Ben Fenton

I come from the New Forest but spent most holidays growing up in North Cornwall.  This might have influenced my decision to keep to the coast and do my Masters degree in Exeter, where I achieved my MEng in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

The latter stages of my degree were focussed on water and water management, with my fourth-year project on the potential environmental effects of pharmaceutical contaminants released from a surcharged drainage system. In between years at University I worked at a Salvation Army summer camp in Colorado, travelling through north, south, and central America with the money I saved! I stuck around Exeter and landed at AWP after I finished my degree, continuing to lead a youth group at my church on Fridays, and explore the South West on the weekends.

After joining AWP, I spent time in the transport planning team, then worked a longer stint in a detailed design team, where I contributed to the Duchy of Cornwall schemes in Poundbury and Nansledan. I now work in the drainage planning team where I cover a range of matters in relation to drainage and flood risk. Recently, I have been helping to develop our company expertise regarding nutrient neutrality, finding solutions to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen discharged from development sites. I also enjoy contributing to the ESG and Carbon focus groups, channelling my interest and previous education in environmental sustainability into various initiatives we are working towards as a company. Through AWP, I am also pursuing chartership with the ICE.