Lisa Duignan

Data Centres Sector Lead, Europe

The potential for personal and professional development at Turner & Townsend is remarkable. Opportunities to grow are supported by a strong team culture that brings out the best in everyone.

In my role as a Director based in Dublin, Ireland, I lead our data centre sector team across Europe and help ensure the growth of our data centre business globally.

This includes developing high performing teams, establishing and strengthening long-term partnerships with our key clients, and supporting them in delivering challenging and exciting projects at scale.

I started my career as an Assistant Cost Manager in our Toronto office in 2010, later relocating to London, UK in 2012 and moving into a role with a mechanical and electrical (M&E) focus.

My M&E experience was a great fit for the data centre sector, which was becoming a high-growth industry at that time.

Since then, I have had the opportunity to lead many of our hyperscale data centre programmes and projects, supporting the growth of our teams in local data centre markets across Europe and in our hub teams of Dublin and London.

I’ve also been able to broaden my experience in our business and develop my leadership skills by serving in a Digital Transformation Programme Lead role for Europe and as Real Estate Operations Director for Ireland.

Career highlights

Appointed Data Centre Sector Lead for Europe
2024
Promoted to Director
2021
Promoted to Project Director
2019
Relocated to Dublin, Ireland
2018
Promoted to Associate Director
2017
Promoted to Senior Cost Manager
2015
Promoted to Cost Manager
2014
Relocated to London, UK and specialised in M&E cost management
2012
Joined Turner & Townsend as an Assistant Cost Manager in Toronto, Canada
2010

Q. What attracted you to join Turner & Townsend?

A. As a graduate, I found that the size and scale of our business offered a great opportunity to work in other countries and contribute to exciting global programmes.

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

A. My career has progressed rapidly, from daily measurement tasks as an Assistant Cost Manager, through to leading a multi-disciplinary EMEA team with one of our largest tech clients as a Director, to overseeing our Europe-wide sector team for data centres.

Navigating a career path can be anything but straightforward, and one crucial factor in my success has been the invaluable flexibility and unwavering support of our business, which has seamlessly facilitated my transitions between work and maternity leave.

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

A. I make a difference by offering a supportive environment for people to explore their strengths and grow their careers. Mentoring others, both formally and informally, is one of the most rewarding opportunities we have as leaders and has a big impact on the motivation and progression of our talented colleagues.

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

A. With a background in M&E cost and commercial management, my own skillset is centred around the commercial aspect of data centre development, however we as a company provide a multi-disciplinary range of services to our clients. We also research and publish the industry’s leading data centre cost index and market intelligence.

Q. What do you most enjoy most about working at Turner & Townsend?

A. Seeing our leadership teams embrace positive and inclusive behaviours throughout our business is so rewarding, and I believe we are stronger together as a result.