Donal is a Chartered Engineer with 17 years' experience within Consultancy and Academia. He graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a BEng (Hons) Degree in Civil Engineering. Following his PhD studies, he commenced working as a Graduate Engineer at Barr McCormick Ltd with the responsibility of providing the civil engineering design specialism within the company for many residential and commercial developments throughout the UK and RoI.

In 2001, Barr McCormick was acquired by White Young Green Consulting, Donal worked on several multi-million pound schemes that covered Healthcare, Commercial/Retail Developments, Residential and Public Projects. In late 2002, he left WYG in order to submit his PhD Thesis & commenced employment as a Civil/Roads Engineer at DRD Roads Service. Donal spent the 3 years working in several specialisms that included Transportation & Traffic Engineering, Highway Design and Bridge Assessment and Inspection.

In 2005 Donal gained CEng Status and briefly worked within the precast industry before joining Scott Wilson plc. Within his role Donal worked on the initial stages of several Northern Ireland bypass schemes, particularly Newry and Ballynahinch bypass schemes. He also was part of the Technical Advisory team to DRD Roads Service on the DBFO 1 Westlink Scheme that commenced in early 2006.

From 2002-6 Donal also worked as a PT lecturer at South West College and became a Full Time Academic in 2006, whilst running his own part-time Private Consultancy (EDC Consulting). he stayed within the Further Education Sector until he commenced working as a lecturer in University of Ulster, appointed in 2009. He then lectured at The University of the West of Scotland from 2015-17 and continues to run EDC Consulting with clients in NI, RoI and Scotland.