Alumni Spotlight: Mona Al-Sharari
Infrastructure, Planning, Appraisal and Development MSc alumna, Mona, shares how she transformed her interest in developing large-scale infrastructure projects into a career as an Urban Planner.
About Mona
Mona Al-Sharari came to The Bartlett School of Planning from Canada with an interest in developing large-scale infrastructure projects. By studying on the Infrastructure, Planning, Appraisal and Development MSc Mona learnt from a variety of peers and academics, ultimately making her way as an Urban Planner working on master planning projects in Jordan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Canada.
Q&A with Mona
What were your academic and professional interests and experiences before coming to the course?
Both my academic and professional backgrounds were rooted in the field of urban planning, with a particular interest in transit-related projects. I have always been particularly keen on the intersection of land use planning and infrastructure planning, aiming to adequately integrate these elements to ensure that we develop complete communities within our cities.
The Infrastructure, Planning, Appraisal and Development MSc (IPAD MSc) significantly enhanced my understanding of the complexities of planning and delivering large infrastructure projects, including transit-related projects. This enabled me to forge a meaningful connection between these two critical elements of city development.
Why did you join the Infrastructure, Planning, Appraisal and Development MSc?
What attracted me most to this programme was the opportunity to gain insights into the entire lifecycle of developing large-scale infrastructure projects. I wanted to learn about how to take a project from an idea, all the way to its operation and decommissioning, if necessary. The other element is that I wanted to delve deeply into the various factors that are taken into account, including economic, social and environmental considerations.
What aspects of your studies did you enjoy the most, and why?
One of the things I enjoyed the most about studying at UCL is that it provided me access to an array of guest lecturers who brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom. I found it incredibly enriching to learn from individuals from different fields and industries, and sometimes, from different parts of the world. Their perspectives added depth to my learning experience.
I also really enjoyed working on my dissertation. The freedom to explore any topic of interest for research was particularly appealing, and I appreciated the supportive guidance from our professors throughout the process.
How did you experience life as a student in London whilst studying on the course?
Living in London was a dream come true for me. I very much enjoyed my time living there. To me, London is a city that has something to offer for everyone. Whatever you are interested in and passionate about, you will find opportunities to pursue it in London.
As an urban planner, I was particularly drawn to the city's architecture. Being surrounded by beautiful and unique buildings was quite inspiring. Additionally, as a student in the IPAD MSc, it was wonderful being in a city with an excellent public transit system that we can learn from.
Did you engage in any activities across the wider UCL (societies, events, networking etc)?
I was the Student Representative for my course which I really enjoyed. It allowed me to establish meaningful relationships with the academic staff and connect with students from various programmes at The Bartlett.
I was also part of the swimming club, which was a lot of fun, and provided a great opportunity to stay active and socialise outside of academics.
How soon after completing the course did it take you to find work, and where are you working now?
Within a couple of months of graduating, I was able to find a position as an Urban Planner within a consulting firm working on master planning projects in Jordan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A few months later, I transitioned to my current position as an Urban Planner, also with a consulting firm but based in Toronto, Canada, with projects spanning across the Province of Ontario.
In my role, I work with private sector and public sector clients to help them navigate through the complex planning framework. Our approach involves guiding clients through development projects from inception to obtaining the necessary approvals for construction to commence.
My responsibilities typically include conducting thorough due diligence, feasibility studies, and site selection analyses. This involves a meticulous review and analysis of policies. With respect to navigating through the planning process, I work with our client, municipal staff and local communities to develop projects, which in most cases are transit-supportive, mixed-use urban developments. I provide objective, evidence-based analyses to justify those projects. Additionally, I oversee complete project management services to ensure projects are executed to the highest quality standards.
What excites me about my role is the opportunity to work on projects in diverse geographic areas and varying scales. I am also involved in projects at different stages of their lifecycle, ensuring that my day-to-day activities are always dynamic and varied.
What are your major career milestones since completing your studies at The Bartlett School of Planning?
Since graduating from UCL, I've achieved significant milestones both academically and professionally. After graduating, I transformed my dissertation into a journal article titled 'Assessing the public participation initiatives in the planning and delivery of the Amman Bus Rapid Transit project', which was published in the Journal of the Case Studies on Transport Policy in 2022. I have also been involved in peer reviewing journal submissions, contributing to the academic discourse in my field. With respect to my professional growth, I quickly moved from a role of Urban Planner, into a Senior Urban Planner. I have also obtained certification as a Registered Professional Planner in the Province of Ontario and became a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.
You can check out further examples of mine and my firm’s work on the Bousfields website.
What are your future ambitions?
I would love to maintain my involvement in academia while actively participating in the professional field. One of the aspects of my job that I particularly enjoy is conducting extensive research, and I am keen to find ways to integrate this into academic endeavours and vice versa. I feel fortunate to have had opportunities to share my knowledge with universities, whether through guest lecturing at UCL or assisting in teaching studio courses at Toronto Metropolitan University. I hope to be able to continue teaching and perhaps integrate more of that in my career in the future.
As a professional planner, my passion lies in continuing to work on similar projects in my hometown of Toronto. It has been immensely fulfilling to witness some of the projects I have contributed to progressing to the construction phase. I would like to continue to contribute to the development of my city.
What advice would you give to a student considering the course or looking to get into a career in planning?
Planning is an incredibly wide field that can lead you to various different types of jobs in various industries. The exciting part about embarking in this field is that you are going to have the opportunity to learn about and try various different types of roles and jobs to enable you to find what you are passionate about.
The versatility of urban planning means that the knowledge and experience you gain will be transferable and applicable to different positions, thereby enriching your professional journey and preparing you for future roles. Regardless of the path you choose, the skills and insights you acquire along the way will contribute to your continued success in any subsequent roles.
Discover more about Mona and what she's currently working on via LinkedIn.
Are you interested in studying the Infrastructure, Planning, Appraisal and Development MSc at The Bartlett School of Planning?
Discover more about the course and the career opportunities it could unlock by visiting the UCL Graduate prospectus.