Jack is the Project Director of our GIS and Digital team. Since joining MKO in 2022, he has played a key role in a diverse range of projects, where collaboration across different teams is essential.
Can you share a little about your background and what brought you to MKO?
Before joining MKO, I spent seven years in the UK, working in Oxford, Leeds and Edinburgh. There, I gained experience on a variety of flooding and infrastructure projects which prepared me for this role. Three years ago, I decided to move to Ireland from Edinburgh. I got in touch with MKO after seeing a post on LinkedIn. I was excited by the prospect of working with their large team of ecologists and ornithologists, where GIS mapping support would be needed. I really enjoy the variety of environmentally focused work at MKO, especially the opportunity to work on so many wind, solar, and battery storage projects.
How has your career progressed since joining MKO?
I joined MKO as a Senior GIS Technician and have progressed to Project Director. The career progression here is excellent, and I’ve found that, unlike other places I’ve worked, age is not a factor in your growth. What I value most is the company’s open-minded culture, no idea is ever dismissed. When I bring a new concept to the directors, it’s given serious consideration and often has the potential to be developed into a new service offering for our team or our clients.
How does MKO encourage opportunities for experienced professionals to gain exposure to different project types?
We secure a wide variety of projects, which allows us to continuously expand our knowledge and offer our expertise to diverse sectors and clients. Our work ranges from flood schemes and wind farms to greenways and district heating projects. We’re a unique consultancy because we’re environmentally focused.
How does cross team collaboration with our in-house multidisciplinary teams enhance your work and contribute to the success of projects at MKO?
One of the biggest benefits of MKO is the opportunity to learn from other teams. I’m personally fascinated by Ecology, and I get to support the team by creating maps that aid in biodiversity enhancement, mitigation, and net gain. We can advise each other on the best approach for any given project, which ultimately gives our clients a seamless, all-in-one service. MKO company events have helped us build strong relationships with other teams at MKO, making it easy to connect with the right person for each project, whether it’s someone with expertise in workflows or someone who specialises in a specific area like Hen Harriers.
How do you stay connected and collaborate effectively with your colleagues, whether they’re in the office or elsewhere?
We focus on communicating as much as possible, whether through regular phone calls or quick messages on our team chat. MKO has an open-door policy and has created a culture where there are ‘no stupid questions’. Colleagues at every level feel comfortable reaching out to anyone, regardless of their position.This flexibility also extends to our work locations. The company’s commitment to flexibility is also a huge benefit and extends to our work locations. For example, I can work remotely from my parents’ house in England. Recently, a colleague on my team worked from Rio de Janeiro when she was home visiting her family. In both instances, we were just as productive as we are in our Dublin or Galway offices.
As a senior team member, how do you contribute to the growth and development of more junior team members at MKO?
We offer training sessions for junior team members every two weeks, following a planned curriculum or focusing on areas that need strengthening. This is delivered through a structured plan or on an ad-hoc basis for specific areas that need improvement. Additionally, we hold two off-site workshops each year to encourage collaboration and idea-sharing. On top of that, we do a lot of on-the-job training, where you learn by doing, for example, by shadowing a colleague on a project you haven’t worked on before.