Ashwini Dharmarajan

Q. How has your career at Turner and Townsend developed? 

A. My career with Turner & Townsend has been incredibly fulfilling so far, starting in the Graduate Development Programme, progressing to the prestigious Chairman’s Group, and delivering great outcomes with my colleagues for our clients throughout.  

The business has been instrumental in my professional journey, providing opportunities for global mobility and exposure to new challenges and experiences. This has helped me discover my strengths in service delivery while expanding my skillset to include programme management off the back of my experience in project management.   

Q. Which project are you most proud of being involved in at Turner & Townsend?

A. Being a part of our Chairman’s Group for two consecutive years was an incredibly fulfilling experience that I am proud of both personally and professionally. I had the chance to connect with talented colleagues from all over the world to collaborate on developing our business’ Vision 2025 together, playing our part in shaping our corporate narrative and purpose.  

These cross-cultural connections and camaraderie helped instil a deeper sense of why we do what we do, and has truly transformed my perspective on our business and my own career.

Q. How do you contribute to Turner & Townsend making a difference?

A. My goal is to deliver the highest standard and quality of work. I believe understanding what the client wants and delivering a tailored response is critical in achieving success and keeping the clients satisfied. Being diligent and transparent with the facts and having a solution-based approach makes a huge difference and helps gain trust. 

Q. Detail any specialist skills or experience for which you are known  

A. I am best known for my attention to detail, analytical thinking and a structured, process-oriented approach to tasks. This was seen on a major digital transformation project I undertook in Toronto, where I identified client needs, developed a strategic plan and collaborated with cross-functional teams to implement a new information and reporting platform.  

This resulted in enhanced reporting capabilities, improved productivity, and has been instrumental in developing real-time executive reporting tools on PowerBI, providing stakeholders with valuable insights for informed decision-making and driving continuous improvement.

Q. What is the emerging trend in your industry specialism and how are you responding to this?

A. Building and maintaining a sustainable, healthy and climate-resilient built environment is not just an emerging trend, but an absolute requirement and the right thing to do for our people and planet. The construction industry plays a significant role in the emission of carbon and greenhouse gases, so to address global warming and reduce carbon emissions, it is crucial to establish robust governance, foster accountability and implement innovative solutions.  

As part of my continuing professional development, I am expanding my knowledge in this field by learning the fundamentals, enrolling in courses, collaborating with education providers, and gaining key certifications and credentials (such as WELL AP/LEED AP). These efforts will enable me to effectively apply this knowledge in my roles going forward.