Creative thinking, serious impact: meet Eliza

From UX design to data leadership, Eliza’s journey is all about saying yes to opportunity. Read how she shaped a bold, global career from New Zealand.

For International Women’s Day, we’re sharing stories from people across AtkinsRéalis. This is Eliza’s. 

When Eliza tells people she works in IT, she usually gets the same reaction. I never thought I would work in IT! she laughs and she gets why people are surprised. Her day‑to‑day is less about the tech and more about people. My role sits more in exploring how people use things, and how I can make their lives easier.

Eliza is a Director looking after UX and Data Visualisation. She’s based in New Zealand where we only have  a couple of employees - having moved back from London when she was expecting her first baby. She works entirely remotely, finding colleagues across time zones and making it work.

So what does Eliza’s role actually involve? At its core, it’s about turning complex information into insight people can act on. She works closely with stakeholders across the business to understand their objectives, their audiences, and the decisions they need to make then designs data visualisations and insight frameworks that bring clarity and confidence.

Without clear data insights, we lack confidence to make decisions, she says. When I work with our senior leaders to understand their needs, I’m helping everyone in the company act on data without hesitation.

A creative at heart

Outside of work, Eliza is a creative through and through. Drawing, sewing, painting, you name it, she’s probably started it. And that creative mindset isn’t separate from her work. It often nudges me to think about things in a different way and have a fresh perspective.

From contractor to director

Eliza’s career at AtkinsRéalis started as a contractor in the Creative Design department in London. She was quickly pulled into a project called Orb, all about corporate data, where she designed a toolkit to help employees find the information they needed. That’s when she discovered her love for complex problem solving.

After a few years I became a full‑time employee and stepped into a Director role, she says. It’s been a journey of saying yes to things and seeing where they lead.

A standout moment was attending the Senior Leadership Development Programme in 2025. It was a huge opportunity. They help you learn so much about yourself, your leadership style, and your executive presence. The week ended with presenting a business plan to the AtkinsRéalis Ex‑Com panel. I’ve never experienced anything like it in any previous role. It shows how much AtkinsRéalis invests in people and their careers.

Finding your people across time zones

Working remotely from New Zealand, you might think Eliza would feel disconnected. The opposite is true.

Here people really do love collaboration, she says. Whether you’re based in UK, Canada, India, Australia or New Zealand, there’s a sense of camaraderie in finding colleagues near your time zone and asking them for help. The support and collaboration makes a huge impact on my day to day. 

Her leaders play a big part in that too. They’re supportive but also flexible. I have enough space to try things out rather than always needing to ask for their opinion. I’m encouraged to make mistakes and learn from them, which has really helped my personal development.

“You can literally become anything with the right mindset”

Eliza draws inspiration from the women she’s met across the business, particularly those whose careers reflect openness to opportunity and growth. In Canada, she met Martine, who shared her journey from starting out in marketing to becoming Ian Edwards’ Chief of Staff. Her story was incredibly inspiring, Eliza says. It shows that no matter where you start in the company, with the right mindset and a willingness to say yes, you can shape an extraordinary career.

She was equally influenced by Stephanie Vaillancourt, President of the Canada region, whose advice to women was simple and direct: be bold, and don’t count yourself out. Don’t think, ‘I don’t have that one particular skill, so I won’t apply,’ Eliza recalls. Men don’t do that and neither should we.

For International Women’s Day, Eliza is keen to celebrate the women already progressing through the organisation, while encouraging those at the start of their careers to back themselves. Take advantage of the training programmes AtkinsRéalis offers for women, they exist for a reason, she says. Take your seat at the table, use the resources available to you, and don’t be afraid to step forward.

I promise IT isn’t boring

What about the future? Eliza’s excited. She sees the company’s growth through mergers and acquisitions as a moment of opportunity. M&As mean growth, and growth means opportunities. There’s no better time to be here and be upskilling yourself as a leader.

And for anyone considering joining the IT space? I promise IT isn’t boring! We’re passionate about what we do and committed to excellence, and there’s a place for everyone and every skill set.

Interested in building your career at AtkinsRéalis? Explore our opportunities and discover what’s possible.