For nearly four decades, Kedah native Mohan Poduval has traversed the globe as a civil engineer, navigating complex infrastructure projects across multiple countries.
Currently based in Bihar, India as a Team Leader cum Contract Administrator at a consultancy firm, his expertise spans leadership, project management and contract management.
While his career has been filled with high-stakes projects and encounters with global leaders, his heart remains tied to Malaysia, and he is committed to finding ways to give back to his homeland.
From Early Inspiration to Leadership
Mohan’s interest in civil engineering was sparked at an early age by his father, who worked in Malaysia’s Public Works Department (JKR). Growing up in Alor Setar, he was inspired by his father’s work which involved road construction and development, which led him to pursue a career in the same field.
After obtaining his Diploma in Civil Engineering at Bedford Technical College, he officially began his journey in 1984, marking the start of an illustrious career that would take him across the globe. At the same time, he became certified with the Institute of Civil Engineers in the UK after passing its exam.
Currently, in his role in India, Mohan oversees two major road projects. “These two projects total around 200 kilometres and I have got 52 staff working under me,” he said. His responsibilities include contract administration, issue resolution and liaising with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
While his earlier days saw him stationed at construction sites, he now primarily focuses on managing contracts and resolving contractual and technical disputes with the Dispute Resolution Board (DRB). His current project has been in the works for 18 months and is slated for completion in December 2026.
Steady Progression of Career
In his 40 year-long career, Mohan has taken on various roles to get to where he is today. Back in 1984, he started out as a Clerk of Works with an engineering consulting company on a project in Alor Setar.
Eventually, he worked his way up to an Assistant Resident Engineer on a project in Johor Bahru, before transitioning to a Project Manager on a project in the Philippines. In 2000, he took his career to the next level by pursuing his master’s degree from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
His elevated qualifications paved the way to the role of a Team Leader for a highway project in 2006, and he has held senior level roles in highway projects around the world since then.
Professional Growth and Giving Back
In between his jobs, Mohan has continued to upskill and stay abreast of the latest happenings in his sector. He is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) and the Institute of Highway Engineers in the United Kingdom (UK).
Additionally, he is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) under the Project Management Institute (PMI), USA. In fact, it was this very certification that enabled him to land his current designation as a team leader cum contract administrator.
Currently, he is working towards obtaining his Chartered Engineer certification with the UK’s Federal Institute of Engineering, a milestone he hopes to complete in the next six months. Having amassed all these qualifications and experience, he is keen to give back to the country.
His first step towards doing so is to cultivate Malaysian civil engineering talent by leveraging his experience and qualifications.
“Last year, I volunteered to become a trainer with the Institute of Engineering Malaysia (IEM) and underwent training with their academy. Last month (in January 2025), I was accepted as a trainer and have since received certification from Human Resources Development Corporation (HRD Corp),” Mohan said.
This coming November, he is set to conduct his first training session in project management for fellow IEM members, marking the first chapter in what is sure to be a fruitful journey in contributing to Malaysia’s engineering education.
Advice for Aspiring Engineers
Reflecting on the current state of the civil engineering sector, Mohan acknowledged that younger generations are now gravitating towards digital and AI-driven careers.
“If given a chance, most youngsters going to university nowadays would prefer going for more computer-related courses like hardware or software, and now with AI in place, more will aim for that,” said Mohan.
Nonetheless, he emphasised that civil engineering is still a good field with plenty of opportunities. Furthermore, “if there is a chance for you to go abroad and see what it’s like out of Malaysia, do so, get the experience and come back to contribute,” he advised.
Returning Home Every Six Months
In spite of all the demands of his career, Mohan ensures he accumulates his days off so he can return to Malaysia every six months to spend quality time with his family. Insisting he can only get authentic Malaysian cuisine at home, he looks forward to indulging in local favourites like nasi lemak and teh tarik during his time at home.
His family has remained in Malaysia throughout his career, with his son and daughter now all grown up and working in Kuala Lumpur. This decision was intentional—he wanted to ensure their education remained stable while he pursued opportunities abroad.
“I know I am missing a lot of my social functions within that time, but since leave is a constraint, I have to accumulate and then fly home. What I love to do most to ensure my holidays are fruitful is to spend quality time with my family and enjoy good food. That’s all.”
Looking Forward
Now that he has signed up as a member of MyHeart, Mohan hopes to leverage the platform to connect with fellow Malaysian engineers around the world.
His future plans include further collaboration with Malaysian engineering professionals and authorities to enhance the sector’s growth and appeal to younger generations.
At the same time, he also expressed his openness to collaborate with MyHeart and be a part of any activities that can benefit the local engineering sector.
“I just want to give back to my society,” he stated simply.
Are you a Malaysian abroad hoping to share your expertise or gain new insights in your field? Sign up on MyHeart to connect with fellow Malaysians and start collaborating today!
