Meet…Christian Maheshe, Associate – Civil Engineering

16 May 2024

Meet Christian Maheshe, Associate. Christian joined Eckersley O’Callaghan this year to grow and lead our Civil Engineering services. As a chartered engineer with years of experience in flood risk, water management, and infrastructure design, he is enhancing our civil engineering capabilities, particularly in access road design, site levelling, and hydraulic simulation.

Why Civil Engineering?
Most infrastructure that we take for granted in the West is lacking in the global South. This includes structures like proper roads to facilitate economic activities and drainage systems that can handle heavy rainfall events to minimise the risk of flooding. Civil engineering appeals to me the most because I can try and solve these problems and ultimately improve lives.

Why Eckersley O’Callaghan?
Eckersley O’Callaghan’s adept and diverse engineering teams are at the forefront of technological advancements and are continuously pushing boundaries. Transitioning from a smaller consultancy where I gained my chartership, I see Eckersley O’Callaghan as an ideal place to further develop my skills and collaborate with skilled colleagues to deliver outstanding results for our clients on iconic projects across the UK and globally.

What are you working on at the moment?
I’m working on a number of projects, the largest of which is in West Asia where I am designing the access road, site levels and below ground drainage for an educational building. Being UK based, the challenges are coordinating with the local design team to meet their design standards. Using Civil 3D with grading optimisation, I’m analysing material quantities by thoroughly reviewing local site and ground investigation reports to understand geological data.

Biggest challenge/opportunity for engineers?
As a civil engineer specialising in flood risk management, the biggest challenge is to design truly resilient systems to adapt to climate change. Our designs can only be as sustainable as the site constraints and other project restrictions allow for. But, as former president of the Institution of Civil Engineers Ed McCann put it, we have to identify the right thing to do, and do it right.

What are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about technological advancements, particularly on the Internet and in smart gadgets, and their potential to greater enhance connectivity and productivity. Whether I’m jotting down ideas or sketching engineering concepts on my smartphone while on a train, the convenience is remarkable, especially for me as an engineer. However, while contemplating the future of technology is exciting, it also brings a touch of apprehension.