“You can’t sit back and wait for things to happen” – 60 seconds with Sean Casey, UK&I Energy & Infrastructure Consulting Leader, EY

What was your first job?

My very first job was working as a caddy at the local golf course in my hometown of Skibbereen in West Cork. After College, I joined ESB’s graduate programme to pursue a career in engineering and I remained in ESB for the next 15 years.

What pushed you to pursue a career in this field?

My love for science and engineering. When I think back this came from the amazing science and physics teachers I had in secondary school, most notably my teacher Mr O’Donovan, who had a big impact on me. I have always had a particular interest in energy and how we fuel the economy and the country, so the idea of being able to pursue a career in this area really appealed to me.

What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?

My greatest achievement in life is my family – my wonderful wife AnneMarie and my fantastic kids, Aoife, Eimear, and Ronan. In terms of my professional life, I have been very fortunate to work in an area that continues to excite and interest me greatly. I have had the opportunity to work right across the Energy Sector from Electricity to Gas, Water and Renewables, in everything from public sector to start-ups, to my current consulting role and I am really proud that my work is playing a part in helping to drive the transformation of our energy sector while delivering reliable and sustainable power to families and businesses.

Career wise, would you do anything differently?

Not particularly. I consider myself very lucky with the path that I have taken and the opportunities that arose for me as a result. I attribute this luck to my sense of curiosity and willingness to try new things. I didn’t overstay my time in any one place and have always been keen to take on new and varied challenges within the energy sector. As well as working with ESB, I also worked with Bord Gáis, Ervia and eventually, EY.

In one sentence, how would you define success?

Success for me is two-fold: Providing impactful solutions to clients that help solve their most complex problems and doing so as part of a diverse and talented team. We’ve built a large energy team here at EY Ireland. In my view to build a great team, you need to identify people who are passionate on the subject and who can provide a range of different views, perspectives and experiences. This is something we’ve put a real focus on here at EY and I’m proud to say that this has been really impactful, particularly for our clients.