“I dream of owning a flower shop”: Alina on paragliding, the HS2 reset, and leading estimating teams from Manchester

Alina is an Associate Director in Estimating & Cost Advisory at AtkinsRéalis, based in Manchester. She’s led the North West Estimating Team, works across some of the UK’s most complex infrastructure programmes, and spends her weekends dreaming about flower shops.

Flowers, fitness, and throwing yourself off a cliff

People are often surprised to learn that behind the megaproject delivery sits someone who dreams of owning a flower shop. “It’s a side of me that contrasts nicely with the crazy pace of a megaproject environment,” Alina says.

When she’s not working, you’ll find her keeping up with fitness, travelling to sunny destinations where she’ll happily go paragliding, or exploring new cuisines with her husband. “These are the things that give me energy, balance, and a different kind of challenge. They keep me curious and grounded, and I love bringing that sense of creativity and exploration back into my work life.”

Cost assurance on the UK’s biggest programmes

Alina’s day-to-day centres on delivering estimating and cost advisory services across major infrastructure programmes. That means guiding teams on how to shape deliverables, making sure methodologies hold up under scrutiny, and keeping the storyline clear, evidence-based, and trusted by clients.

A significant part of her work involves coaching and developing people, strengthening capability across projects and the wider practice, and maintaining consistency in how the team approaches assurance. “I also spend time engaging with clients and project teams, aligning expectations, resolving issues, and ensuring quality across multidisciplinary teams,” she explains.

Right now, she’s focused on supporting the reset of a large-scale infrastructure megaproject, with an emphasis on robust cost assurance and estimating, and helping clients navigate uncertainty. That means improving processes, embedding best practice, and driving quality across teams that span multiple disciplines.

From team lead to Associate Director

Alina’s career at AtkinsRéalis has been shaped by a combination of technical delivery, leadership opportunities, and exposure to the wider construction industry. Over time, she took on greater responsibility, eventually leading the North West Estimating Team, an experience that strengthened her people leadership and her ability to shape consistent ways of working across the practice.

That progression led to her current role as Associate Director, where she now focuses on delivering assurance, guiding multidisciplinary teams, and supporting clients through complex challenges. “My development has been shaped by continuous learning, supportive colleagues, and the chance to contribute to major programmes that stretched my capability and kept me growing,” she says.

The HS2 reset

When asked which experience has stood out most, Alina doesn’t hesitate: the HS2 reset.

“Working on a programme of this scale during a period of intense scrutiny and rapid change stretched my capability in ways few other projects could,” she says. “It gave me the chance to step into a different space, balancing technical assurance with the need to bring clarity, stability, and confidence to a fast-moving environment.”

The experience also sharpened her leadership. Guiding teams through ambiguity, aligning stakeholders, and helping re-establish a credible cost position required resilience, collaboration, and strong communication. “It reinforced the importance of consistent ways of working,” she reflects. “It’s been an experience that accelerated my development and confirmed how much I enjoy operating where technical challenge meets strategic impact.”

The policy that makes the difference

When it comes to doing her best work, Alina points to something specific: the flexibility and trust built into how the organisation operates. “The ability to work from abroad has been especially meaningful for me,” she says. “It allows me to spend time with family and friends while still delivering for my clients and teams. That balance keeps me energised and fully engaged.”

Alongside that, she values the collaborative culture, being surrounded by people who are open, supportive, and willing to share knowledge. “It creates an environment where it’s easy to solve problems together and maintain high standards, even under pressure.”

What IWD means to Alina

“IWD matters to me because it’s a moment to recognise progress, acknowledge the gaps that still exist, and celebrate the women who push boundaries every day; often quietly, often without recognition, and often while carrying far more than people realise,” Alina says.

“Confidence grows when women feel supported, trusted, and empowered to lead in their own way. Those environments don’t happen by accident, they’re created through intention, allyship, and a culture that values diverse perspectives.”

Her advice

“Stay curious and open to the opportunities that stretch you, even when they feel slightly outside your comfort zone,” she says. “Growth often happens in the moments where you’re trusted to step up, contribute your voice, and shape the direction of a project or a team.”

Want to work alongside leaders like Alina who are shaping the future of major infrastructure programmes? Explore career opportunities at AtkinsRéalis.