25 years in flood risk: Tony on building a career at the intersection of science and infrastructure

Tony is an Associate Director in the Water Management Consultancy practice at AtkinsRéalis, based in Manchester. A Chartered Geographer and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, he’s spent his entire 25-year career in the WMC team and the wider Environment business.

A career built on flood risk and a love of the outdoors

Tony’s career in environmental work stems from a long-standing affinity with the outdoors. “I’ve always spent a lot of time outdoors,” he says. “Engaging with the environment in that way has made me very aware of its value and the role it plays in supporting our lives and wellbeing.”

That early exposure led him to study geography academically and shaped a career focused on flood risk management – understanding the complex relationships between rainfall and runoff, the development of mathematical flood models, and the design of flood risk management solutions for communities and infrastructure.

Starting as a graduate, he has progressed to Associate Director — a reflection, he says, of AtkinsRéalis’ commitment to career development. “My role has shifted towards project and technical direction, which is a subtle art in itself,” he explains, “though I still find real enthusiasm in getting involved in flood model build.”

No two days the same

Ask Tony what a typical day looks like and the answer’s pretty straightforward — there isn’t one. “That’s the best part of the job,” he says. “Everything’s project-based, so there’s hardly any repetition.”

His work brings together environmental assessments, flood modelling and management, climate risk analysis, and testing flood risk solutions for clients across the UK and internationally. It’s that mix and variety that really defines the role — not just something that comes with it.

Work that makes the local news

One of Tony’s proudest moments came from developing a flood warning solution for a small UK village increasingly affected by flooding with very little warning of when a flood event might occur.

He undertook a study to look at developing and implementing a flood warning solution that was both timely and accurate - one that could help the community respond to a probable flood event. He developed correlations between rainfall and river levels.

The solution was so successful during a flood event that it made local news, with community residents praising its performance and the benefit it had had to their community.

Innovation built into the work

Some of Tony’s most innovative recent work includes a project for a national government agency, where hundreds of properties across the UK were screened for flood risk. The outcome was a RAG-based prioritisation to identify those at greatest risk, with Python used to automate the process.

That blend of technical innovation and real-world flood risk challenges, delivered at scale, is very much at the heart of how flood risk management at AtkinsRéalis operates today.

What 25 years has taught him

What’s surprised Tony most about his career is the continuous development. “I learn all the time,” he says. “Maybe that’s the nature of the innovative work we do and involved with but it has always surprised me how much we are at the edge of innovative thinking and development.”

He sees consultancy as fundamentally about building relationships, not just delivering projects - and that applies as much to the project team as to the Client. “Great direction, good project and programme management and really effective communication help drive technical excellence.”

His advice to anyone considering joining the Environment Practice is simple: “Apply. This is a unique and innovative business. It’s at the heart of some of the most iconic infrastructure projects on the planet driving environmental design and standards. You’ll have the chance to collaborate with experts across various disciplines, ensuring that your work is both challenging and fulfilling.”

Ready to shape a more sustainable future? If Tony’s journey inspires you, take the next step with AtkinsRéalis, explore our Environment Practice roles or join our talent network to stay connected.