Helping shape the next generation of professionals: Shawn's journey at AtkinsRéalis

Most early-career professionals spend their first few years focused on building their own experience. Shawn has been doing that too, but he's also been helping create opportunities for others to grow alongside him.

Since joining AtkinsRéalis in 2024 as an Assistant Engineer, Shawn has developed his expertise across both design and construction while contributing to major infrastructure projects. At the same time, he has taken on a leadership role within the Asia Young Professionals (AYP), helping connect, develop, and support early-career professionals across Hong Kong and the wider Asia region.

For Shawn, the most rewarding part of his journey hasn't been choosing between technical development and people development. It's been discovering how closely the two are connected.

Building a career from two perspectives

After completing an MSc in Soil Mechanics at Imperial College London and finishing his Scheme A training, Shawn joined AtkinsRéalis looking for opportunities to work on meaningful infrastructure projects and continue developing as an engineer.

Over the past two years, his experience has taken him from design work into construction environments, giving him a broader understanding of how projects move from concept to reality. That exposure has helped him better understand technical challenges, stakeholder coordination, and the importance of collaboration across project teams.But while one part of his career was developing on projects, another was developing through people.

As Chairman of the Hong Kong Asia Young Professionals, Shawn now leads a 16-member committee responsible for creating experiences that help colleagues learn, connect, and expand their professional horizons. The combination has given him something many engineers spend years developing: a deeper understanding that successful projects are built through people as much as technical expertise.

From participant to creating opportunities for others

One of the things Shawn values most about AtkinsRéalis is the opportunity to take ownership. He first joined Asia Young Professionals activities as a participant, benefiting from the networking, development opportunities, and connections they provided.

Today, he's helping create those same experiences for others. From organizing development initiatives to collaborating with senior leaders and regional teams, Shawn has transitioned from benefiting from the community to helping shape it. It's a responsibility he takes seriously because he has experienced firsthand the impact those opportunities can have on someone's confidence, network, and professional growth.

"I have benefited from that community myself," he says. "Becoming Chairman was also a way to give back."

A project that extended far beyond one office

One experience that stands out was leading the planning and delivery of Hong Kong's participation in the 2026 Asia Young Professionals Exchange Program in Singapore. While participants experienced workshops, networking opportunities, and exposure to another office and culture, much of the success happened behind the scenes. Shawn helped coordinate planning, participant selection, travel arrangements, communications, and stakeholder engagement across multiple locations. The logistics were significant, the impact was even greater.

The program brought together colleagues from different offices, helping them build lasting relationships, gain new perspectives, and better understand the global nature of the organization. For Shawn, seeing those connections take shape was what made the experience memorable.

"The real purpose was to help colleagues gain regional exposure, learn from another office, and form lasting professional relationships."

Representing Asia on a global stage

Another defining moment came when Shawn represented several Asian offices at a Global Asia Young Professionals meeting. The event brought together representatives from around the world to exchange ideas, discuss regional priorities, and explore how young professionals can contribute to the future of the organization.

For Shawn, it was one of those moments that changes your perspective.Seeing local initiatives become part of a much larger global conversation reinforced the scale of AtkinsRéalis and the influence early-career professionals can have beyond their immediate teams.

It also highlighted something he feels strongly about: career growth doesn't happen only through project work. It also happens through collaboration, knowledge sharing, relationship building, and the willingness to step forward when opportunities arise.

Leadership starts with service

Ask Shawn what leadership means, and you'll get an answer that has little to do with hierarchy or job titles. "Leadership starts with service." It's a philosophy that has shaped how he approaches both engineering and his work within the Asia Young Professionals.

Whether he's hosting an Asia-wide Global Mobility knowledge-sharing session, hosting a company event, coordinating regional initiatives, or working with committee members across different functions, his focus remains the same: creating experiences that help others succeed.

For Shawn, leadership isn't about standing at the front of the room. It's about creating opportunities that might not otherwise exist.

Looking ahead

As he continues to grow as an engineer, Shawn hopes to take on increasingly complex projects across both design and construction. At the same time, he wants to continue helping young professionals connect, learn, and develop through the Asia Young Professionals and the wider engineering community.

His journey so far has taught him that building a successful career isn't only about developing technical expertise. It's also about creating opportunities for others, sharing what you've learned, and helping the next generation of professionals grow along the way.

If you're looking for a career where you can work on meaningful projects, develop your leadership skills, and be part of a community that invests in your growth, explore our current opportunities and discover where a career at AtkinsRéalis could take you.