By Business & Finance 
Graeme Black is a Chartered Surveyor, with experience in land acquisition, valuation and compensation across the transport, utilities and renewable energy sectors. He heads up the Irish team at Ardent, supporting its clients on key infrastructure projects, working with major public and private sector organisations across the island, and helping to grow their team.
By Héloïse Chaudot
What was your first job?
My family have had a wallpaper and paint business since the 1960s, so I’d spend summers helping out in the shop. It helped me learn very quickly that the customer is (nearly!) always right, which has probably served me quite well in client-facing roles over the years.
What are your main priorities and goals in your current role?
Delivering for clients, strengthening our team, and helping the business grow sustainably in Ireland.
I want Ardent to be recognised as Ireland’s leading firm in the infrastructure, land, and engagement space, because of the technical skills and experience in the team, and through strong relationships with our clients.
What pushed you to pursue a career in this field?
I actually studied Architecture at university, but went on to work with a developer, acquiring land in Northern Ireland. I moved to a surveying firm while doing my master’s, where I gained experience in valuation and compensation work.
I enjoy tackling complex problems where you can see tangible results and outcomes, working on projects that genuinely shape places and communities, such as new roads, new schools and wind farms.
How do you motivate yourself and your team?
A bit of a cliché, but I genuinely really enjoy what I do, so staying motivated isn’t difficult. Positive feedback from clients is a big driver; knowing that what we’re doing is making a difference helps.
With the team, I try to focus on trust and encouragement. It’s about finding the balance, supporting them when needed, but also having confidence in backing them to provide solid advice and make their own calls.
In one sentence, how would you define success?
Making a positive difference to other people.
How do you relax?
I run quite a bit, which really helps clear my head. Aside from that, I have two young daughters, so they don’t let me relax too often!
What is your favourite (non-business) book?
I love American novels from the likes of Steinbeck and McCarthy. One I’ve really enjoyed recently is Don’t Skip Out On Me by Willy Vlautin.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
To avoid worrying about things that you can’t control. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed by a problem that you can’t influence, so I try to focus my energy where I can make a difference.
How do you handle adversity?
I try to focus on what can be controlled, and don’t put off difficult conversations. Ultimately, some of my most valuable experience has come through dealing with difficult situations, and it can be turned into an opportunity drive improvement and positive change.
What are the aspirations for the future of the business?
The aspiration is to continue to grow our client base, our team, and strengthen our reputation in Ireland. We’re fortunate in that our team in Ireland is also able to draw on the experience of our UK colleagues, who support with the likes of GIS and digital solutions, like our Atlas database, which we use to complement our Irish land team.
We have vast experience working across all our key sectors – transport, utilities, renewables, and regeneration – and there is no shortage of opportunities given the ambition of the National Development Plan, now supported by the recent Accelerating Infrastructure Plan.
We are already working with clients to help strengthen the electricity grid on both sides of the border, helping renewable energy developers secure sites for solar, wind, and battery storage, and when you factor in the likes of Metrolink, it’s a really exciting time in the infrastructure space.
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