Shaping sustainable impact at scale with Mania

Meet Mania, a sustainability leader turning bold ambitions into infrastructure that delivers lasting value for people, communities, and the environment.

Long before sustainability became a headline topic, Mania recognised what was at stake. Early in her career as an architect, she witnessed firsthand the profound scale of impact that development projects can have on communities and natural resources. That awareness stayed with her and ultimately shaped the career path she has pursued ever since. Today, as a Sustainability Associate Consultant with more than 20 years of experience across the UK and the Middle East, she brings that same sense of purpose to major infrastructure programs at AtkinsRéalis.

Where purpose took root

For Mania, the shift toward sustainability began early. “I began to understand how decisions made at early stages can either harm or significantly improve environmental outcomes,” she says.

That insight changed how she viewed design, development, and long-term impact. It also helped define the kind of contribution she wanted to make. For her, sustainability is not only about meeting targets. It is about helping teams make informed decisions at every stage of the project, ensuring sustainability is embedded from the outset rather than applied as an afterthought. 

Shaping outcomes that matter

As Sustainability Lead for the Midlands Rail Hub, Mania works closely with engineers, designers, and project stakeholders to integrate sustainability outcomes into every stage of project development and delivery.

Her work centers on influence and practical action. She works across multidisciplinary teams to help embed sustainability into design and delivery decisions. That can mean linking carbon goals to design choices, improving social value outcomes, or helping teams understand what better results look like in practice.

“My work improves everyday life by ensuring that infrastructure and development projects are designed and delivered in a way that benefits both people and the environment,” she says.

This is why the work matters. Reliable transport and resilient infrastructure affect how people live every day. Together, they can improve access, support local economies, and reduce environmental impact for future generations.

When ambition demands new thinking

One of the most defining moments in Mania’s career came in her role as Head of Sustainability Performance Excellence on NEOM – The Line.

On a project of that scale, sustainability was not an add-on- it was fundamental to the project's vision and delivery., which meant turning vision into something measurable, structured, and deliverable across teams, disciplines, and geographies.

“We were often defining new benchmarks rather than following established ones,” she says.

That experience demonstrated the transformational role sustainability can play when embedded at the heart of large-scale development.

“What I’m most proud of is not just the frameworks or systems we developed, but the culture shift we enabled, moving sustainability from a concept to a core performance driver.”

Growing through trust and collaboration

Since joining AtkinsRéalis, Mania says her career has evolved from technical delivery into a broader leadership role. Today, she is shaping sustainability strategy, mentoring teams, and influencing senior stakeholders across complex programs.

She also values the culture that supports that growth. “I’ve had the chance to work with talented, supportive colleagues who challenge and inspire me,” she says.

That matters because sustainability depends on collaboration. Working across disciplines, regions, and perspectives helps teams build shared understanding and deliver stronger outcomes together.

For anyone considering this path, her advice is simple. Come with curiosity, purpose, and a willingness to collaborate. Sustainability is becoming increasingly data-driven, interconnected, and focused on delivering long-term environmental and social value.

If you want to help shape better outcomes for communities and the environment, explore opportunities in our Environment practice.