Eric Chui

When did you join Atkins?

December 1998

Why did you join Atkins?

I was a young tunnel engineer and Atkins was one of the best tunnelling firm in Hong Kong at the time;

What did you do before you joined Atkins?

Working as geotechnical and tunnel engineer in Maunsell and Parson Brinkerhoff

How would you describe your role and responsibilities?

I am a manager and a designer. My day to day works includes project management and duties to resolve difficult ground engineering problems and to provide technical advices to the others. I am the P&L holder of the Tunnels and Ground Engineering Department which consists of around 45 tunnel engineers and geologists.

How do you describe what you do to friends and family?

I design and build tunnels including road tunnels and railway tunnels.

Do you have any professional accreditations?

Corporate Member of Institution of Civil Engineer (MICE), Corporate Member of Institution of Structural Engineer(MIStructE), Corporate member of Hong Kong Institution Engineer (MHKIE), Register Professional Engineer (RPE)

What key projects have you worked on?

KCRC Kowloon Southern Link, Shatin to Central Link and West Rail Projects, CEDD Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel and P2 Underpass, Dubai Metro Red and Green Line, Gautrain in South Africa and various cable tunnels (by HDD/TBM/Pipe Jacking method) for CLP.

What are you currently working on?

MTRC South Island Line, West Island Line, Express Rail Link, DSD Harbour Area Treatment Scheme and Lai Chi Kok Transfer Scheme, and CLP Kai Tak cable Tunnels

What achievement are you most proud of?

To be the leader of the Tunnels and Ground Engineering Department since 2006 and increase the size of the team from 20 people to now over 45 people and since then have won major projects and reputation in the market.

What’s the most technically challenging tunnelling project you’ve worked on at Atkins, and in a few words, say why it was challenging?

Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Contract 24 is a complex tunnelling project and is designed under a fast track programme. The design needed to be adjusted from time to time to suit site geology and contractor’s methodology. It has required all our technical skill and an effective collaboration between us and the contractor (Leighton LNS JV) to deliver the project on time and to a high design standard.

How has your career developed at Atkins?

I like challenging work and Atkins gives me the opportunities to be involved in some of the most complicated tunnelling projects around the world. I joined Atkins as a tunnel engineer and am now the head of the department.

How have you been supported during your career development?

I have been fully supported by various experienced tunnel engineers since I joined the company and am now supported by tunnel experts all around the world within Atkins.

How do tunnelling engineers and Atkins make a difference?

Tunnelling is a combination of art and science. Atkins treats tunnel design as a special topic requiring full appreciation of geotechnical science and ground structure interaction.

How would you describe the culture at Atkins?

Collaborative and encouragement of innovation.