Clifford Killeen

When did you realise this was the career path for you?

Once I graduated, I took a little bit of time to return home and work with a local engineering consultant while I was saving money and learning to drive. I then started to apply for graduate positions and transport was a field I found particularly interesting. I was fortunate to start working as a graduate engineer in a larger consultancy firm, which meant that I got exposure to a wide range of projects in Ireland and the UK. I was immediately drawn to the variety in projects in transport planning, which interested me far more than something overly repetitive. 

Have you got any words of wisdom for someone starting out in a similar role?

Make sure you get as wide a range of project experience as you can – it’s the only way you will find your own career path. Always ask questions and don’t be afraid to try new challenges. Always listen as you’ll be surprised how much you can learn by just immersing yourself in a busy work environment. And remember, transport planning can be highly subjective, so always try to consider other perspectives in your thinking.

How does SYSTRA stand out from the rest as a great place to work?

There’s so much diversity in the business, both in our colleague demographic and across our range of projects, accompanied by a drive for excellence in everything we do – we don’t want to compare ourselves to others, we simply want to be the benchmark. It’s always interesting, and as I have only been with SYSTRA a little over a year, I am still learning more and more as I go.

With such power in diversity, what unique perspective do you bring to the table?

I’ve worked in the public and private sectors, and across an extremely varied range of projects in my 20-year career.  I find great satisfaction in really listening to a client, understanding their issues, and figuring out the best way to help them. 

Where is the place that has inspired you the most?

Rome, Italy (actually, anywhere really in Italy). I went there on my honeymoon, and I’ll never forget it. It’s just bristling with history everywhere you go. I also spent some time in Utrecht and Amsterdam a few years ago whilst training and I loved the approach to cycling culture and urban placemaking. 

What does true sustainability really mean to you?

Something that is fair and equitable, but also that is scalable – as we continue to densify our cities, we need to have solutions that can adapt to population and demand growth whilst being as close to net zero as possible.

What would a green future look like?

Making the most of our natural assets – wind and wave energy, sunlight and renewable materials such as timber, and ultimately moving away from fossil fuels and carbon emitters. Doing this while facing a changing climate will be a massive challenge, but only by facing these challenges directly can we overcome them.

How do you look after your wellbeing outside of work?

I’ve got a busy family to keep me occupied, but I like to go running and play a little bit of football to keep me fit, and I also like to play the guitar when I am at home. Apart from that, I love to watch TV shows and movies, read, and I find doing Lego sets really helps to calm my mind!

If you could spend your lunchbreak with someone you really admire, who would you choose?

From a career perspective, I’d love to sit with Anne Hidalgo (Mayor of Paris) to talk about how she has transformed the city. From a selfish point of view, a lunchtime chat with Prince would also be top of my wishlist!

If you had to pick, which mode of transport would you use for the rest of your life?

Walking – at the start and end of every single journey, everyone is a pedestrian, and it’s a great way to keep fit and healthy.