From Aberdeen to Air Quality and Carbon: Bhajan on building a dual role in Environment

From Aberdeen to Environment

For Bhajan, the starting point was personal.

Growing up in Aberdeen in the northeast of Scotland, previously the oil and gas capital of Europe, Bhajan witnessed the importance of protecting the environment for future generations. He became more aware of global sustainability challenges year by year in his youth.

This interest stayed with him through his university studies in chemical engineering and pointed him toward a career in environmental consultancy. 

That link between the big picture and what people experience locally still runs through his work today.

One role, two disciplines

Bhajan joined AtkinsRéalis with a background in air quality. What appealed to him here was the chance to expand into carbon as well.

I always dreamed of aligning my Air Quality experience with Carbon subject matter due to the crossover between the two disciplines, he says.

That has quickly become a reality. From the outset, I have been a key member of the Carbon and Sustainability team at AtkinsRéalis.

His role now spans both disciplines. On the carbon side, that includes whole life carbon assessments, carbon culture building and identifying ways to reduce emissions across a project lifecycle. On the air quality side, he looks at existing baseline air quality conditions on site, checks compliance of local monitoring with national limits, assesses construction dust and the human health risks around sensitive locations and reviews emissions linked to operational road traffic.

The breadth of his role gives him a wider view of how environmental decisions connect.

What the work actually looks like

Bhajan puts it simply: My daily workload can vary drastically between both my Air Quality and Carbon responsibilities.

That range is a big part of the appeal.

A typical day might include reviewing legislation, policy, and guidance, assessing road traffic emissions, carrying out whole life carbon assessments, or writing technical reports to bring the findings together clearly. He also uses tools including GIS and Excel to support analysis and reporting.

Just as important is the way the work connects with other disciplines. Bhajan works with cross‑disciplinary teams to understand environmental issues from different angles and make sure projects meet the right standards.

Growing beyond project work

Bhajan’s development has not stopped at project delivery.

Alongside his technical work, he has taken on mentoring and coaching in areas where he already had experience. He has also stepped into wider roles as an Environment Wellbeing Panel representative and an APEX Ambassador for Sustainable Futures.

For someone who joined in late 2024, that breadth matters. It shows how quickly you can start shaping your own path if you are ready to get involved.

It also reflects the kind of team he has joined. Asked to describe the culture, Bhajan picks three words: supportive, collaborative and knowledgeable.

I have been offered many opportunities to develop my skills, he says. My team is always available for personal and professional help.

He also talks about learning from colleagues who are some considered the best in the industry for their knowledge, and says that being around that level of expertise has made him excited to keep developing.

Explore careers in the Environment Practice at AtkinsRéalis

Looking for work that combines technical depth, variety, and real room to grow? Explore our environment roles or join our talent network and take the next step.