0700

First off, before I turn my computer on, I spend about 10 minutes with a coffee and muffin prioritising the day.

0845

Because Crossrail is a 24/7 project, on Monday I catch up with the six key members of my management team to review what was achieved at the weekend and sort out our objectives for the rest of the week.

1000

I’m leader of the career development programme and mentor quite a few people, so I usually meet a mentee or someone else in the team who I wouldn’t normally catch up with. I have an open-door policy so I am happy for people to come in and talk to me.

1200

If I can’t get out for a quick walk, I look out my window at the activity on the River Thames. I am a yachtmaster and can tell the turn of the tide by watching the stream of yachts.

1300

One of the most enjoyable aspects of my job is going on site and understanding the challenges my team and contractors face. I manage all the tunnelling and station contracts between Westbourne Park in the west and Whitechapel in the east, and there are more than 4,000 people out there on 20 active construction sites. A big part of my job is making sure we are aligned on what we have to deliver, from the project manager to the guy laying concrete.

1500

We create an environment in which we can identify issues in advance and I run a weekly meeting focused on critical issues where I meet all the people who can solve any problem, including engineering, land and property, and procurement managers. Over 27 years, I’ve built tunnels, roads and bridges, and managed the renovation of St Pancras Station. The success can be summed up as: “Plan, plan, plan and plan again.”

1700

I finish my day with a one-on-one with a managing director of one of our contractors. I love being involved in a job that is going to make a difference. That’s what makes me – and everybody on this job – tick.