Sweco invests in its Cork office with new appointment:
in conversation with Tim O’Shea

We are delighted to welcome Tim O’Shea to our Cork office. Tim has over 11 years of experience as an environmental consultant, specialising in the environmental appraisal of projects, regulatory compliance and technical advice for public and private sector clients. Prior to joining Sweco, Tim worked as a senior environmental engineer with PM Group. During this time, he also fulfilled the role of an environmental specialist supporting compliance obligations at a large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.

Interview with Tim O’Shea:

WHAT HAS LED YOU TO WORK IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING?

I was fortunate to grow up in the countryside of Kerry, a very scenic part of the world where I was on the doorstep of Killarney National Park surrounded by lakes and mountains. The natural environment has always been important to me and my family. Both my parents came from farming backgrounds, my father worked as an agricultural advisor and a sister works as an environmental scientist. As children, we were recycling shopping bags long before the idea of a plastic levy ever came about! So even from a young age there has always been a curiosity and interest in all matters related to the environment and its protection. I studied civil & environmental engineering and after college I started work as a graduate environmental consultant. I have always enjoyed working in the area – especially the variety of work and projects. It is probably a cliché, but no two days are ever the same. The regulatory landscape is constantly evolving so while it can be challenging, it is always rewarding.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR STUDIES

I graduated from University College Cork in 2008 with a degree in civil & environmental engineering. With the onset of the economic crash that year, opportunities in engineering across the board were diminishing but I was fortunate to secure a graduate environmental consultant role and have continued to work in the same field.
So much of the work we do is framed and informed by environmental legislation which is constantly evolving. In 2019, I completed an Advanced Diploma in Planning & Environmental Law at King’s Inn to deepen my understanding of environmental regulation from a legal perspective.

WHY SWECO?

Sweco is expanding its presence and business in Ireland and the UK. It is very exciting to be joining a company with the depth and breadth of experience that Sweco has to offer – particularly in environmental services. I have joined a great team who established the Sweco Cork office and am also looking forward to working with my new colleagues in Dublin, the UK and our offices throughout Northern Europe.