Ms Konrád Anikó Gábris: excellent environment, many challenges welcomed in the Paks II project

He has only been working on the Paks II project for a few months, but it seems as if he has been breathing with it from the beginning. What's behind this harmony?

I did a lot of construction work early in my career. Then I did a stint in operations and went back into investment. I did construction supervision, as I do now. The people are different, the legal aspects are different, but the core values, the core tasks are the same. Being a woman is not easy, knowledge can only be imparted with confidence. Otherwise, this is a project that is already very well prepared and has gained momentum, and I have picked up this thread and will continue to carry it forward with the help of my colleagues.

What are the principles?

Everyone is welcome at home, and my principle is to do my job in a way that helps that. My conscience is at ease when I have done everything possible to ensure that no accidents happen. I love teaching. I believe that if you tell the basic rules as many times as possible, it becomes ingrained in everyone and they can call up that knowledge in an unexpected situation that they are not comfortable with. HSE activity is an internal authority job, our job is to enforce the rules, I know we are not always popular with that. But I also know that the hustle work, the improvisation, the "we'll figure it out", is a potential source of danger. HSE (Health, Safety, Environment - ed.) is effective when senior management - as in our case - gets behind it, when they accept that people come first. And the fact is that sometimes slowing down processes, stopping work, has less downside than an investigation and reputational damage from the news.

In the Paks II project, what is the position of your area of expertise?

We work according to a set of rules based on the law, but adapted to local specificities. The basic HSE requirements have been laid down by predecessors, the management is committed to adhering to and enforcing safety standards, so my job is easier. We have a small team, so I am involved in operational tasks. As the construction site grows in size, we have to keep up with it, as we control the general contractor in the HSE area, we have to be there for all critical activities, and we can't forget that we have different nationalities and different cultures working here.

How much emphasis is placed on environmental protection?

As in this project, I am also passionate about the environment. It makes a difference what kind of environment we leave our children. During the construction process, we also come into contact with environmental elements, and all activities must be planned and carried out in such a way as to have the least possible impact on nature.

How does a woman end up in this not-so-feminine field?

I was born in Zalaegerszeg, I grew up in a family with technical interests, my brother became a hydraulic engineer, I said I wouldn't go to the university he went to, so I went to Miskolc, to the University of Heavy Industry, where I chose fluid mining, I became an oil and gas engineer. Zala has a long tradition of this, I knew what it was all about. Less than 10% of the students at the university were women. Even there we had to learn that we always had to perform at least twice as well as the boys. I like working with men, I am very determined, rational and focused in all areas.

How mining became occupational safety and health?

Mining is a dangerous business. You couldn't miss the point there, you always had to know what the next step was, because if you didn't, there was always a problem. This thinking also led me to safety engineering. Occupational safety and environmental protection are two sides of the same coin, there are many border areas, and I can handle them together. I did a degree in environmental engineering, and later I did a degree in industrial safety and fire protection. In Hungary and in the European Union, all three are surrounded by a very rigid, strict set of rules and have strong regulatory control. To understand this language better, I also have a law degree.

First I worked as a drilling engineer at the National Geological Research and Drilling Company in Várpalota, but during the change of regime the number of drilling operations decreased, the company changed its profile and focused on environmental drilling. Afterwards I worked as an HSE specialist at FGSZ Zrt, a subsidiary of MOL Nyrt.. Due to the EU accession, the companies had serious obligations, and the implementation, operation and monitoring of these and the resulting investments involved a lot of work and travel for me, and enriched me with a lot of experience. After 18 years, I moved to MOL Nyrt., providing back-up support to the project manager for large investments and permits. I was involved in the construction of Hungary's tallest tank, a 15,000 cubic metre, 26-metre high process tank and the associated storage system.

Can hard work and lots of travelling be combined with motherhood?

My father was always on the road as a technical inspector, that's what I saw at home and that's what I do myself. I met Tibor, my husband, at university, also a petroleum engineer - and a computer scientist, economist - we've been together for 38 years. He is an endlessly calm, patient, steady pillar of the family. At the start of our careers he built his career, I took a step back when my job involved more busyness, travel, he supported me. We have three children, for example, I started one of the professional engineering schools as a toddler with the youngest, then I took her with me and was entertained by the lab technicians in the prep school during lab practicals. Our eldest daughter is a doctor, the middle one is an architectural engineer and the little one is a dental assistant. I see in all three of them the work ethic that characterises us. They excel in their fields, and employers insist on them. I can see the example we have set. Our grandson Adam is one year old, a real rascal, we are very proud of him.

What brought you to Paks, what got you interested in the power plant project?

I have been following the construction of the new nuclear power plant in the news for a long time. It's a big investment, a big challenge, so I was delighted when I received an enquiry. The arrival of any leader is met with trepidation and reservations, not knowing what the expectations are, what the priorities will be. Fortunately, we share the same values, safety comes first for everyone, so we were able to get on very quickly with my colleagues. We also have a good rapport with the main contractor. I am convinced that it is not enough to say that this is the rule, you always have to justify why it is important. If I tell them how this has led to accidents in my career, they will accept it more easily. Processing an accident is good because you can learn from it. The HSE does not ask questions and investigate in order to find the person responsible, but to prevent. Joining the Paks II project, I arrived in an excellent environment, with well-prepared colleagues and many challenges. It's a very good project, I'm enjoying it very much. Being in a multicultural environment is exciting. I believe in and like working in a team. Everybody has good ideas, and a leader's job is to put together the best solution from the many suggestions.