How Nadjib Saadali lives out collaborative leadership at NIRAS

His role is multi-faceted with a focus on marine and coastal infrastructure. He works closely with the technical, managerial, and commercial teams on engineering projects across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. In addition, this dynamic Project Director is responsible for the internal managerial and business development areas across three continents.

When asked what he enjoys most about his role Nadjib explains “I enjoy the opportunity to tackle complex engineering challenges and develop innovative solutions in terms of creativity in problem-solving, optimisation and sustainability. The latter specifically being a paramount criterion of success for marine and coastal projects.”

From protecting vulnerable hotspots along the Nile Delta in Egypt to innovative development of Swinoujscie Port in Poland

Nadjib highlights one such project that epitomises his commitment to cross boundary project leadership and sustainability. The Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project for the North Coast of Egypt sees NIRAS leading efforts to mitigate coastal and flooding issues along the vulnerable Nile Delta region.

“With the increasing impact of climate change, there's a growing need for innovative solutions to enhance the resilience of coastal communities and infrastructure,” says Nadjib.

The project focuses on constructing soft coastal protection structures, such as sand dune dikes, along 69 km of the Nile Delta’s most vulnerable hotspots. This approach not only aims to protect the coastal infrastructure but also to safeguard agricultural lands, residential areas, and critical infrastructure from the risks associated with rising sea levels and increased storm frequency and intensity​.

Nadjib also focuses on the development and improvement of interdisciplinary fosters, learning and innovation, as different perspectives and expertise are brought together to address complex challenges such as the Swinoujscie Container Terminal Project in Poland. NIRAS is the lead consultant working side by side with the investor’s along with the engineering development associated to various phases of the project from the initial design & employment requirements to the design and built phase of the container terminal.

Musketeer mindset - the shoulder to shoulder approach

Nadjib believes that a collaborative culture is key to collective success. He encourages every employee to bring their unique strengths to each project while also drawing on the collective expertise of their colleagues. 

“The musketeer mindset, which we also call the shoulder to shoulder approach, is the main basis of collaboration and contributes heavily to the success of our projects. It’s great to see how people enjoy working on projects together across cultures and borders and each of them bringing their expertise and ideas to the table,” says Nadjib and adds that every employee is encouraged to contribute to projects with their individual strengths while also benefitting from the collective expertise of their colleagues.

According to Nadjib, the ideal workday is characterised by a balance of productivity, positive interactions, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. The culture at NIRAS promotes this balance by recognising individual preferences and fostering an environment where work aligns with personal values and goals, he says.

“At NIRAS, a supportive environment for growth, the fostering of collaboration, recognition of individual preferences, the continuous promotion of learning and improving, and the facilitation of mentorship and leadership development all comes together to create a workplace that empowers ourselves and our colleagues alike,” Nadjib says.