CEnv Profile | Head of Sustainability in Structures, Ramboll | Brogan MacDonald, CEng CEnv MICE

What does an average day look like in your career?

No two days are the same in my role – I balance strategic sustainability strategy, structural sustainability technical expertise and review, supply chain engagement, and on-the-ground project delivery. I also support business development, lead a sustainability network, and work on internal research projects.

How did you get to where you are now?

Through a mix of technical expertise, curiosity, and persistence! It all started as a graduate working on a refurbishment project where I saw the opportunity to reuse steel – before any standards or market demand really existed. I upskilled, promoted sustainability internally, and continuously built my knowledge and skills, which eventually led to me leading sustainability for our structures team today.

In what ways does your role consider and protect the environment?

My role focuses on four key areas for protecting the environment – decarbonisation, regenerating resources, supporting nature-positive outcomes, and climate resilience. These tenets are embedded in our sustainability strategy, technical project reviews, and internal training.

How has your focus on environmental impacts changed over the course of your career?

It has evolved from being discipline-specific when I was a project structural engineer to being much more agnostic and holistic now as a sustainability leader. Working in a multi-disciplinary and cross-market business like Ramboll provides opportunities to challenge the brief across all aspects of systems thinking – from energy, nature, water, and infrastructure to economics.

What are the top three key knowledge areas that are crucial to your role?

I would summarise these into three essential impact areas:

1. Technical niche – mine is in embodied carbon and material reuse.
2. Policy and environmental legislation – essential for understanding how the environment is considered within mandatory frameworks, regulations and disclosures.
3. Strategic positioning and communication – How to embed environmental principles within business and commercial proposition

What part of your role do you find the most exciting?

I love the variety! But right now, I’m most excited about how we can move from sustainability (doing less harm) to a regenerative way of working and designing – one that supports both nature and society to thrive, delivering net positive impacts in perpetuity.

What are your 3 top tips for those applying for CEnv?

1. Evidence your influence and decision-making.
2. Stay authentic – your passion for the environment should come through clearly.
3. Demonstrate how’ve gone above and beyond duty – what wider positive impacts resulted in your work?

Why would you encourage others in your sector to aspire to become a CEnv?

It’s a mark of professional integrity and leadership, recognising that you don’t just work in the environment – you work to help it thrive.