive work culture for experienced professionals?
MKO promotes a culture of respect, inclusion, and shared ownership. As an experienced professional, I find it incredibly inspiring to feel valued for my contributions to the company’s future, not just for the projects I deliver. The strong sense of community is a defining feature of the company. Whether through organised social events, sports clubs, family-friendly island trips, or casual after-work gatherings, MKO fosters a supportive and collaborative environment.