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Back to People at STRABAG

Lucia

Name:
Lucia
Position:
Quality Manager

How did you got into engineering?

Growing up, I always wanted to be an engineer. I was curious to know how things are built and wanted to be a part of exciting projects, but wasn’t sure which field I wanted to specialise in. I studied agricultural engineering at University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and afterwards did a Masters’ degree in Integrated Management Systems (QHSE) and Quality Management in Construction.

My first job was working for a survey company doing ground surveys on site. I then worked on my first large scale project building a High Speed Train.
I learned a lot as a surveyor on those projects. I was on site every day, which taught me to be resilient as I was a woman in what was then a male dominated industry. I also learnt to be patient and understand that not everything on such a massive project can be done immediately, there will be occasional delays waiting for tunnel parts, equipment to be set up etc. It is always better for things to be done properly than rushed.

A colleague on the project pointed me in the direction of a smaller company who was looking for a Health and Safety advisor. I went for it as I had a long-held interest in Health and Safety, it’s the most important aspect of any construction project. Though I didn’t particularly enjoy that role, it was a significant step that led me to where I am today.

What do you do as a Quality Manager?

My role as a Quality Manager is to maintain, implement and follow up on management systems on the HS2 project. I’m based in Xavier House in Euston. My team looks after the internal and supply chain audits for the project and puts in appropriate processes and procedures to make sure they are ISO 9001 compliant, the industry regulatory standard. The British Standards institution audits the HS2 project once a year, this is a major event on our calendar that we work towards to ensure our management systems are fit for purpose and the teams have the support they need.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I enjoy the fact that I have the interact with so many people on various teams, it lets you know all the great work others are doing and provides an opportunity to always learn something new and even incorporate other things into my skillset. The legacy of HS2 also means a lot to me, it will bring new jobs and opportunities to areas of the country that really need it.