Long drives, loud music, and designing spaces where people feel seen

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

There’s very little difference between who Merna is at work and who she is outside of it. I’m naturally spontaneous, energetic, and driven by emotion, she says, and that part of me doesn’t switch off in professional settings.

She finds joy in long drives with loud music, strong coffee, and moments that feel intense and meaningful. She paints in her free time. She’s inspired by small details, from the way light shifts, the rhythm of a place, or even a simple lyric. All of these moments feeddirectly into what she does for a living. 

Merna is a landscape architect with eight years of experience, and she’ll tell you it’s never been just a title. Landscape architecture  is purpose, where creativity meets responsibility. I design spaces, shape identities, explore typologies, and redefine approaches to create places where people feel connected and seen.

More than what it looks like

Merna’s day‑to‑day moves between concept development, design refinement, technical detailing, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Some days are focused on shaping the big vision: defining identity, typologies, and spatial experiences. Other days require precision: reviewing drawings, aligning with engineers, and making sure every design decision is intentional and buildable.

The impact of her work goes beyond how a space looks. Every design decision shapes how people interact with a space, how they feel within it, and how they relate to their surroundings, she says. I strive to design landscapes that are not only visually compelling but emotionally resonant.
She’s particularly focused right now on how landscapes can create belonging - spaces that don’t just function but actually connect people to their environment in a thoughtful and lasting way. 

A place that felt like alignment

When Merna joined AtkinsRéalis, it didn’t feel like a change. It felt like things clicking into place. This role has allowed me to connect my work more closely to my values and vision. I have the chance to work on projects that challenge my creativity, deepen my understanding of context, and expand how I approach design.

One thing she especially values is the cross‑border collaboration . I love collaborating with teammates from different countries. It broadens brainstorming and opens up new creative possibilities. Learning from diverse perspectives sparks ideas and shapes the way I develop solutions, making every project richer and more thoughtful.

A standout moment? Being trusted to lead creative phases of projects. Those moments of ownership push me to think bigger and more intentionally about design. And then seeing a project come to life. It’s one thing to design on paper, but to see real interaction and emotion in a space reminds me why I love what I do.
 

The women who made the difference

When you ask Merna about the people who’ve shaped her experience, she doesn’t hesitate. She names six women - Daria, Monisha, Sara, Yara, Sara, and Hamsa and talks about each of them with real warmth.

They’ve made challenges feel manageable, not by removing the work, but by supporting, encouraging, and trusting me every step of the way. Their guidance has shown me that limits are often just perceptions. With their encouragement, even the most complex tasks suddenly feel possible. 

She’s particularly inspired by Daria. She’s smart and fully skilled, yet she pairs all of that with kindness in everything she does. Watching her lead with both expertise and warmth has taught me how powerful support and positivity can be. She shows that leadership isn’t only about skill or knowledge, it’s about inspiring, empowering, and creating an environment where everyone can grow.
 

Trust the process

For International Women’s Day, Merna is reflective. It’s about celebrating women - our strength, our creativity, and the ways we make a difference every day. It’s a reminder to pause, recognise what we bring to the table, and appreciate the impact we have.

Her advice for women starting or building their careers? Trust the process and trust yourself. It’s easy to feel pressure to know everything or do everything perfectly from the start, but growth happens step by step. Each challenge, each project, and each collaboration is an opportunity to learn, strengthen your skills, and gain confidence.

She pauses. You are capable of more than you realise.

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