A few weeks ago we took the chance to talk with Marek, who left the GEO-Instruments UK team earlier this year to join our colleagues in GEO-Instruments Poland.
As well as an opportunity to catch up since the big move to his home country, we also asked him about the past, present and future of his career.
What is your role at GEO-Instruments?
I work as a Project Manager.
How long have you worked at GEO?
In total, combining GEO UK and Poland it’s been 3 and a half years!
Tell us a bit about your time at GEO-Instruments UK?
I worked as a Project Engineer alongside few other members of GEO-Instruments and our Joint Venture partner on the HS2 project. I was employed as HS2 Area Central Project Lead Engineer.
For 3 years I worked with real specialists in the Instrumentation and Monitoring field. I really need to give credit to all these people that spent a lot of time with me and had faith in me.
I learnt a lot from my colleagues and also really enjoyed working with our client on as big a project as HS2.
How about your future at GEO-Instruments Poland?
I am now a Project Manager at GEO-Instruments Poland based at the S19 Rzeszow-Babica project.
GEO-Instruments are providing the Instrumentation and Monitoring for the tunnel launch and tunnel sections.
The client, the consortium of Mostostal Warszawa and Acciona Construcción is constructing a 2.2 km long tunnel with a massive 15.2m diameter Tunnel Boring Machine. When completed, the tunnel will be part of Via Carpathia, a transnational Central Europe highway network connecting Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean.
It has been an exciting time to join the Polish branch of GEO-Instruments as the team is growing very quickly and is currently the third largest branch of GEO globally.
What about your previous experience? How did you get started in the industry?
I joined GEO in 2020 with 8 years previous experience in the monitoring industry, having worked on multiple small- and large-scale projects across the UK. I started working in Monitoring Industry as Monitoring Surveyor based on my master’s degree in Land Surveying.
My first job in the UK in I&M was at Crossrail, now called the Elizabeth Line. After that I worked on a few smaller projects across England.
It was at this stage of my career when I started sharing time between site and office. I always enjoyed working with people and the client more than being on-site on my own.
After a couple of years I realised that I wanted to become a Project Manager. That role would allow me to combine my experience and skills and work more closely with people.
Since the announcement of HS2 I knew I wanted to be part of it, and it worked out!
At the beginning of 2020, I started working at GEO-Instruments as Project Engineer. I joined a company who put trust in me and continue to give me opportunities to grow in my Project Management skills.
Working on such big projects and in new environments has really taught me a lot in a few short years.
Tell us about your day-to-day work now?
S19 is the largest project currently supported by GEO-Instruments Poland and one of the largest projects of its kind in the country. Every day is different and brings something new.
We usually start early in the morning, have a briefing, put on sunscreen and go on site. At this stage of the project, shortly after the TBM launch, we are working on final touches to make sure the I&M works as intended and preparing for further installations
What do you like about the job? What would you change?
It is an exciting project and a big personal test now to work in a new role. We are using some I&M solutions that are relatively new to me and I’m getting used to a different style of working.
I’m still settling in as a PM and I’m learning every day. I wish we had more hours in a day and more days in a week for work! But wait… when would I have time for my family?
How do you like to spend your time when not at work?
I moved back to Poland after almost 11 years in the UK and I am still adapting!
When I’m not at work I enjoy time with my family, spending it with my newborn baby daughter Ula and her amazing mum.
This summer in Poland it’s hot and sunny and we’re really enjoying it. Like most people we’ve loved watching the Euro 2024 competition and the Olympics!
What are you looking forward to/ working towards in the future?
I would like to continue growing my skills being a valuable part of the team. Going forward I really want my colleagues to feel supported and that they can count on me when we work together.
We also spoke to Marek’s previous and present managers regarding his move between divisions.
Piotr Konieczny, General Manager of GEO-Instruments UK said:
“It was great to have Marek as part of the UK team. It’s a shame to see him go but I’m happy he’s staying within the GEO family.”
Andrzej Kruczek, Managing Director of GEO-Instruments Poland said:
"Marek is a great support and strengthens our team! He is really well organized and I really like his positive attitude to work. I am really glad that he works in our team!”